My Christmas present was a EOS 350D. I always wished for this camera but i didn`t expected to get this one for Christmas. So i didn`t informed myself to much about DSLR cameras.

The most questions i have are about the the objective.
What`s does it mean 18-55mm? And what does it say about the optical zoom?
I want a objective with 10 x optical zoom. What should i buy?
I see some objective with 18-55mm but they have very different prices. How come that i have different results with objective that have the same 18-55mm (how does it is called, i mean this: 18-55mm?)? I mean i have always the same camera body with the same sensor.

Thanks for your help.

1. What`s does it mean 18-55mm? And what does it say about the optical zoom?
2. I want a objective with 10 x optical zoom. What should i buy?
3. I see some objective with 18-55mm but they have very different prices. How come that i have different results with objective that have the same 18-55mm (how does it is called, i mean this: 18-55mm?)? I mean i have always the same camera body with the same sensor.



1. 18-55mm means it's a medium zone range zoom. 30D's sensor is smaller than full frame (35mm equivilent) you have to multiply those value by 1.6x - which also means 'crop factor'. It's called crop factor. That means 28.8-88mm lens. The one you have is i a kit lens which comes with the Rebel Camera (350D). It crops the sides off because the sensor is not big enough to capture the whole image through the lens. It ain't a magnification, just cropping the sizes off.

2. In DSLR range, we can't count optical zoom by 10x like in compact camera. I highly recommend you to use the lens and the camera you have for couple of weeks then you can come up with a conclusion what lens you will need. There are different type of lenses depending on optical range, quality, apature, build and brand. You will realise once you find what lens you like, it will eventually cost more than the camera body itself.

3. I don't know what you're trying to ask. Just snap away all the time. You'll get use to the camer and ergonomics of it. Once you have finalised that 18-55mm is not doing enough for you, then just ask us.

Just keep on snapping. There is no perfect solution for all photographers. It's what you want and your need.

Hope that helps.

Can i ask you what software you will use to edit your photos?

1. 18-55mm means it's a medium zone range zoom. 30D's sensor is smaller than full frame (35mm equivilent) you have to multiply those value by 1.6x - which also means 'crop factor'. It's called crop factor. That means 28.8-88mm lens. The one you have is i a kit lens which comes with the Rebel Camera (350D). It crops the sides off because the sensor is not big enough to capture the whole image through the lens. It ain't a magnification, just cropping the sizes off.

2. In DSLR range, we can't count optical zoom by 10x like in compact camera. I highly recommend you to use the lens and the camera you have for couple of weeks then you can come up with a conclusion what lens you will need. There are different type of lenses depending on optical range, quality, apature, build and brand. You will realise once you find what lens you like, it will eventually cost more than the camera body itself.

3. I don't know what you're trying to ask. Just snap away all the time. You'll get use to the camer and ergonomics of it. Once you have finalised that 18-55mm is not doing enough for you, then just ask us.

Just keep on snapping. There is no perfect solution for all photographers. It's what you want and your need.

Hope that helps.

Can i ask you what software you will use to edit your photos?

2. I had a Photosmart 850 before with 8x optical zoom. I need a big zoom again because i love viewpoints. I often used the 8x optical zoom of the diggicam to the fullest.

3. I mean i can buy a 28-300mm lens for 300€ or for 1000€. What is the different in the picture quality? If there is no i could buy always the cheapest.

I am not very good with software. I use Adobe Photoshop 4.0LE only to resize the pics.
Some pics i made in the last 2 days.
http://tinypic.com/j75glv.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j75gnt.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j75gsj.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j75gyh.jpg

Nice pictures Tom.

The difference between a 300euro 28-300 zoom and a 1000euro zoom are the fact that the aperture will not be the same, as well as build quality, weather sealing, and frankly, image quality. Things like Image Stabilizer can also be a factor. With lenses you really get what you pay for. As a beginner getting a long zoom lens is great, it lets you explore all kinds of focal lenghts, but I think you will find that it can do everything from 28 to 300mm, but it can't do any focal length well, as opposed to specific wide angles, or specific telezooms. A lens that has more than 3x zoom is usually an all-purpose lens that can do alot, but nothing really good. For now, just stick with your kitlens until you find out what is your most preferred focal length.

http://tinypic.com/j75gnt.jpg

^^ Awesome!

I took more pics.
It is so much fun :D

I spend 4 hours outside taking pics. It was extrem cold >_<
http://tinypic.com/j8kt20.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j8ktch.jpg

I really love to make pics of small rivers with an exposure time of 30 seconds.
http://tinypic.com/j8ktjn.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j8ku2f.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j8kveq.jpg

http://tinypic.com/j8kvnm.jpg

At home i build something to take pics of falling drops. I made around 200pics. But i am not really satisfied with the results.
Exposure time 1/1250; ISO 1600.
I used 3 lamps but the pics are still too dark.
Should i use the flash or the sun or more and more powerful lamps?
http://tinypic.com/j8kx9z.jpg

I'm not very familiar with that kind of photography, but if you want to get really serious there is a macro ring flash which is very good for close up work. If you want to use the on-board flash, but find that it is too bright you can use a piece of white paper or something like that to diffuse the light a little bit. I try that sometimes, and it works ok, nothing spectacular. Of course you can adjust the color of the paper (although colored paper is usually less transparant) to fit your photo.

http://tinypic.com/j8ktch.jpg

where the hell in the world would be tree's leaves left in this time of the year :)

A bit off-topic, perhaps, but 10X zoom does not say anything about the focal-lenght. All lenses have focal lenghts in milli metres. 10X tell only that the tele end of the zoom is 10 times longer that the wide end. Therefore 10X zoom can be theoretically anything; it could be 30mm-300mm (30mm times 10 equals 300mm) or it could be 25mm-250mm or 50mm-500mm etc. You really should learn focal lenghts in milli metres, because that is the ONLY way there is.

