Canon lenses: a starter kit for a beginner. Canon lenses: starter kit for a beginner The best amateur lenses for Canon cameras

So, you just bought the camera of your dreams, received all the due congratulations on this event and asked the logical question: what’s next? Which lens should you choose first? And which one for the second? How to form the best arsenal and maintain balance in the categories of “price” and “quality”? We have accumulated 5 years of experience, several dozen hours of detailed study of the issue and several interviews with professional photographers in order to recommend the four best lenses for a beginning photographer with good ambitions.

In more detail:

In this article we will talk about lenses for a regular Canon DSLR camera (from the English. Digital single-lens reflex camera - that is, qi DSLR camera). Manufacturers of DS LR cameras and third-party companies produce a huge number of lenses for their cameras, and you can choose between them for as long as you like. But that’s why we’ve gathered here, so as not to drown in the swamp of choice, but to take a confident path in the formation of an optical arsenal, avoiding mistakes and wasting time and money.

Your Canon camera will probably come with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens - it's a good standard everyday zoom lens for exploring all aspects of your camera. It makes sense to shoot with it for some time in order to understand all the features of the “body” and identify your format, i.e. favorite genre of photography. There are traditionally four main formats: macro photography, close-up photography (the so-called zoom), landscape (wide-angle) and portrait. Each genre requires a lens specially “tailored” for it, and here are our confident recommendations from the top four.

The best primer for a beginning photographer

The easiest way for a beginning photographer to develop his skills is to work with lenses whose focal length remains constant. Yes, you lose the ability to zoom out or zoom out on something, but this design allows you to achieve amazing photography quality at a very reasonable price. All other lenses are essentially a search for a compromise between the ability to change the focal length (bringing the subject closer or farther away) and the desire not to degrade quality. As a result, the better the photo quality becomes, the higher the price per lens. In the case of primes, the photo quality is immediately excellent, and the price is one of the lowest.

Separately, it should be noted its appearance: the white color of Canon lenses is usually characteristic of the professional line of lenses, which are very, very expensive. However, in the case of the Canon EF 70-200 mm f/4L USM, we have professional shooting quality for quite amateur money. This is a very, very good offer.

Average price in Russia: 44,000 rubles

Wide angle lens

For wide-angle shooting. When will it be useful? For photography in tight spaces (review of a hotel room, for example), parties, architectural, landscape photography.

This lens is small, lightweight and has excellent sharpness. Its image quality and autofocus accuracy are a very strong competitive advantage over currently available lenses in this class. In addition, it contains a stabilizer, which allows you to avoid “smudges” in photographs.

The compact size of this wide-angle lens makes it suitable for everyday use, when traveling, or you can simply keep it in your pocket as a backup just in case. Average price in Russia: 16,000 rubles

Macro photography

This type of photography is considered highly specialized, but often becomes a favorite genre among photographers. In this category, we consider the Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP to be the best

The build quality, lenses and viewing angle of 145 mm make this lens an excellent solution for a more or less reasonable price (reasonable compared to the Canon branded lens, of course, because the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro ISUSM costs 30% more). The lack of image stabilization may require the use of a tripod.

Average price in Russia: 45,000 rubles

Universal lens

At the very beginning of the text, we say that the kit lens needs to be replaced with something better. Meanwhile, the very idea of ​​complete glasses is quite reasonable - a novice photographer is given a lens with universal focal lengths that works in most genres. Yes, the quality of the whales is not the best. Therefore, to a high-quality, but no less versatile Sigma AF 18-35mm F1.8.

As one of the commentators on this lens on Yandex.Market writes:

“This is the best zoom lens for crop at the moment. It replaces 3 prime lenses: 18, 24 and 35 mm with an aperture of 1.8. Consider that you have several lenses on your camera at the same time and you don’t need to waste time changing them.”

An important nuance - this lens has problems with autofocus in low light. Therefore, after purchasing a lens, we recommend finding a USB dock. This device allows you to update the firmware and fix the focus. In addition, on thematic forums it is advised to come to the store and try several copies, because... The quality of lenses even in the same batch may vary. Yes, there are possible pitfalls here, but you won’t be able to find any other lens for the money that can shoot like this.

Average price in Russia: 48,000 rubles

Artem Kashkanov, 2012

In the spring of 2012, Canon pleased its fans with a new product - the Canon EOS 650D SLR camera. According to the three-digit marking, the camera is positioned as an amateur one, however, looking at its functionality, you understand that Canon has long erased the line between the amateur and semi-professional segment.

