My Top 5 Recommended Canon Lenses Under $600

Earlier this month I posted my top 5 Nikon lenses and now it's Canon's turn! If you are wanting to add a few lenses to your arsenal and you shoot with a Canon DSLR, check out my recommendations below. Please note that both of these articles are geared towards those who own a cropped sensor (for Canon, an APS-C) camera; if you own a full-frame camera (such as the Canon 5D Mark iii), you should be well on your way to understanding lens selection and will be in a whole different budget ball-park. However, I do note that some of these are compatible for both camera bodies AND I give just a few options that are closer to the $1,000 range. 

For those of you just getting started or wanting to find better image quality, here's a few lenses that can help! 

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• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 - Portrait/Fast Lens

  • If you're looking for a great affordable lens that can dramatically improve your photography, this is the one to start with. It's a no brainer at the price of only $125 on Amazon! I'm blown away at how great that price is; it is even $100 cheaper than the Nikon equivalent! With this prime lens (a lens that has a fixed-focal length or no zoom which means sharper images) you can get those beautiful blurry backgrounds or bokeh. If you've got a little more to spend and want to take it a step further towards great image quality and great performance in really low light settings, check out the 50mm f/1.4 for $349 on Amazon. Both of these lenses are compatible with Canon full-frame and APS-C DSLR cameras. 

• Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 - Portrait Lens

  • My good friend is a fantastic wedding and portrait photographer and this is her favorite lens. The extra focal length in the 85mm creates Bokeh that is absolutely beautiful. It is a great portrait lens! Once again, this is a fixed/prime lens and will offer sharp images with great quality. You'd be surprised at the image quality with this compared to your kit lens (if you have the 18-55mm lens)!  This lens is compatible with Canon full-frame and APS-C DSLR cameras. Find this lens for $369 on Amazon. 

• Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 - Everyday Lens

  • Okay if we were talking perfect lenses here, the next option of an 'all-around, every-day lens' might be the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L. BUT that lens costs FOUR TIMES the amount of this Tamron lens! The reviews about it are all over the place; it is a great lens, especially at the lower price. It's not as heavy and well-built as the Canon L lenses, but it is well made and the image quality is pretty dang close. To have a versatile lens that offers a good zoom range AND the ability to shoot in low light with that lovely f/2.8, that's a pretty happy thing. This one is worth looking into. Get it for $499 on Amazon. If you have the budget and want to find the next best 'walk-around' option, one of the greatest is the Canon 24-105mm f/4 L lens that goes for $999 on Amazon. Photographers love the reasonably fast aperture, a great focal length and very sharp images. 

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L - Telephoto Zoom Lens

  • If you need more zoom than your everyday lens, this telephoto lens is a great buy. The f/2.8 version is $600+ more than this version, but the consistent aperture of f/4 even at it's maximum zoom is a good thing to have. The image quality of this L series lens is awesome; it yields sharp images, has fast focusing and is lighter than the more expensive versions. Keep in mind that this lens will be fantastic for well-lit settings such as outdoor sports where you can plan to use a fast shutter speed. Find it for $599 on Amazon. This lens is also compatible with both Canon full-frame and APS-C cameras. 

• Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 - Wide Angle Lens

  • This lens is a great intro lens for wide-angle photographing (such as landscapes or interiors). It is also at a great price of $279 on Amazon. This lens will only work on an APS-C camera, not full-frame. At the top of our price line is another option, the incredible Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L wide angle lens ($999 on Amazon). Photographers rave that this lens boasts even greater image quality and sharpness than the 16-35mm f/2.8! If you're serious about landscapes or real estate images, this will give you a lot of bang for your buck. 

As always, be sure you consider your subject matter and then your budget to find out which lens is the next best choice for your camera bag. I hope these options can send you in the right direction for improving your photography! So much of it has to do with your lens. Don't forget that!

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My Top 5 Recommended Nikon Lenses (Under $800)!

