Beginner in need of Help!

[SamFishlock]

Wow I bet you've never heard that title before...

Anyway, Hey I'm new to the board...

I have been doing digital photography for about 3 years, but only on a basic level with a point and shoot Sony cybershot camera.

I recently purchased the Canon 350d kit, including the 18-55mm lens, and wish to venture further into dSLR by buying a few things, and this is what I need advice on...

I like to shoot a wide range of things, in which I am after a general use lenses (as the kit lens is pretty poor) for day to day use (shooting landscapes, animals, little macro use really) any suggestions? I just know i'm going to get ranted at because there are a million and one lenses for 'general use', so lets say I wouldn't want to spend more than around £300 for now.

However the main use will be to shoot BMX photography, some of which is indoors. I have already purchased the Canon speedlite 580EX flash unit from Ebay, and am waiting it's arrival. But more importantly I'm after a lense for it. I find vast popularity in the use of fisheye lenses in BMX photograph's and was wondering what FE lenses people would suggest for the Canon 350d camera? Again no more than £300 for this lenses aswell.

If there is anyone here who shoots extreme sports a lot please make yourself known to me, as I need all the help I can get!

Many thanks!

Sam.

[Gopher]

How close can you get? Fisheye implies they're right on top of you. I'm a litte confused about the focal length you need. Does the kit lens suffice (length wise)?

[aparmley]

IMHO the XT is going to need all the help it can get - 70-200 2.8 L bare minimum for what you want to shoot - lighting indoors is going to be a test and you'll need that 2.8 and probably ISO 800-1600 - though its hard to say without being in the same light as you will find indoors.

Seeing as it would be best to get the IS version of the above mentioned lens that might be asking a lot out of the wallet - I don't know if the 70-300 IS would be a nice addition or not - I know the IS is going to allow you to hand hold it and pan with greater success but the shutter speeds allowed wide open at the indoor venues might not cut it and outdoors you might not be able to get the proper DOF to isolate your subjects from the other riders, fans, woods, trucks, cars, etc etc. . .

You might consider the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 as its more affordable.

This is just knowledge I've come by reading in the sports forum over at Fredmiranda.com - I highly suggest you become a member there and post a thread there.

Good luck.

[SamFishlock]

Well the fisheye lens if mainly for the style of photo it produces, warped edges and a clear picture in the centre. I merely want some suggestions and experiences people have had with fisheye lenses, costing no more than around £300 ;)

As for the general use lense, I am happy with the range that the kit lens has (18-55) however wouldn't mind having a high end of around 80-100, but wouldn't want to increase the wide angle, as I tend to like to get a lot in the photo.

[Gopher]

Well the fisheye lens if mainly for the style of photo it produces, warped edges and a clear picture in the centre. I merely want some suggestions and experiences people have had with fisheye lenses, costing no more than around £300 ;)

As for the general use lense, I am happy with the range that the kit lens has (18-55) however wouldn't mind having a high end of around 80-100, but wouldn't want to increase the wide angle, as I tend to like to get a lot in the photo.
All the fisheye's I've seen are in the 15mm range. Certainly nothing tele.

So, how close are you? Does the focal length of the kit lens suffice on the WA? on the Tele?

You'll have to decide what you really need because if you have to go too wide, AND too long, AND you need a low-light lens, well, your 300 Euros ain't gonna cover it.

The flash purchase also confuses me. Are you going to be close enough? Its not much good from 30 meters.

All this implies that you're close to the action (under 15 meters). True?

Perhaps a 50mm f1.8 would cover your needs for indoor stuff. Outdoor, a 28-105 f3.5 - 4.5 would do it since you probably want about f4.5 for easier focusing (more DOF). DOF on f2.8 is very narrow and difficult to master - and also expensive.

If you need low light AND zoom, a nice Tamron 28-75 f2.8 is a good yet cheap solution. The AF speed may cause some missed shots, but it's not bad either. With AI Servo mode it'll do.

If you're 30 meters off however, then aparmley's suggestion for 70-200 f2.8 would just about cover it, except for that darned price tag (about 3x your budget). If you don't need f2.8, then go for the Canon 70-300 IS.

[cwphoto]

EF-S 10-22mm. Forget the Fisheye as you'd be cropping off most of the fish effect anyway.