These days, I am keenly interested in photography and am always on the lookout for lenses, filters and what not. All these days, I used to struggle with the technology, but I have now crossed that boundary and am no longer an amateur. I know how to take relatively good pictures using the equipment that I own. Now in order to move forward, I need good lenses. So I am eyeing some lenses and want to try these and then buy them, when I can.
1. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM
Macro + Portraits
I tried this lens once and have used it to take portraits and macro shots. The portraits were exceptional and it was easier to create a bokeh using this lens as the f-stop goes until 2.8. However, I did not find it comfortable to shoot macros using this lens. It is not a zoom lens and since it is 100 mm lens, you cannot get very close to your object (which might be a flower). You will have to shoot the objects from a distance and that made me not buy this lens. I was looking for a lens that could serve both the purposes and I spend more time shooting macros than I spend on taking portraits.
This was the first prime and USM lens that I used and I was delighted to see the photos later on my computer. The quality of pictures was amazing.
Link – Canon website
2. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Telephoto zoom lens
I tried this lens recently when we went to Yellowstone national park, mainly for wildlife photography. This was the first time that I tried an L series lens. The lens is very huge, especially when you are zoomed to 400 mm. I found it extremely difficult to focus when the lens was handheld. The photos that I took after keeping the lens on a solid surface or tripod were sharp. Our tripod was not strong enough to hold this lens properly so I ended up getting some shaky pictures. I need to get a new tripod, if I ever plan to get this lens, which I doubt. Hand starts aching after a while so I have not decided to go for this lens. But I got some closeup pictures of animals, that I would not have obtained without this lens.
I have decided to go for an L series telephoto lens, but not this one. I want a lighter lens. I badly want to discard the not-so-good telephoto lens that I currently own, after trying this great lens.
Link – Canon website
Want to try
1. Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
Ultra wide zoom
Never tried fisheye lens before. The widest lens I have tried is 11 mm and that itself is so awesome. 8 mm would be great.
Link : Canon website
2. Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM
Super Telephoto
800 mm is just wow. It is the double of what I have tried so far, which is 400 mm. But the downside is that it will be toooo heavy!! After trying 400mm, I am sure I cannot use this lens.
Link : Canon website
3. Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L
Tilt shift
Never tried tilt shift before. It will be interesting to see how they work.
Link : Canon website
4. Good Telephoto :
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM (or) EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM (or) EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
I want to try these comparatively lighter telephoto lenses. I would also want to try lenses made by companies other than Canon. Hopefully I will be able to find a good telephoto lens which gives clear pictures, without making a hole in my pocket and without fracturing my hand with its weight. So the hunt for a good telephoto lens is still on. Please let me know if you have tried any of these lenses or if you know some good telephoto lens for Canon cameras.
Link: Canon Website, Canon Website, Canon Website
Are there any lenses that you have been wanting to try?
I am still saving up to get a good quality DSLR camera, so lenses is a door ki bath still. Btw, which cameras have you used and which would you recommend for a beginner?
Also, a friend of mine who does have a DSLR got a lensbaby tilt shift lens. The lensbaby is quite reasonable and she got some good results.
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Nish, I would say go for a Canon T3i or T4i. They are pretty good for beginners.
Thanks Nish, I am yet to try lensbaby. I have heard lot of good reviews about their lenses.
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I have one Point & Shoot Camera that I bought for 3800 rs. and I am extremely satisfied with the kind of photos it’s able to take!! The only thing I may need is a better zoom – 8x to 12x, but that is available in P&S cameras. The operation of P&S is simple, I don’t want to complicate life by buying complicated DSLRs. So, it’s very doubtful that I will ever buy a DSLR, forget buying lenses for DSLR 🙂
I have a couple of friends who are saving money to buy such lenses, like you. Needless to say, I don’t talk much about photography with them 😀
Destination Infinity
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🙂 But with DSLR, you will be able to get better photos DI. You should try a beginner’s DSLR at least once. I am sure you will love it.
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Nice post. Usually, I make comments. But now I am unable to. I have no idea about the technical aspects of the lenses.
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🙂 🙂
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I’ve been looking for another pair of lens too! I’m an amateur and I enjoy taking pics.. but, its not professional quality!
I hope you buy what you are looking for. I still have to learn the technical aspects of the lens I want to buy!!
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Yeah learning the technical aspects take some time. Few years back, even I had no idea. Let me know if you need any help Pixie.
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the problem is these lens are so expensive.. I have a 18-55mm and another and a 75 -300mm ..
I do need a good lens..
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that is so true Bikram. These lenses are very costly and because of that, changing lenses is not easy. 😦
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Great! Its quite a list! 🙂
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Thanks Siddhartha for visiting my blog. 🙂
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I just started exploring photography. Like everyone suggested I should start clicking with my mobile cam and point n shoot to get the basics, later Ill invest in a dslr. I am book marking this page.. Ill refer to this when I reach this stage. Frankly, I did not understand much, but i really waant to! 🙂 DO share the pictures u clicked! 🙂
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Sure Mi. Do come back once you have started using a DSLR. I will share some pictures taken using these lens soon.
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Something hit me last week that had me wanting to learn photography .. After a lot of R&D I went for a beginner’s equipment and now I landed on this .. Will bookmark it for future reference 😀
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oh that’s great Harsh. Congrats for the new camera. 🙂
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Everytime I want to buy, Sri gives me a killer look, but ends up buying it to me somehow. I have kit lens, Telephoto lens, and a 50mm lens, and still want to buy a few more, and upgrade my camera to a full frame. Our wishlist never gets reduced, isn’it it?
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Same here. Husband makes me get a lens eventually. 🙂 And the list of lenses that I want is never ending.
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I researched few of the Nikon counterparts… I currently have a Nikon D90, it is a handy camera for amateurs who like to experiment. But yes, I want to get a portrait lens one day (and maybe a macro, but if I am ever doing nature instead of people) 🙂
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I have seen some of your portraits Guria, on Facebook and your photoblog. They are too good. You should get a portrait lens.
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Hey Ashwini,
Long time…
Somehow landed on this old post of yours and was intrigued by the title as I am also currently exploring the amazing world of Photography and naturally have a wishlist too 🙂 ….I too own a canon entry level DSLR so was adding lenses from your list 😉 to my list …
BTW, did you get any of the lenses on your wishlist ….
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I didn’t buy any of these lenses actually. But I did rent the fisheye lens once and loved it! I might actually buy that one. I am still in search of a telephoto lens. But I am planning to upgrade to a full frame camera in future so not sure if I want to buy more lens.
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Hi Ashwini, you’ve a wonderful blog here 🙂
I am not sure if I qualify to call myself even an amateur photographer, having very limited hands-on experience with DSLRs but being a physics student, the technological aspect of it has intrigued me for a long time and I have read a little about practically every equipment there is in quest to understand the physics behind it 🙂
You mentioned in your latest lens wishlist that you are still hunting for a lightweight telephoto lens, When I read that, the first question that popped in my head was why not try a teleconverter with a medium telephoto range? Maybe because the image quality suffers? Also, aren’t prime telephoto lenses lighter than zoom telephoto lenses?
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