Your photo's are AMAZING!!!! :eek2: :eek2: That camera must cost a fortune!

My Christmas present was a EOS 350D. I always wished for this camera but i didn`t expected to get this one for Christmas. So i didn`t informed myself to much about DSLR cameras.

The most questions i have are about the the objective.
What`s does it mean 18-55mm? And what does it say about the optical zoom?
I want a objective with 10 x optical zoom. What should i buy?
I see some objective with 18-55mm but they have very different prices. How come that i have different results with objective that have the same 18-55mm (how does it is called, i mean this: 18-55mm?)? I mean i have always the same camera body with the same sensor.

Thanks for your help.


18-55 is the focal length. All lenses have focal length in mm. The zoom says nothing about focal length xcept as someone aid its the rlative length of tele and wide. 18-55 on the 350d is abiut 30mm-88mm which isnt a tele lens or really a wide angle lens. Its sort of inbetween.

As was already mentioned there are different quality lenses sometimes in the same focal length ranges. You have to do research to find out which is the best. But it usually isnt a good idea to go for cheap glass. Usually (though with exceptions) cheap glass is crap. You have a DSLR now, so you should start building a good collection of glass.

Exactly. I always marvel over the sight of people laying down $1000 for a DSLR, only to save money by putting on a $300 lens. That's not how it works. This is an expensive hobby, get used to it ;)

Exactly. I always marvel over the sight of people laying down $1000 for a DSLR, only to save money by putting on a $300 lens. That's not how it works. This is an expensive hobby, get used to it ;)


Sometimes price isnt the only idicator either. Like, not all cheap glass is crap (Canon's 50mm f/1.8 goes for 100 bucks and it gets RAVE reviews for quality of photos, though the construction is flimsy. But hey, great photos for 100 bucks and nice wide aparature. Im gonna buy this lens). Conversely not all expensive glass is better. For example the much touted Canon 17-40 f/4L goes for narly a 1000 bucks (here it sells for 990 bucks, I dont know the price in the US). But going 3rd party and getting the Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 I spent under 500. Now, I read reviews and tests and the Tamron beat out the Canon at wider aperatures all the way up to something like f/11. As I like shooting at wide aperatures and with the Tamron opening as wide as f/2.8 I went with this glass and I dont regret it at all. Its a great lens.

The point of the story is that this is a hobby where you have to be on the ball. Do your research, read reviews and buy carefully. Dont go for cheap but dont always go for the expensive. Read and research. Its paramount that you get the best glass you can.

I learned today the disadvantage of a DSLR.

I took pics again but with someone who has a EOS 350D, too. She gave me her 55mm - 200mm lens. It really takes a lot of time to change the lens. During my trips i take around 200 pics per day. In my next trip i think i must change the lens around 40 times per day.......

The tripod needs much time too......

That`s me. :)
http://tinypic.com/jfclmh.jpg

Sometimes price isnt the only idicator either. Like, not all cheap glass is crap (Canon's 50mm f/1.8 goes for 100 bucks and it gets RAVE reviews for quality of photos, though the construction is flimsy. But hey, great photos for 100 bucks and nice wide aparature. Im gonna buy this lens). Conversely not all expensive glass is better. For example the much touted Canon 17-40 f/4L goes for narly a 1000 bucks (here it sells for 990 bucks, I dont know the price in the US). But going 3rd party and getting the Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 I spent under 500. Now, I read reviews and tests and the Tamron beat out the Canon at wider aperatures all the way up to something like f/11. As I like shooting at wide aperatures and with the Tamron opening as wide as f/2.8 I went with this glass and I dont regret it at all. Its a great lens.

The point of the story is that this is a hobby where you have to be on the ball. Do your research, read reviews and buy carefully. Dont go for cheap but dont always go for the expensive. Read and research. Its paramount that you get the best glass you can.


Right, the 50mm is indeed a good example of cheap and good. 50 mm is historically a focal length that is cheap to make. I own it, but don't use it as often as I'd like.

I agree that there are cheaper alternatives to the highly touted L lenses of Canon, but I got the 17-40 for about 500 euro's used. $1000 definitely is too steep a price to pay for the lens. As for the f/4, it doesn't really bother me. What satisfies me is that it is useable wide-open, should I need it. The L runs for less than $700 in the US (new), by the way.

Things you pay for aside from image quality are build quality, quality control, weather sealing, full time manual focus.

http://tinypic.com/j75gnt.jpg

If you can come out with this kind of results, I think it is worth your time to scout around for good lenses after you have pushed your kit lens to its limits. Good luck.

Right, the 50mm is indeed a good example of cheap and good. 50 mm is historically a focal length that is cheap to make. I own it, but don't use it as often as I'd like.

I agree that there are cheaper alternatives to the highly touted L lenses of Canon, but I got the 17-40 for about 500 euro's used. $1000 definitely is too steep a price to pay for the lens. As for the f/4, it doesn't really bother me. What satisfies me is that it is useable wide-open, should I need it. The L runs for less than $700 in the US (new), by the way.

Things you pay for aside from image quality are build quality, quality control, weather sealing, full time manual focus.


The tamron is buiolt really well. Very much like a tank. Im mostly on manual focus with it.