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February, 2025

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Looking to buy a dslr lenses

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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
I'm looking to buy my first DSLR in the upcoming weeks. After doing a bit of research, I've essentially just narrowed it down to a T3i or maybe even a T4i.

I'm not completely dumb when it comes to cameras, but I'm not a professional. Most importantly though, I'm looking for lenses & I have absolutely no clue about them really.

I'm looking for a lens/lenses that will be good for street style fashion oriented photography.

examples:
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In addition, I will need a lens that I can use for essentially every day shooting, & for that I'm thinking possibly a wide angle. I do a lot of fashion oriented work so I'm looking to get shots like these:

examples:
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My price range, to be honest, is definitely below $500 for now. Looking for something quality but not too expensive since i'm just starting out.
12 years ago
18 6
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1337
Posts: 31074 - Karma: 29,624
Sigma 35mm 1.4 or other 35mm (on full frame, that'd be a 22 or so on a crop I believe?)
12 years ago
1 5
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J_BISCHOF
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 1,449
would it not be the other way around? like a 56mm on crop?
12 years ago
5 1
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michael_bc
Posts: 1397 - Karma: 789
I think your best bet on a $500 lens for this type of shooting is a 85mm f/1.8. The Nikon is excellent, I assume the Canon is as well.

If you are mainly planning to take photos, skip the antiquated Canon tXi series and look into getting a deal on a Nikon D90, D7000, or the new D7100. Even a cheap D3200 will take significantly better photos than those Canon bodies. Unless you get a full frame body, the Canon sensors are terribly outdated.

You will also appreciate the larger, brighter viewfinder you will find on a D90 or D7000.
12 years ago
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michael_bc
Posts: 1397 - Karma: 789
^^ I'm recommending the 85mm for shots like the first two examples you give.

If you want to get closer to your subject, the $200 Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is an excellent start.

To get wider than that you will have to spend more money to get quality results. I personally really like the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 and the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 but those lenses are not cheap.
12 years ago
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Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
Rokinon 35 1.4
simple 50 1.4
85 1.4 (sigma) it's a great lens
of course a 70-200 2.8 is fantastic for street / fashion if you don't care about standing out

12 years ago
3 0
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1337
Posts: 31074 - Karma: 29,624
no, i meant he wants a 35mm focal length (ff) so he should look at something around 21 for his crop camera
12 years ago
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J_BISCHOF
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 1,449
both right. pleasure working withyou.
12 years ago
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,798
It's just poor grammar, easy to see what he meant though.
12 years ago
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acuallyisntdolan
Posts: 12 - Karma: 10
i would look into nikon instead
12 years ago
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jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
If you would be interested in the kit lens 18-55 or 55-250, I am selling both of them on ebay right now. Would be willing to let them go for pretty reasonable amount.
12 years ago
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Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
There are lots of good options in that price point. A 50mm f/1.8 would be great for most of the work you want to do. They're around $100. It will feel a bit tight on a crop camera though so sometimes it might feel limited.

Another good option would be a zoom in the 27-50 or 24-70 range. This would be more expensive but definitely more versatile. Sigma has a 17-50 f/2.8 you can get for around $500 used, and Canon has a 24-70 f/2.8 you can pick up for around $900 used if you want to save up for a bit.

I'd almost do something like a 24mm prime (similar to a 35mm on a ff body), and a 70-200 f/4. That way you can basically cover your wide, median, and telephoto options. You'd also have a nice small walk around lens that would be mostly equivalent to what your eye sees.
12 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,003
If you're going Canon, get a 20mm f2.8. Pretty sure they can be had around 350 or so. Or you can put out for the sigma 20mm f1.8 for like 550 or something.

Then, maybe get the 28mm f2.8 or f1.8. The 2.8 is like 200 bucks, the 1.8 is like 400. Both are quite sharp and fast, but it all depends on how shallow of a DOF you want that makes the big difference here.
12 years ago
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,459
Cheapest way to take all of those photos on a 1.6 crop would would be the NS favorite tamron 17-50 2.8
12 years ago
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,459
Well actually, the 18-55 canon kit could take all of those too.
12 years ago
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Ethan.G
Posts: 1166 - Karma: 465
I'd recommend whatever lens will give you a 35mm crop on whatever body you're using; 28mm 2.8, 20mm 2.8, 24mm, just anything in that range. Prime lens would be your best bet if you're looking to get similar shots to the ones you posted.
12 years ago
0 0
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,003
Distortion at 20mm focal length is kinda crap though.
12 years ago
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
bumping this thread because I never ended up buying a lens & don't want to start a new thread.

looking to take photos like this:

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ALSO, i like the field of view of a basic disposable camera. Any lens that would get me something like this photo i took?

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11 years ago
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jfxphoto
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 2,346
Chromeo photoshoot?!
11 years ago
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
at the Chromeo & David Arsham event in nyc. We have a mutual friend.

Also have some pics of them from Le Baron later that night I think. Got drugged so the night's a blur haha
11 years ago
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
A nifty 50 might be a decent option. prime lenses are the way to go.
11 years ago
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
For prime's I'm thinking these?

Thoughts on a Sigma 30mm f/1.4?

Canon ef 28mm f/1.8 usm?
11 years ago
0 0
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,459
I feel like you're asking for lens that gives you the processing/film look of those photos. Are you?
11 years ago
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
noo. If I wanted that film look, the filters on instagram would be enough for me.

I'm looking for something that'll give me a rather wide field of view that I can use as a daily. The one that came w the t3i just doesn't cut it.
11 years ago
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JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
17mm doesn't cut it and you want this for portraits?
11 years ago
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Jiberfish
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 310
I would start off with a canon 50mm f/1.8. You can find them for around 100 bucks and they are awesome!
11 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
All the streetfashion photographers that I know off that use Canon utilize the 50mm f/1.2 or 85mm f1/.2 because they are gearslutz and bokehwhores.

The 85mm focal length will probably be too long on a crop but I advise to not go to wide because then funny things happen with portraits (even full body ones)
11 years ago
1 0
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,392
Just buy a 50mm, whatever is cheapest.

a 35 on a crop will be a little more versatile / easier to use on the street because you won't have to back up as much. But between the two it comes down more to personal preference
11 years ago
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