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What lens best suits landscape shots….?
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Hi Everyone,
I have decided to purchase a canon 40D and do a beginner?s course to get the most out of my camera but I need some lens advice.
I like taking landscape shots – sun rises/sun sets/moon light scapes also. Often these shots would have some wildlife present.
Is there a particular lens that best suits such shots AND can it be used for your every day to day pictures such as birthday parties holidays etc or would these types of shots require another type of lens?
I don?t know if all lenses come as ?is usm? but I would be looking for these specs if that helps any bit.
Thanks in advance,
Liam
Hi Liam,
No single focal length will suit every landscape subject and that’s where a zoom lens will help you get started. Some people favour the wide open views of a super wideangle, some like the compressed perspective of a telephoto. Some like to mix it up a bit.
To get you started I would suggest a couple of zooms that cover you from about 16 or 18mm up to 200 or 300mm. You can achieve this by buying a couple of reasonably priced consumer zooms. Once you’ve played about a bit you might find you need more specialist lenses (e.g super wideangles, flare resistant primes, fast telephotos for wildlife etc).
Good luck
Andyhowya, mostly for landscapes you’ll need a fairly wide angle lens as Andy said from about 16or18mm up. I only ever use a 18-50mm lens for landscape work. But you’ll need a set of ND Grad filters to darken down the bright sky. Every landscaper uses ND Grad filters so get a set. Cokin do a great set for the money, that’s what I use. Best would be Lee Filters but they’re fairly pricey.
Regarding your camera choice, the 40D is a semi-pro camera so…. have you looked at the 400D, gr8 value. Now, that said, I’m very tempted to change from my Sony A100 and get the Canon 40D. I’ll wait till I get a play with the Sony A700 before deciding…..Yep a 16 or 18mm to something would do the job.
Also as Brian says ND Grad filters are a must for landscape photography.
Cokin P-type filters and holder are the ones to get. Reasonable money and good quality.I think Andy’s advice is the best so far-
a big zoom, from 18mm to long-
It’ll give you the range and versatility-I wouldn’t go near a landscape with anything less than 200mm myself-
j
There is no de facto ‘landscape’ lens as such, no more than there is a one lens fits all for ‘people’ shots or ‘sports’.
Different lenses have different benefits which will suit some shots and not others, so it’s really a case of having each situation covered as best you can. The easiest way to do this, as others have said, is to start of with a zoom or two which cover a broad range. Once you find your comfort zone with zooms, maybe you’ll like shooting at the very wide end, you can invest in a range of specific prime lens. As an occasional photographer for the past year or so I’m quite happy to continue with a couple of zooms, wide to medium and medium to long, as they cover me from everything from happy snappies to wide open landscapes to portraits and long view landscapes.I don’t think the 40D is full frame so i’d probably go with something like an 18-55 and a 55-200.
I generally leave the shorter one on the camera as it covers most situations and drag out the big boy when I need it for a specific shot.JB is well known in these parts for taking portraits from 3,000 yards, a strange man but well worth indulging his idiosyncracies.
Mick451 wrote:
JB is well known in these parts for taking portraits from 3,000 yards, a strange man but well worth indulging his idiosyncracies.
:lol: :lol:
Classic Mick.
Hey Guys,
Thanks for all the help. AT least now i have an idea on what i get i can go out and purchase. I cant wait. Hopefully i will have it for my trip to NZ this Christmas and will post a few shots in the new year for yer much welcomed C&C
Regards,
Liam
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