Just picked up a 450D at a good price.
Any of you photogs out there, what would you recommend as a mid priced 'all purpose' lens? Looking to spend up to $500 at most right now until I get better at this new hobby.
I have my eye on the Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS but that's going to have to wait for me to spend $1k on a single lens...
I think for 'all purpose' in your range, you could go for something like the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
https://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=17518
But take note, on these types of super zooms, while you gain a huge range with a single lens, there is a sacrifice with image quality. This somewhat negates the entire point of buying such a big camera that can change lenses. You may as well buy one of their high end models from their Powershot line.
The best option for using DSLRs is to have a small set of quality lenses that cover your needed focal range. That way you maintain the maximum image quality available to you. Or just get the ones that you would shoot the most.
My top (affordable) recommended specialized lenses:
10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 - Best wide angle for crop bodies
17-55 f/2.8 IS - fantastic all rounder. Great depth of field and low light performance. Could easily be labeled an 'L' lens.
50mm f/1.8 II - this could be the best lens ever created. Its like $100 dollars and puts out the sharpest images your camera sensor can make. Price plus image clarity make this one a no brainer. Note is has no zoom, but it will bring out your creative side.
Extension tubes - buy a cheap set of kenko extension tubes, stick it on your 50mm lens, and you have just made the world's most cost efficient macro lens.
And more. ask around. tons of lenses out there. you dont have to stick to canon ones either. good luck.
Oh, I didn't know you were writing it short hand, now I know exactly what you're talking about. I don't think Canon even makes lenses without IS technology built in anymore. I believe the Ultrasonic in mine is like super advanced IS.
Image stabilizing technology counter shakes the optics to balance the small shakes that occur while hand holding. It is not a miracle worker and its benefit is minimal and only functional at slower shutter speeds. Its usefulness can be somewhat negated with wider apertures or tripods. I would say IS gives you about half to a full stop benefit.
It is not standard on canon lenses, it varies depending on the model.
Also 'Ultrasonic' is not related to IS, it simply refers to the motor that drives the autofocus. (USM)
