Reeling You Back In (Emphasis on Reeling)

Oh boy. Considering the lack of enthusiastic comments (or any comments for that matter and thanks to the few that threw me a bone), I'm guessing I blew all of you into the photo-stratosphere with the technical overload the other day. Indeed, learning about how photography really works can be a tad daunting, rather boring, and I'm am assuming for most of you a turn off. I hear ya. Well, I guess I'm part relieved to hear it because that means that what I share and how I go about sharing it, in "Tracey Terms" is what I'm doing right here. That is a good feeling. So, out with the mind bending stuff and back to the real, hands on, "normal people" discussion. Whew. God, I'm glad that craps behind us.

I have given you my equipment list before here so I won't repeat the details. Just that I have 4 lenses. No, wait a minute, I did have 4 until I got a brand new baby dropped on my doorstep from Lensbabies. YES! I GOT ONE! After all that. I heart my cute little baby now more than ever ( I had to borrow one to get cool shots like this). The people behind Lensbabies are top-notch all the way!Thanks guys. Sniff, sniff. So, I've got 5 lenses. Alright then.

Now, I will begin with my tried and true "basic", good for almost anything, versatile 24-85mm,  3.5-4.5. They call it a zoom lens. And IF you browsed any of the last post's links you might have have noted that there are 2 types of lenses; zoom and fixed (aka prime-which I had never heard before). Zoom let's you zoom in and out without making you move to get a little closer to or further away from the subject. Nice option. Fixed is when the focal length doesn't change. Not even if you want it to. It's fixed and in order to get closer or further away from your subject, you have to move. Anyway, this zoom is the lens I take with me everywhere. School functions, the park, the beach, friends houses, wherever. But, oddly enough it's not what I usually use around the house. However, because it starts at 24mm it gives you a wide view if you need it (and you usually do when you are taking any kind of group photos) and let's you then slowly get closer and closer with the zoom to 85mm and gives you a great option for a nice, tight head shot. So, it works like a charm almost always.

Now, the 24-85mm range is a similar range you might get in a "camera kit" I've mentioned. What's a kit? It's when you purchase a new camera and you'll usually need a standard lens to use with it unless you have one already (like from your old SLR-- just be sure they're compatible). But for most beginners the kit lens is fine. I know way back when I got my first SLR I bought the kit for sake of ease and convenience. You might consider doing the same OR you might be better off getting the camera "body" you want and pitching in a few $100 more for a lens of better quality. But, sometimes it's best not to over think it and just get the damn camera and start having fun with it. If you don't know/can't tell/won't know the difference yet with the kit lens and it fits the budget then just get it. You can always upgrade as your skill and know-how grow. And having an extra lens is never a bad idea. I always keep my old equipment for backup.

Here are two shots of a wall in my family room (welcome to my home-pull up a chair). One I shot at the wider, 24mm and one after I zoomed it to 85mm. I didn't move at all between shots.

 

24 mm

85mm

Just so you can get an idea of how far away I was from my subject, I was about 10 feet from the mantle when I took these. It's a nice variety that will suffice for almost any "normal", day to day need you will have, photographically speaking.

Now, not to confuse you (I've done enough of that) but I do want to point out for some of you a little more advanced that what I don't like about this lens is that it's not particularly fast. What does fast mean? Oh boy. Well, fast lenses let you shoot with your camera's aperture "wide open" (letting a lot of light in) and therefore give you good results in very low light settings without a flash and with less blur. So, the lens doesn't work as well in lower light settings which for me, is a bummer (you know, because I opt not to use my flash very often). And that is why I choose other, faster lenses for when I shoot around the house and at portrait sessions. Do they sell faster lenses with that zoom option? Yes, but sisters, they are not in the budget right now. And the kit lenses I spoke of will not be fast either, FYI.

I will talk more about the aperture and what the heck that means and why it's relevant in my next post. I can't bear to write anymore today. Like I said, it's a can of worms gals. Messy.

Comments

[Alissa]

I have purchased 2 lenses since I bought my Rebel--a 75-300mm for wildlife shots and a 50mm fixed. I have had the worst time getting used to the fixed lens--I keep trying to zoom in with it! So much so that I still use my kit 18-55mm most of the time...

[Kelly Bera]

What are some of the pros for a fixed lens? Is that for close ups or portraits?

[Paige]

Tracey! Sorry you didn't get a lot of comments yesterday but in my case, I just wanted to come back to it later when I could take my time and go through it all. I really do want to know about all this though. So keep up the good work!

[Laurie]

Ditto to Paige's comment!

[Sarah]

THanks for blogging about this! I'm reading through it and trying to wrap my head around it. It's helpful!

[megan]

i, for one, bookmarked all the sites you linked in your previous post. they are great resources, but as paige pointed out, i just haven't had time to go through anything thoroughly. thank you for clarifying what a "fast" lens is. i have only the 18-55mm lens that came with the kit, so i'm really confused about all the various options out there. it's helpful to have the comparison photos that you posted today so that we can see exactly what kind of range these lenses have. question: does the 3.5-4.5 stand for the aperature range necessary for using this lens????
thanks!

[Stacy]

Tracey, thanks for those sites you referred to yesterday. I looked at them and loved them!

I looked at some of those faster lenses yesterday, and...whoa baby, are they PRICEY! I'm not at the point to where I can buy a lens like that since I'm not a pro. I would love the low apps and great focus they give but its not in the budget to spend as much as my camera (or more) on another lens.

I think that getting the kit lens as a starter lens for a DSLR is a good way to go. You can learn your camera and then start focusing on what else you need it to do. My 50MM was a good second lens buy. Seriously the 50MM 1.8 is a super deal at around $100-$120.

[Peetsmom]

Yes, I was intimidated. I admit it. I have been toying with the idea of buying a new camera, one that is not a simple point and shoot. I love my digital point and shoot, but am so terribly envious of the guy at the pool who can capture water droplets around the swimmer's head! They are beautiful, crystal clear shots. I want that! Waaaaahhhh! I'm whining. Sorry. I bookmarked all your links and will get to reading. But it'll take a while!

Thanks!!
k.

[Kari]

This post made a lot of sense to me.

Although I DID appreciate the links from yesterday, they kind-of-confused me. (So I bookmarked the sites for when I wasn't having my evening cocktail, in order to fully concentrate)

This post, I could understand (Whew! It is okay I just had a LI Iced Tea!)

Just that quick mention of aperature and how it relates to light / blur / flash-necessity made a light-bulb go off in my head. I have been dropping in aperature-rings into my new Lensbaby pretty much randomly to try to figure out which each "did." DUH.

[Rachelle]

Your blog has been one of my greatest discoveries on the internet. From the photography teachings, new products and family fun ideas...I admire your work, blogs and fun personality that shows through in your writing.

Thanks Tracey! Keep it up...I will always be reading!

[Melody]

Unlike Kari who bookmarked those sites to read when she WASN'T having her evening cocktail...I bookmarked them to read after a few glasses of wine...or liquor...or beer...no, I'm serious.

Tracey, I understand "your talk" so keep talking. I have the Canon Rebel XT and the kit lense and another lense I purchased but I don't know what it is. I think I want a super wide angle lense. Do I? See how informed I am? I'll give you all the credit.:)