DSLR: 18-55mm + 55-250mm dlk vs 18-135mm kit

[oversoul1404]

so i'm thinking of purchasing an entry level canon 600d dslr. i have no photography background but i think i have a burning passion for it. and, browsing on the brochures, i think the 600d will suit me. problem is, they offer two kit choices for the body

1) 18-55mm + 55-250mm lens kit
2) 18-135m lens

as to what would be my subjects, i still don't know. i'll probably know when i get the camera. what i think the deciding factors would be the ff:

1) range of functions
2) ease of use

thanks in advance

[Raigoki]

choose the 18-135mm.
Why? isang lens lang e. you'll be forced to make good use of that lens in any situations. At hindi ka palit ng palit ng lens. (which might damage your camera sensors i.e. dust, etc.)
Sabi ng mga matagal na nag pphotography sakin, laspagin mo muna yang kit lens mo. hanggang sa matutunan mo na lahat ng functions ng camera mo, lahat ng rules sa composition, etc. at hanggang sa makita mo kung ano ba mostly ginagamit mo, wide end or yung tele end ng lens mo. (in my case, i'm more attached to landscape & street photography, kaya sunod na lens na binili ko e wide lens. )

Wala sa haba o wide ng lens yan. kung problema ang haba, lumapit ka. kung problema e hindi wide, Panoramic + crop + photoshop lang yan. (pero minsan bawal lumapit, kung ganun, daanin mo na lang sa composition, etc.) hth

[oversoul1404]

thanks for the suggestion raigoki. I was able to get quite a lot info from your reply, not only on the choice of lens kit. turns out out that there are lots of concepts that goes into photography. maybe i should read some photography books and see how my shooting instinct fares.

thanks!

[ControlG]

payo ko lang wag ka muna bibili..maghiram ka na lang muna para malaman mo ano talaga gusto mo..para hindi ka magaya sa akin..

[Raigoki]

^
hehe! may inassist ako dati na ka-officemate ko bumili ng camera+lens. mga ilang buwan din, nagsawa... ayun, nagkaroon ako ng slightly-used zoom lens sa napaka murang halaga.

[ControlG]

im also talking by experience..so trust me.. dumaan ako sa 18-55, 70-300, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/4, 50 f/1.8...at ngayon iisa na lang naiiwan my beloved 20-35 f/2.8 which is now for sale together with the cam body

kaya bago bumili..magisip ng mga sampung beses para hindi masayang pinaghirapan

[oversoul1404]

payo ko lang wag ka muna bibili..maghiram ka na lang muna para malaman mo ano talaga gusto mo..para hindi ka magaya sa akin..

well, nung nakakahawak ako ng dslr cameras, ive always wanted to try different settings pero natatakot ako mag experiment kasi baka masira. wag naman sana maging mamahaling paper weight at dust collector yung camera if ever.

[johnnybatu]

Kakabili ko pa lang nung 2-lens kit. After taking thousands of pics from point and click cams, it was about time to upgrade. Na ka over 1000+ na ako since then

There are settings that are automated in the dslr so pag di ka pa confident mag adjust ng settings pwede mo sya iwanan dun.

I bought the 2-lens kit since I knew I needed the flexibility. I had to take pics of graduation events where I couldn't get close enough so I needed the 55-250 lens. As to switching lenses, madali lang sya. Just make sure you do it quickly and avoid dusty conditions.

[ControlG]

another tip...if you like indoor shots go with the fast lenses f/2.8 or larger

[dodindaga]

i would go with the two lens kit.

yes, 18-135 doesn't require you to switch lenses, but as far as my experience with lenses (although im not too familiar with these for canon) a wide range of zoom usually comes out as softer images.

as far as my experience go, lenses with shorter zoom ranges has higher and sharper images. lenses with longer zoom rangers are often softer but they make a good walk around lens since you don't have to change. i used to have an 18-250mm after the first day, i knew i had to let go of it. after 3 years, finally got rid of it and i am not regretting it.

secondly, what aperture lacks, you can make up for with the telephoto lens to get a feel for DOF using 55-200mm

thirdly composition is something to learn, but one thing that is also a must is to learn how to compose in restrictions to telephoto lenses.

with a 18-135, it's easy to just zoom out to get the necessary composition. that's not true for telephoto lenses. and you will feel quite restricted if you don't know how to use it. as recommended in portraiture, telephoto lenses work better because it limits distortions.

try composing with a 70mm. it is actually quite hard to do especially if you are just starting. what you have is a 55mm, and that's a good way to begin to learn with. and knowing you can't zoom out wider than that, you have to learn to adjusted and readjust yourself instead of the camera. i had a 40mm-135 (i think) for an olympus.. even for a 40mm, composing is already quite hard. this is a must if you want to do portraiture. my friends recommends 70mm+

i would recommend a two kit lens, simply because you need to learn the benefits and its restrictions of having both wide angle and telephoto lenses.

---------- Post added at 05:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:55 PM ----------

As to switching lenses, madali lang sya. Just make sure you do it quickly and avoid dusty conditions.

tilt the camera down as to make sure you don't get dust inside the camera body.

[Evil Ghost]

Let's see...
18-55mm + 55-250mm lens kit- Will give you longer coverage(18-250mm vs 18-135mm) but you have to switch lense and there's a chance you might miss good moments(lalo na sa mga weddings or events) while changing lens.
18-135mm lens- Better all around lens but might be too short especially when you're not allowed to go near your subject or shooting birds/wildlife etc.

But if I have to choose one from those two options, then the 18-55mm+55-250mm siguro, although the 18-55mm only would be enough na para sakin and it's already a good walk around lens for me... use your feet na lang kapag need ng zoom

But are you stuck only to those two? Cause I think buying a body+18-55mm only might be the better choice or a body+a cheap 50mm prime. Tapos kapag alam/kabisado mo na ang shooting style mo saka ka mag add ng additional lense.... I started photography with a d3k+18-55mm(although d90+18-105mm was my first dslr) and ginamit ko sya for 1 year before I decided to upgrage/buy new lense.

another tip...if you like indoor shots go with the fast lenses f/2.8 or larger

But f/2.8 lens might be too heavy(and expensive) for someone new into photography and 600d might be too small for those pro-lense... Although fast lens are good investment.

[oversoul1404]

thanks for your tips guys, really helped a lot.

i went with the 18-135mm lens kit, and hopefully it will arrive today. i chose the said lens because since i am a novice in the field of dslr cameras, i want to have a larger zoom zoom for my composition, that is to see if the subject is better shot close up or with the background on. and with this, i think it would be more convenient and easier to decide on the composition with just the back and forth rotation of the lens.

i think the mods can close the thread now.