So you've had a Nikon camera for some time now and you're getting a little bored with the kit lens it came with. You want a new lens or two, but where do you even start? Today I'd like to get you headed in the right direction with some lens recommendations that hopefully won't cost much more than you paid for your camera body. It can definitely be a SHOCK to discover how expensive lenses can be.

Check out my top five lenses (okay, I mentioned seven :) for APS-C sensor cameras, or DX-format lenses, under $800. If you aren't sure what kind of camera you have, do a quick google search to find out if it's a crop sensor (DX) or a full-frame (FX). If you want to learn more about the difference between a crop vs full frame camera, read my article here. It's VERY important to know the difference when buying a lens.  

• 1. Nikon's Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 or Nikkor AF-S FX 50mm f/1.8. I grouped these two lenses together because they are similar focal lengths and are perform similarly. Both are very sharp and allow you to shoot in low light. The 35mm lens will allow you to get closer to your subject (about a foot) and the 50mm requires about a foot and a half from your subject, so not quite as close. I like having a little more distance from my subject with my 50mm; it also gives me a little more bokeh (blurry background). The 50mm lens will be compatible on a full-frame camera, should you choose to upgrade your camera body, but the 35mm is not. Both are very affordable! Get the 35mm for $197 on Amazon. Get the 50mm for $216 on Amazon.

• 2. For a telephoto/zoom lens I recommend the Nikkor VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. This lens will give you a great range to zoom for wildlife, your kids sporting events, distant landmarks or landscapes while traveling. This lens is more affordable because it doesn't have a really low maximum aperture, but the Vibration Reduction will help you shoot at lower shutter speeds (to let in more light) without having blurry images. Other zoom lenses with a lower maximum aperture (such as f/2.8) can be $1,400 or more! Get this zoom lens for $497 on Amazon.

• 3. Wide angle lens - Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 is a great choice! I own this lens and have loved it; for landscapes and interiors it has been awesome. Distortion is common among wide-angle lenses, and this one handles it well; distortion is minimal. Having the constant f/3.5 aperture lets you shoot wide open in low-lit settings, even zoomed in. It is well built and a good price for $449 on Amazon. 

• 4. A great all-around walk-around lens is the Nikkor 18-200mm AF-S VR II. This lens is great for everyday photography, travel and will give you the right amount of zoom you need in those scenarios. The Vibration Reduction also helps create sharper images. Get it for $596 on Amazon. If it's in your budget and you don't need quite as much zoom, the fast Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM lens is a great replacer for your 18-55 kit lens. It has much better quality and can shoot in low light very well. Get that lower f/stop to let in more light on this lens for $799 on Amazon. 

• 5. If you are serious about portraits, the 85mm f/1.8 lens is beautiful. It is a fast lens to let you shoot in low light, and you'll get that great bokeh (blurry soft backgrounds). This somewhat telephoto fixed lens puts your subject farther away from you, but fills the frame and blurs the background. Get it for $477 on Amazon. 

Once again, consider your subject matter and what you'll be photographing most. If you want to start simple and cheap, get a sharp fixed lens! You can't go wrong with one of those. If you have a Nikon lens you love, comment below and let us know!

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Understanding Lens Selection

Now that you have your DSLR, it's time to switch gears and consider lens selection. Before choosing the right lens you need to know a little more about how they work! The first thing to understand is that every lens has a certain focal length(s) which is measured in millimeters (such as 50mm). This focal length, paired with the kind of sensor your camera has, determines how much can fit into a photo. 

Shorter focal lengths or wide angle lenses such as 20mm or 35mm allow you to be close to your subject (they fill most of the frame) and the background seems to be farther away. They also allow you to fit more into your frame.

Longer focal lengths, such as 105mm or 300mm lenses, allow you to stand farther away from your subject (having your subject fill your frame) but the background seems closer than normal. These lenses make a smaller area look larger (the higher the focal length number is, the more zoom you'll have). Let's break it down into the types of lenses there are and why you would want to shoot with these lenses. 

