You can get a puffin diffuser for like $15 and it takes the sharp shadows and highlights/bright spots away. I agree with getting a prime lens. If you want to make your way across the state I should be getting my 50mm 1.8f in the next few days. It's for my nikon but it'll give you an idea of what it is like.

dont listen to the hardware guys! learn how to photograph with what you have and only buy more lenses when you reach YOUR limitations with the exceptional kit lenses! oh and get a flash you can bounce.

I disagree. Ditch the crap lens, spend $90 on a good prime lens and then go to photo school. I don't see the point in wasting time learning with a crap lens. I can tell you from first hand experience that it's a not a good feeling when you realize that you had a great shot except for the issues in the image caused by your junk lens. There's a reason I sold all my junk glass- and that lens that came on this camera will never be worth more than it is now. BTW- shopping used lenses is a great way to go IMO. I've seen the 50mm f1.8 prime go for as little as $50. If he finds one of those, he'll probably come with some cash after selling the new junk. ;)

Hey I like my new junk :giggle:! I'm completely new to this so I am going to use what I got and learn a little before I go crazy, lol. I bought a few books to outline features/functions/concepts of the camera & photography in general, so I'm going with that initially. Everyone has to start somewhere right. I think those photos pretty damn good for just turning on the camera and pressing the button :fawk:

My point was that you mentioned selling the lens, and if that happened, you'd have the dough to buy a better lens and dough left over. I've been doing photography for 35 years and still find it challenging. :D

fine fine, I'll give you one fast prime lens and the rest requires talent.

Keep your kit lens, and follow the advice to get a solid prime (or a few). You will have plenty of chances to create practice shoots for yourself, and to work on your skills. You are also going to take this camera with you to events and fucking around where you're gonna leave it in one of the priority modes, or program or something... and you'll want to make sure you get your subject in a photo that is expected. Until you are seasoned and fast, don't feel bad at all about relying on the kit gear, and some degree of auto to get your photos. When you have time to really work on your skills, learn to use all of the manual settings, and learn to use the higher quality glass. Beyond the quality, it will (much more importantly) force you to learn better framing focus and balance practices.

Only sell the kit lens to fund other gear that will give you the same or better performance, without losing the convenience of leaning on the camera's auto features when it suits the situation. The bottom line is, you don't want to completely miss shots because you were still learning... but you also need to have the tools to learn beyond what the auto equipment will give you.

I agree with not selling your current lenses until you are ready to upgrade. They may not be the fastest focusing, may have some chromatic aberration, they may be a little soft, but they may get the shot you want and once you sell it you may kick yourself. True you won't get more money for them later but still I feel until you are limited by the hardware you should not upgrade, nor do you need to. Kinda like when someone who doesn't know how to drive buys a go fast car (ie most evo drivers). But seriously a flash diffuser makes almost every shot that you use a flash with look better imo.

I've got a D5000

I won't be selling the 18-55mm vr kit lens EVER!

edit: well, I guess I could, but I dont have any plans to...

The reason is: at full zoom (55mm) The focus distance on it is 4"..... I've got a full frame 12MP Pic of a duracell AAA. It may not be as good as a full fledged macro lens, but it's in my bag because it's better than any of the 'fancy' glass I own. Ive got the cheap 55-200mm vr lens = trash. I've got the 18-105 vr D90 kit lens as my walkaround, and the 70-300mm vr nikon lens which is good for tripod shots of stuff that holds still, or sunny day long distance shots. I'll be getting 2 more lenses in the mail tomorrow - A sigma 50mm f/1.4 prime, and the sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. There's also a flash in that box - my best friends wedding is coming up, so I wanted some fast glass for indoor stuff.

I actually had a Photoshop CS4 seminar today (Technically for work), but while I was there I used one of my photos from last night to apply some techniques learned in the class. It isn't perfect, but not bad for only a few minutes of post processing during the class...

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Got my 50mm in today. Here it is catching a pic of my jdm dog

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...3a7d70c8cf.jpg

GOOD CALL! What a difference!

This is the fucking truth.

I <3 my 50 1.8

I also rock a 10-22 EFS. My next glass will probably be the 70-200 2.8L..

I ended up getting the Canon T1i with 2 lens and an 8 gig class 6 SD card for $801 shipped from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T1i-Digi...4272432&sr=8-1

You have to click on the "add both to cart" button and then put in the promo code to get the 200 off. Pretty much gives you the IS lens for free. I've heard the other lens is garbage.

This deal also applies for the Canon XS and makes that package 530 shipped. But I was informed by many that I should just get the upgraded body so I did.

I had one and moved on to a 100-400L for the extra focal length I needed, but there is no denying that I miss that lens. It really is the perfect tele zoom IMO. Another outstanding lens in the spirit of that 50 is the Canon 85mm 1.8 prime- sharp and quick like an L at only a quarter the price and .6 stop. I got to use one a few weeks ago and it was stunned. As stated though, this camera stuff isn't so different from cars/turbocharging.:p

No love for the full frame 50mm f1.4? It's my favorite, by far.

I've used (rented) it and couldn't justify it at 4x the price. Same with that 85 vs. the near $2k L 85. Decisions based on where I want/need to focus the camera cash. I'm not going to argue that with most canon lenses, the more you spend the better the quality.

Good point there. I picked mine up used for $330. I use the extra 2/3rds of light gathering ability almost every time I use it.

Jesus, Canon is coming out with new bodies faster than usually.... or maybe since Ive been out of retail my concept of time is constrewed. Canon also just celebrated their 40 millionth(sp?) EOS SLR production.

The 550D is one badass body, especially at that price... blows the deal I got on my XSi 2 years ago out of the water lol. The 18mp cmos sensor might be overkill but its mostly there for marketing. 1080p video is impressive along with it's new metering system as well.


I would love to see canon put some of the better lenses, like the 28-135mm that comes with the 50D currently, on some of higher end of entry level SLR's like this 550D. Like its said in this post, glass is extremely important.


Good find btw