Let's talk about pleasant things right away. Canon, apparently, decided to temporarily suspend the “race for megapixels” and began to pay more attention to the functionality of the device and ease of use. Starting with the EOS 550D model, amateur DSLRs received a larger viewfinder and more convenient control of the video shooting process. The EOS 600D introduced a screen on a rotating hinge, which immediately attracted the attention of macro photography enthusiasts. What pleasant and unpleasant surprises await us in the EOS 650D?

I will say right away that in terms of the quality of the resulting photos, the Canon EOS 650D is practically no different from its predecessor 600D; the changes affected only the functionality and usability of the camera. What exactly catches your eye first?

Firstly, the touch screen. Whatever one may say, menu navigation is much faster if you can immediately press your finger on the desired area of ​​the touch screen, rather than moving the “cursor” using buttons. The camera has an improved Clear View II LCD screen. The navigation buttons, by the way, remain located on the back of the body and in shooting mode they allow you to quickly set white balance, focus mode, image parameters and turn on/off burst shooting.

The second advantage of the Canon EOS 650D over previous models is that it finally implements full-fledged tracking autofocus when shooting video and in Live View mode. This is thanks to the new Hybrid CMOS matrix with built-in phase focusing sensors and the new Digic V processor. In early models of DSLRs, autofocus in Live View mode worked exclusively on the contrast principle (as in point-and-shoot cameras) and was not particularly performant. When shooting video, there was no tracking autofocus, although there were craftsmen who activated it using alternative firmware.

Yes, the EOS 650D has working autofocus tracking when shooting video, but there is one caveat - this function will only work fully with new lenses equipped with a stepper autofocus drive and with the STM index in their designation. At the time of writing this article, only two such lenses have been released - with a fixed focal length of 40 mm (Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM) and the universal zoom lens Canon EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.

What else sets the Canon EOS 650D apart from previous models? Firstly, the increased burst speed. The 650D has 5 frames per second (the 600D had 3.7 frames per second). I had to pay for the rate of fire with the maximum burst length - 22 frames versus 34 (although, in my opinion, this is more than enough!).

The 650D has an expanded ISO sensitivity range. If the maximum sensitivity of the EOS 600D was ISO12800, then the new product has increased it to ISO25600. True, you should be aware that the quality of the image when shooting with these at such sky-high sensitivity values ​​leaves much to be desired, so it is better to try not to use them. However, if you only need a photo to post on Facebook, the EOS 650D will do a better job in the dark.

Thanks to the fast Digic V processor, it is possible to implement new useful functions, in particular, on-the-fly removal of chromatic aberrations. Previously, only Nikon devices had this function (which was a serious argument in debates about which device was better). This function only works when shooting in Jpeg.

Otherwise, the EOS 650D is not much different from its predecessors, but, you see, there are many innovations and, mostly, useful ones. There is even a well-known joke among Canon users that if there are two zeros in the model index, then the model is unfinished, we are waiting for “work on the errors” with the index increased by 50 :)

Who will be interested in this device first of all? Of course, for video fans. In fact, this is the first DSLR that has the functionality of a full-fledged video camera, combined with almost “cinema” picture quality - a large matrix does its job. I think that a buyer from this category will not stand for the price and, at the first opportunity, will buy this device complete with an STM lens.

From a photographer's point of view, the Canon EOS 650D does not look like anything special - some kind of intermediate model between the amateur and semi-professional class. Yes, the device is not bad, but is it worth the money just to take photographs? More likely no than yes. The cost of the Canon EOS 650D body at the time of publication of the article is about 32,000 rubles, while the semi-professional EOS 60D costs about 30,000 rubles and looks like a more reasonable purchase compared to the 650 model. But, I repeat, this is an assessment from the point of view of a photographer who is not chasing “video tricks”.

You can read a discussion of the Canon EOS 650D camera in this forum thread:

I invite all owners, including future ones, to the discussion!

With the announcement of the Eos 650D camera, Canon made, if not a revolution, then a big step forward for the entry-level segment of SLR cameras with xxxD indexes. If the previous generation, represented by the 600D, brought virtually no improvements compared to its predecessor, the new camera has very interesting features that are worth paying attention to, while maintaining the compactness and lightness inherent in all cameras in this series.