Wide Angle Lenses: The shorter your focal length is, the wider your angle of view will be or the more you'll be able to fit into your image. A wide-angle lens is usually considered anything under 35mm. This is especially useful for landscapes and interiors; trying to fit as much of scene in a photo as you can.

Standard Lenses: Standard lenses (such as 50mm or 85mm) are great for portraits and everyday scenes. A 50mm lens acts similar to the way our eyes see a person or subject; thus being a standard lens (with standard magnification) making our subject look more natural. Most cameras come with a kit lens, such as an 18-55mm lens. 

Telephoto Lenses: Telephoto lenses don't fit as much in the frame. This allows you to get closer shots of your subject and have a smaller depth of field (easier to get a blurry background). Telephoto lenses can be great when shooting portraits, wildlife and/or sports because they allow you to get close to your subject. 

When considering a lens, it is important to remember that not all DSLR camera's have the same size of sensor. The lens and the sensor go hand-in-hand so be sure that the lens you buy is compatible with the format of your sensor. Most entry-level DSLR cameras have a smaller or cropped sensor (like an APS-C sensor); when choosing a lens, a standard 50mm lens acts like a 35mm lens on a cropped-sensor camera (the view isn't as wide as it would be if the lens was on a camera with a full-frame sensor).

Here's a list of what companies label their APS-C format SLR lenses:

• Canon - EF-S

• Nikon - DX

• Pentax - DA

• Sony - DT

• Sigma - DC

• Tamron - Di II

• Tokina - DX

You can use full-frame camera lenses on an cropped-sensor camera, but these APS-C format lenses will not work properly on a camera with a full-frame sensor. Keep this in mind if you plan to upgrade to a full-frame camera body in the future. Each camera has a certain kind of lens mount as well, which means how a lens physically fits onto the camera. You won't be able to mount a Canon lens to a Nikon camera :) 

Lenses are categorized into two categories; fixed or prime lenses and zoom lenses. A fixed lens stays at one focal point (like 50mm) and doesn't have any moving parts. They are smaller, lighter and allow for brighter, sharper images. Since they have no moving parts, the glass provides higher quality images. Fixed lenses are considered 'faster' because they have large apertures (like f2.8) which let in more light. Zoom lenses (such as 18-55mm) allow you to move from one focal length to another. These can be convenient but you'll give a little of the quality when choosing a zoom lens. They just aren't quite as sharp as fixed lenses.

Consider your subject matter and what you spend the majority of your time photographing. This will determine the kind of lens you want to invest in. If you shoot sports, wildlife or street-style photographs, a zoom or telephoto lens would be a great choice for you. If you want great portraits, investing in prime lenses is the direction to go. If you want an all-around lens to travel with that will give you a good range, something like an 18-200mm lens would be nice to have. Cameras are excellent these days, the real difference is made when you pair your DSLR with a great lens. They can be expensive but the investment is worth it to get great images. We'll cover more about recommended lenses soon!  

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Best Beginner DSLR Cameras

It's November! Black Friday is approaching quickly, as well as Christmas. For a lot of people, this means thinking about upgrading or investing in a DSLR camera. It can be overwhelming sometimes to try and decide which DSLR camera to buy. Nikon and Canon are leading the industry, even though some companies such as Sony are quickly catching up. When it comes down to it, both Nikon and Canon have great technology, design and functions. Canon seems to be a little more popular as far as sales goes. You really can't go wrong with either brand, and if you are just starting out, you can almost close your eyes and point to one of their camera bodies from the last two years to present, and absolutely love it.

