photography on a budget...

[mrc1703]

I was told by a co-worker who is very knowledgeable on Canon cameras that i should get a 24-105mm lens because it will give me a whole range of shooting options is that true? Pllus, they are almost 1000 dollars that's expensive for a beginner...Are used lenses a good idea and where can you buy a good used lens? Any help will be appreciated..

[RobertTheFat]

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@John_SD wrote:

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@mrc1703 wrote:

... they are almost 1000 dollars that's expensive for a beginner...Are used lenses a good idea and where can you buy a good used lens? Any help will be appreciated..

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As a beginner myself, I say forget the additional lens right now. You don't even know what you want. Learn DSLR photography and make the best use of what you have with your T6 kit. Go out and shoot! You will be amazed to discover how much you have to learn regarding basic composition, learning about the exposure triangle and how to manipulate it to varying results, how to adjust and understand camera controls that you might have no clue about right now and learning a bit about post processing. Think about a lens 6 months or a year from now, if you are still interested. You will have plenty to keep you busy until then, IMHO.

Look, if you are a beginning violinist, someone can hand you a Stradivarius and if you're a normal player, you're still going to sound like crap until you study and practice. You don't need a Strad to learn music or a $1000 lens to learn about photography. YMMV.

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I think you've got it right. The way I like to put it is that better equipment will make any photographer better, but how much better depends on how good you already are. The better you already are, the more difference better equipment makes. In general, if you need better equipment, you won't have to be told; you'll already understand what you need and why.

The only exception to that rule is the few photographers who are better than they realize. For example, I have to prod my wife to accept upgraded cameras and lenses. But she justifies the prodding by taking, in many cases, better pictures than I do.

[Waddizzle]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

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@John_SD wrote:

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@mrc1703 wrote:

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I think you've got it right. The way I like to put it is that better equipment will make any photographer better, but how much better depends on how good you already are. The better you already are, the more difference better equipment makes. In general, if you need better equipment, you won't have to be told; you'll already understand what you need and why.

The only exception to that rule is the few photographers who are better than they realize. For example, I have to prod my wife to accept upgraded cameras and lenses. But she justifies the prodding by taking, in many cases, better pictures than I do.

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I posted this earlier, but it bears repeating.  The only way to fully understand aperture is to get hands on experience, and actually use a wide aperture lens, even if it is the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, which really isn't a bad lens, at all.

"If money is burning a hole in your pocket, maybe you should invest in a good camera bag, or a professional grade tripod and head.  Investing in a quality bag with extra room for future lens purchases will protect your camera gear.  Investing in a professional grade tripod can not only improve the quality of your shots.  It will give you opportunity to explore different types of exposure settings that are difficult to impossible to achieve when hand holding the camera.  Besides, shooting video from a tripod almost always looks better than handheld video, especially when you do not have a camera stabilzation rig.

Many will disagree with this opinion, but buy one of Canon's very inexpensive, WIDE APERTURE, prime lenses [which I listed earlier, in no particular order] will teach you more about photography than spending a similar amount of money on a photography class, if not far more money.  Having access to a wide aperture lens as a learning tool is invaluable."