The first thing that catches your eye is the presence of a touch display; this is the first Canon SLR camera with such a function. But much more important is the appearance of a new autofocus operating mode - Movie Servo AF, which allows for smooth and silent focusing when shooting video using new STM (Stepping Motor) lenses. The camera also uses a new Digic 5 processor, which expanded the range of available ISOs and a new 9-point focusing system with all cross-shaped sensors and increased sensitivity of the central point, new for this segment, although already familiar to us from xxD cameras.

Main technical characteristics of the Canon 650D model:

  • 18 megapixel CMOS sensor APS-C format (1.6 crop), image resolution 5184 x 3456;
  • Built-in system for cleaning the matrix from dust.
  • Fully compatible with EF/EF-S lenses and Speedlites (wireless external flash control possible);
  • Processor DIGIC 5;
  • 9-point autofocus system, all sensors are cross-type, in the center there is a double cross-type sensor;
  • Constant tracking focus when shooting video, silent focusing function when using STM lenses;
  • Sensitivity ISO 100-12800 (Expandable up to 25600);
  • Continuous shooting 5 frames/sec. (22 JPEG or 6 RAW series);
  • Recording Full HD videos at 30 fps, with full manual control, up to 30 minutes;
  • Swivel Clear View touch screen with a diagonal of 3.0″ (7.7 cm), 3:2 format, with a resolution of 1,040,000 pixels;
  • 63-zone iFCL metering system with dual-layer sensor;
  • Exposure compensation +/- 5 stops;
  • Ability to select the maximum value in Auto ISO mode;
  • Built-in stereo microphone;
  • Battery capacity - 440 shots;
  • New in-camera image processing modes: Handheld night shooting, HDR, Multi-frame noise correction;
  • SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards.

The camera's video system has undergone dramatic improvements; in addition to the silent focusing mode, the long-awaited tracking focus function has appeared when shooting video. At the same time, the “hardware” component of photography has moved to a higher level of semi-professional cameras from the xxD line. In general, the release of a new camera makes buying a Canon 60D pointless, so we should expect a new announcement in this segment soon.

The distance between this camera and the 1100D has increased dramatically. If previously xxxD series cameras could be recommended only because of better quality video shooting, and the photographic part differed little, now the difference is more than noticeable. With the advent of a new autofocus system and a more recent processor that allows for higher ISO levels, the Canon 650D has become much more attractive in terms of ease of shooting and quality of the resulting images. We can safely say that this camera is now suitable not only for beginners or amateurs, but also for professional photographers as a lightweight and space-saving backup camera.

Separately, it is worth mentioning multi-frame shooting modes with in-camera processing. They allow you to obtain unusual images without lengthy and painstaking computer post-processing, as well as when shooting at night without the use of special equipment. Of course, you shouldn’t assume that the camera will make such correction better than a person, but for an inexperienced user these modes can be very useful.

A new Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit lens will be released along with the camera. It differs from the current version by a stepper motor, which reduces focusing noise, which is important for shooting video, and a reduced minimum focal length (0.39 m at any zoom position) for getting closer shots. Another STM lens is also expected to appear - the thin and light EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, which is also suitable for full-frame cameras, and it will be offered at a very affordable price.

The camera will be available in late June for a suggested price of $849.99 and $949.99 for the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II kit. The Movie Kit with the new EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens will cost $1,199. The lenses will cost $199.99 separately and $549.99 for the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, respectively.

Canon EOS 650D Image Gallery:





Previously, we already talked about lenses for Nikon D7000 (D7100) and for Nikon D5100 (D5200, D5300). It's Canon's turn. Let's talk today about best lenses for 650D and 700D cameras. Most of the lenses mentioned today will also work well with earlier models, such as 600D, 550D etc.

UPD. The site also has an article dedicated to lenses for Canon 60D and 70D. It mainly deals with more premium glasses, but, nevertheless, all of them are also suitable for cameras of the younger line. So for those who choose a lens for the Canon 600D (and its updated versions), it will be useful to familiarize yourself with that material.

First, let me remind you, you don’t know: Canon 650D, 700D and others cameras are all cameras from the same line. The smaller the three-digit number before the letter D, the older the camera model. Accordingly, today the newest device is the Canon 700D. However, even the Canon 600D is still sold in Russian stores. The 650D and 700D are very similar. What sets them apart from older cameras in the line is the support for STM motors present in modern lenses.

