In February, 2017, students asked me about buying Canon and Nikon fixed focal-length lenses and telephoto lenses.
Canon Lenses
I am thinking of getting the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM lens and was wondering your opinion. I am also interested in getting a telephoto lens, but have no clue as to which one for my Canon EOS Rebel T6. Any suggestions? I would still aim for beginners’ equipment if that makes sense.
Below is my long answer about the fixed lens and my easy recommendation for a telephoto lens. The video reviews are especially good in terms of teaching what to look for in a lens.
FIXED 50MM LENS
I only find good reviews for that 50mm Canon f/1.8 lens. It is small and therefore not very heavy. You will like that your camera is lighter than with a zoom lens! Also, because the aperture can go down to f/1.8, you can easily blur the background while keeping the subject in focus. See Ken Rockwell’s favorable review. He says this is Canon’s best-selling lens.
http://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/50mm-f18-stm.htm
You might prefer a 35mm fixed lens. Because your camera has an APS-C crop sensor, the 50mm lens is like an 80mm lens on a full-frame CMOS camera, meaning 50mm is a good portrait lens on a crop-sensor camera but perhaps not as useful as a 35mm lens.
You have a zoom lens you can set at 35mm and at 50mm. Try both settings. Which would you prefer to have in a fixed lens? If you prefer 35mm, look at the Canon EF 35mm f/2 lens. Problem is its price.
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-35mm-Angle-Cameras-MODEL/dp/B00009XVCU
I have had good luck with buying used lenses from KEH.com. See:
https://www.keh.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/?q=canon+35mm+lens
I see a YongNuo 35mm f/2 lens for $72, a Canon 35mm f/2 for $313, and a Canon 35mm f/2.8 for $99.
YongNuo is a Chinese company I have never heard of before. Canon lenses are better but more expensive. Here is Christopher Frost Photography’s review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YopcLJ3Hl7E
Here is a review of the Yongnuo 35mm lens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_sEM5wE3Ko
If you like the longer 50mm Canon lens, that might be your best buy for quality and price.
TELEPHOTO LENS
A very good starter lens for your crop-sensor camera is the 55-250mm Canon EF-S Telephoto Zoom IS STM Lens, f/4.0–5.6. Here is a glowing review from Christopher Frost Photography.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5wZAvUmPUA
Nikon Lenses
I currently have a Nikon D3100. I am looking to possibly purchase a lenses that will take better sports pictures. I find that I am sometimes too far to (sitting on the sidelines) to capture a good picture. I am also looking for a lens that will take better portrait pictures. I am hopping not to break the bank. I recently visited a camera store – Cardinal Camera, and they recommended the Tamron SP AF 70-200 telezoom, however that comes with a pricey price tag of $1500.00.
FIXED 50MM LENS
I like Ken Rockwell’s recommendations. See:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/10-best.htm
A good portrait lens for a Crop Sensor DX camera like the D3100 — and the least-expensive fixed Nikon lens you can buy — is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF. That is an easy recommendation. See:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/5018daf.htm
TELEPHOTO LENS
Mr. Rockwell recommends the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF, but it sells for $2,000 new at B&H. I often buy used lenses from KEH.com. I see it there now for $1,479. KEH will also buy your used equipment. I also see this lens used on eBay for much less, $437 and up. See:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/300mm-f28.htm
On a DX camera, the effective focal length is 453mm — a long lens!
Note that this is a fixed lens — no zoom. If you want closer or further away, use your feet!
Because the aperture number goes down to f/2.8, lots of light is coming into the camera — four times as much light as an f/5.6 lens.
Amadou Diallo likes the Nikon AF-S VR 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED zoom lens. See:
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-first-nikon-lenses-you-should-buy/
It comes with Vibration Reduction to steady the shots. Good! That more than compensates for this lens’ higher aperture numbers.
This is a much less expensive lens, selling for under $500 on Adorama, Amazon, and B&H. On KEH.com it is $313 to $379 depending on quality and accessories. Ken Rockwell likes it, too. See:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/70-300-vr.htm
–Peace and Pixels,
Danny Schweers
February, 2017