New in the Photography business..

Hello, my name is Lorna from Virginia, USA. I am glad I found this site because I need a lot of help. I have the passion to be a professional photographer someday. I love to take pictures, and make albums to people like retirement pictures, weddings and graduation. I have a software at home that make the album fancy, it's like what you see at sam's club or Rite Aid. What I am doing is not professional, I am just doing it for fun. I want to learn more about photography. So, I decided to buy me a nice expensive camera Canon EOS 600 Rebel T3i. I am still learning how to use it like the settings, speed and more.. As a starter, what will be the best lens to use? When I bought the camera the lens ef-s 18-55mm was added. When do I use the lens 18-55mm? I really appreciate your help.. Need help for a starter...:)

Lorna

Hi Lorna

Welcome to CIC, this is a great place to learn, have you checked out the tutorials section? I would invest in a 50mm look at the 1.8. 50mm f/1.8 bhphotovideo.com
I would use the 18-55mm on landscapes myself, using it at 18mm.

And read read read your camera manual, (I need to do it again)

Thank's Rob.. Yap, believe it or not I kept on reading the manual over and over again until I understand. I still have a long way to go. :) Thanks for the lens advise I will go and price them..

Welcome aboard Lorna. The folks around here live to help you take better photos so you're in the right place!

I echo Rob's comments about getting a 50mm prime lens if you enjoy taking photos of people and portraits. It's very affordable and is the main lens I use for all my portrait photography.

Looking forward to seeing some of your photos :)

For portraiture, I would recommend a longer focal length than 50mm.

Something like a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM or even a Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro. The longer focal length will mean you do not need to get into your subjects face for a fill the frame image while also allowing better control of the depth of field to have your subject in focus while having a nicely out of focus background. The Sigma DG series lenses provide a full frame image circle and for sub full frame cameras, you are well within the best performing area of the lens.

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Originally Posted by Steaphany

For portraiture, I would recommend a longer focal length than 50mm.

Something like a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM or even a Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro. The longer focal length will mean you do not need to get into your subjects face for a fill the frame image while also allowing better control of the depth of field to have your subject in focus while having a nicely out of focus background. The Sigma DG series lenses provide a full frame image circle and for sub full frame cameras, you are well within the best performing area of the lens.

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Don't forget about crop factor!!! 50mm on that camera is equivalent to 85mm right?

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Originally Posted by Tygart

Don't forget about crop factor!!! 50mm on that camera is equivalent to 85mm right?

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The T3i is a 1.6x crop sensor so the 35mm-equivalent focal length is 1.6x the lens focal length so you were close, 50mm x 1.6 = 80mm

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Originally Posted by Rob Douglas

The T3i is a 1.6x crop sensor so the 35mm-equivalent focal length is 1.6x the lens focal length so you were close, 50mm x 1.6 = 80mm

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Exactly! 1.5x on the Nikon DC sensors = 75mm for what I use