Universal lenses for Canon 700D (650D)

Both zoom lenses and fixed focal length lenses are universal. I talked about the difference between primes and zooms in a separate article. A universal lens, in principle, is a lens that is suitable for photography in various genres: portrait, landscape, street, and so on. The lenses described below are quite suitable for the role of universal ones.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM– I talked about this lens in a video review, and then in the corresponding article. This is Canon's newest 18-55mm lens. With cameras like the Canon 700D this lens is included (if you buy a kit and not a body, of course). If you are buying your first camera, this lens may be right for you. But, in general, the quality of the picture obtained from it leaves much to be desired. However, its main advantage is the presence of the same STM motor with which the 650 and 700D carcasses will work. And the way this motor works is that it allows you to shoot video with autofocus, which operates quite smoothly and makes virtually no noise. Overall, the Canon 18-55mm STM is a good choice if you're interested in the full range of multimedia capabilities your camera can offer, not just photography.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM– the magnification factor of this zoom is greater than the previous one, which makes it a little more versatile, allowing you to take photographs, including in the television range. Roughly speaking, compared to the 18-55mm, it is better suited for photographing distant objects. Otherwise everything is the same here. A wide angle of approximately 74 degrees at 18mm allows you to capture a large number of subjects in one frame, while focal lengths from 85 to 135 can produce acceptable portraits.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Canon EF-S– this is a more “adult” option. This lens has a large aperture (f/2.8), which provides a number of advantages, including greater background blur (by 50mm compared to the same 18-55mm STM) and the ability to produce less noise in photographs in low light conditions. I’m deliberately simplifying your life and not writing in “smart” words, but if you’re interested, you can read about what aperture, ISO and shutter speed are in a separate article. Returning to the conversation about Tamron 17-50mm, it is worth noting a number of interesting facts. Firstly, this lens is produced not only for Canon cameras (like other lenses from third-party manufacturers, which will be described below). So, look more carefully if you decide to buy it - whether you are buying it for the right system. Secondly, there are now two versions of the Tamron 17-50mm lens on sale - with and without stabilizer. Above is the full name of the version without a stabilizer for the Canon EF-S mount. The version with a stabilizer is designated by the additional abbreviation VC and costs slightly more. If you don’t want to overpay, you can take the version without a stabilizer. Moreover, there is a legend that the picture from it is sharper.

Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM– I never tire of repeating that this lens is one of the best universal lenses in terms of price/quality ratio. Of course, this is the case if you have taken a responsible approach to choosing a quality copy in the store. The lens is similar to the Tamron, but better in sharpness, speed and focusing accuracy, as well as in workmanship (more reliable design). If you've been shooting with a kit lens long enough, it might be time to look at something better. For example, this "Sigma".

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM– for those who have had a Canon camera for several days, this lens is familiar. Mostly by rumor, because it is the most expensive universal zoom for Canon crop cameras. You can safely take it even for photographing an important event, such as a wedding. This lens is close in meaning to the Sigma 17-50mm, but not at all close in price. Overall, if you're someone who loves the best or is looking for a lens for commercial purposes, then check out the Canon 17-55mm. A lens is not bought for one day, but for several years. Usually with the prospect of switching to a more reportage camera. Like Canon 7D Mark II.

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM– this is already a fix. A fairly new pancake lens. If it weren't for him, I would be talking about 40mm f/2.8. But for a crop camera, a 24mm lens is more convenient; its EGF on 700D or 650D cameras is about 38mm. That is, it gives approximately the same viewing angle on crop as 40mm f/2.8 on full frame. In general, 38mm is an excellent EDF that allows you to shoot landscapes, street photography and even portraits (if you try hard enough). A small drawback of the lens is that it is designed for crop cameras. It won't be possible to transfer it to FF. But if you don’t plan to switch to full frame in the near future, then there is nothing to worry about. This is a great lens in itself - sharp and small. It is in the latter that his advantage lies.

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM– an excellent option for those who will still switch from crop to full frame. In addition, the lens has a large aperture (f/1.8) and a low price compared to the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art and Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM lenses, which could be recommended if not for their price. As for the differences between the 28mm lens and the pancake described above, firstly, the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM is much larger, and secondly, instead of an STM motor, it has a USM motor, which will not allow you to fully use autofocus during video shooting.

Wide-angle lenses for Canon 650D, 700D

Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses are used for architectural, landscape and interior photography. Well, for everything else, whatever your imagination allows. As the name suggests, these lenses have a very wide viewing angle (and short focal lengths, respectively).

Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX II– one of the best ultra-wide-angle crop lenses. I reviewed the first version. The difference between the first and second is more marketing than real. So, it is quite possible to purchase the first version. Including used versions, they are sold quite often - the lens is popular. For some reason, Tokina is constantly encrypted, and if it is not clear from the name, I will explain: this lens has focal lengths of 11-16mm, and its aperture is f/2.8 (which is not reflected in the name at all). This lens will soon be replaced by the Tokina 11-20mm, which has already been announced but is not yet on sale.

Tokina AT-X 128 f/4 PRO DX- a cheaper and more versatile analogue. The aperture is a little less, but the focal lengths are pleasantly larger. From 12 to 28 mm. Please note that both this and the previous lenses are suitable for the Canon 650D and 700D, but will no longer be suitable for full frame.

Sigma AF 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM– if you want quality, then look at Tokina. But if you need an extremely wide angle, then there is nothing cooler than this “Sigma”. Minimum focal length 8mm. And note - this is not a fisheye. This is still a proper ultra-wide. Naturally, this is a lens exclusively for crop cameras.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM– if you love native glass, then I hasten to please you. Canon has a relatively inexpensive ultra-wide-angle lens for crop cameras. It appeared quite recently; what it is is not yet entirely clear. There is also a Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens - as you can see, firstly, it is not STM, and secondly, it is more expensive. Its advantage is its aperture ratio. As for the picture, it does not outperform the new 10-18mm in terms of quality. That is, in theory, it is better to save money and take a closer look at the new version.

Lenses for portrait photography on Canon 700D and 650D

As you know, there are many bokeh lovers among beginners. Yes, yes, we are talking about blurring the background. Fast telephoto lenses can blur the background as much as possible. Which ones are better for taking portraits on Canon 650D and 700D cameras? Let's get a look.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM- The old guard, one of Canon's most popular portrait lenses. It is used by both amateur and professional photographers. The lens allows you to get good pictures. Of course, it is somewhat soapy at f/1.8, but Canon doesn’t offer anything better at this price.

Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AS IF is a manual lens from Samyang. In fact, it beats the native 85mm 1.8 in all respects: it is sharper, cheaper, and faster. It loses only one at a time - it does not have autofocus. If this doesn’t scare you, then you can consider purchasing the Samyang 85mm.

Essentially, this is the choice. Very modest. One could also mention Helios 40, which they began to produce again. But this glass is specific, you should buy it only after thinking 10 times. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 lens is good, but its price is too high today for me to recommend it on a 700D level camera. Canon 135mm L is a gorgeous portrait lens at full frame, but too “narrow” at crop.

Telephoto lens for Canon 650D (700D) camera

Telephoto lenses allow you to capture distant objects. They are used for filming sporting events (football, auto racing), outdoor exhibitions (dog shows, etc.), air shows, and also for photo hunting.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM- the most popular lens. This is the L-series glass, one of the most affordable. This lens is white (a feature of Canon L telephotos). It is well suited for photographing the events described earlier. Perhaps for an exhibition like MAKS (International Aviation and Space Salon) something with a larger focal length is required. We will look at such lenses further below.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM– a budget version of the previous glass. Suitable for cropped cameras only. If you are unfamiliar with such focal lengths (television range) and do not know whether you need such a lens in principle or not, then you can quite pay attention to the 55-250mm. In addition to the price, it has at least two more advantages - the presence of an image stabilizer and an STM motor. If you don't need the latter or just want to save money, there is a cheaper version of this glass - Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II.

Sigma AF 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM- one of the most affordable lenses with such focal lengths. Perfect for photographing very distant objects. For example, the same air show. It is also much better suited for photo hunting than previous models.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM– a good option if you want more quality than the 55-250mm offers. The lens copes with its tasks perfectly, and at 200-300mm it is quite possible to photograph wildlife.

conclusions

I tried to describe the most popular and worthy lenses that you can safely use on Canon 700D and 650D cameras. Also, all of them are suitable for earlier models in the series (600D, 550D, etc.), the only point is that older cameras do not support STM technology, and, accordingly, there will be no adequate autofocus in video with any lenses. Otherwise, the recommendations will be the same. Of course, it’s impossible to embrace the immensity - there are still many worthy glasses, they just didn’t have a place in today’s article. If you already use some lens on a Canon 650D or 700D camera, you like it, but it is not in the article - write your opinion in the comments, it will be useful to those who are puzzled by the search. If you have any other questions, you can also ask me or other site visitors in the discussion below. That’s all for today, make the right choice!

UPD. Which lens to choose for Canon 600D, 700D, 800D (video)

Articles

RELATED ARTICLES