It is important to remember that camera bodies are remarkable now-a-days. Investing in a good lens is where you will notice the difference in image quality. Prime or fixed lenses have great glass and create sharper images than zoom lenses that have moving parts. Think about what kind of photography you plan to do in the future, and what kind of lens/lenses you might need to save up for to get you the best results. If you already have a lens or two from a certain brand, it would be smart to go with that brand. I highly recommend adding on a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens to begin with. These retail for around $100 with canon, $200 for nikon. This is an extremely affordable lens that can take great portrait, product and food shots. The low aperture on this lens will give you a more shallow depth of field that people love. Also think if family members or friends have gear you might want to share with; it would be beneficial to get the same brand as them. Most friends and family I know usually pick between Canon and Nikon, so my recommendations are based between these two brands.

Here is my guide for the best DSLR cameras for beginners. All of these are under $1,000.

1. Nikon D3300 - Price $446.95 (with kit lens on amazon)

• 24.2 Megapixel CMOS DX-format sensor

• 5 frames per second

• 11 Auto Focus points with 3D tracking

• ISO 100-12800 +

• 1080 HD video / 3" LCD screen

• Easy panorama mode & a beginner friendly guide mode on camera

• Wi-Fi enabled (send photos wirelessly to your phone or tablet)

With the built-in beginner guide (on screen instructions/descriptions of settings), superior image and video quality and access to hundreds of Nikon lenses at that kind of price - this is a great pick. This camera controls the noise/grain in photos taken at a higher ISO very well (find out why ISO directly relates to image quality in my previous post Understanding ISO). It is also light-weight and pretty small for those looking to lighten their load. 

2. Canon EOS Rebel SL1 - Price $499.00 (with kit lens on amazon)

• 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor

• 4 frames per second continuous shooting

• 9 point Autofocus system

• ISO 100-12800 + 

• 1080 HD video

• 3" touch panel LCD screen

• Movie Servo AF (continuous focus tracking while recording video)

If you're searching for a smaller DSLR body, this is also great pick. This canon offers auto focusing while recording video which is awesome, and an improved live-view mode. 

3. Canon T5i - Price $649.00 (with kit lens on amazon)

• 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor

• 5 frames per second continuous shooting

• 9 point Autofocus system

• ISO 100-12800 +

• 1080 HD video

• 3" articulating touch panel LCD screen

• Movie Servo AF (continuous focus tracking while recording video)

This is a great Canon if you're going to take photography further than just a basic first-step DSLR. There is a T6i out, but the battery life is weaker and it struggles to track movement (no AF in live view). I'm not sure the extra Megapixels would make the T6i worth the extra money. The T5i comes with an upgraded kit lens, which is well worth buying this model over the T4i (which had some issues with the grip, otherwise almost identical to the T5i). 

4. Nikon D5500 - Price $796.95 (with kit lens on amazon)

• 24.2 Megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor

• 39-point Autofocus system

• 5 frames per second continuous shooting

• ISO 100-25,600

• High resolution, fully articulated 3.2" LCD touch screen

• Wi-Fi (share images to phone/tablet wirelessly) 

The D5500 is comparable to the D3300 when it comes to image quality, but boasts some of the newer features such as the tilting LCD screen, a more expansive Autofocus system, longer battery life and Wi-Fi if those are important to you. It also has a better grip making it easier to hold. If you want to save a couple hundred bucks, check out the Nikon D5300. The D5500 is almost the same camera, it just basically adds the touch screen and a longer battery life. 

If you're hoping to save a little more on a DSLR, you can always look into the predecessors of some of these models or look into buying used gear. It can be a risk, but you can also luck out and get great deals from others wanting to upgrade. If you can't decide between the lower priced Nikon D3300 vs. the Canon SL1, I'd recommend the D3300. Not just because I'm a Nikon shooter :) read more about that comparison here.

If you're willing to spend a little more, I also love the Nikon D7000 (now just around $500 for the body) and the D7100 is the more expensive upgrade (around $800 for the body), with the newest model the D7200 (around $1100 for the body) if you are wanting a step closer to the professional DSLR cameras. All three of these are great options. The Canon 70D is also a great option on this level (around $1200 with an 18-55mm kit lens).

Feel free to visit my contact page if you have any further questions about which camera is right for you!

Source - www.amazon.com