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**del19_82** · 02-09-2011, 12:56 AM

I have a nikon D3100 that I got recently. I used it for the pictures for 3D Scotland and I was more than happy with them but that was with a 300mm lense. I have the 55mm lense with mine but for Heli pictures they tend to be too far away for any decent detailed images of them. This camera shoots in HD video as well but does need a top spec memory card for them to be any use.

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**cjcj1949** · 02-09-2011, 12:59 AM

The standard lens for a camera was always the diagonal of the negative. 35mm is 24X36 and so the standard lens was 55mm. Most cameras give the focal length on the lens and then you just scale it by the size of the sensor. The field of view comes from basic trig, or drawing a scale diagram. I've got an old Olympus with a 10X zoom, but the cost of anything similar in 35mm is very high.

**Zeeflyboy** · 02-09-2011, 01:18 AM

You'd have to be pretty close to get a good shot of a heli with 55mm

You really want to be looking at the 200+mm range for something like that....

I have a Canon 24-105mm L F4.0 USM which is my go-to lens (also costs a frikkin packet lol) and it's uber versatile but a bit short for really decent heli close ups. You can get a [i]relatively[/i] cheap kit style 55-270mm lens (the perfect companion to the standard 18-55mm if you're starting out) and the longer ends of that should be just about right, as long as the light is good you'll still be able to use a reasonably fast shutter, I think at the long end the aperture is f5.6 off the top of my head so it's not tooooo slow.

When I went on safari I rented a 100-400 L USM (the lens is about £1300 to buy) and god I loved that lens. It cost about 100 quid I think to rent for a whole week with insurance, so that's always an option if you want a chance to play with seriously nice lenses... that lens would be pretty good for getting Heli close ups, but if you were going to be renting I might edge it out with the 70-200 f2.8 L USM because it'll let you use a much faster shutter speed for the same lighting conditions.. with fast moving buggers like heli's that's probably more important than having the extra focal length.

10x zoom doesn't really translate to focal length easily - zoom is merely a function of the minimum and maximum focal length of the lens. For example the aforementioned 100-400mm has a zoom of 4x (400/100)... a 55-270mm has a zoom of about 4.9x (270/55)... but obviously the 100-400 has a much longer focal length and thus "reach" if you like.

**CookieMan** · 02-09-2011, 01:18 AM

I've got the 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ED VR lens on Nikon D90, buddy.

Does it's job well.

**idbvideo** · 02-09-2011, 01:20 AM

As the sensor is APC size on the 550, the focal length of the kit lens is not the same as the quoted size, which is for 35mm, its 1.6 times the length stated. so 18 to 55mm is equivalent to 29 to 88mm and the 18 to 135mm is really 29 to 216mm.

I have a powershot 130sx and a 500D and to be honest I tend to use the powershot more. A DSLR is nice to handle and feels more like a proper camera but both take excellent photos. The powershot has more versatility due to its lens. Having said that, even the kit lenses for DSLR cameras are much better, and usually faster.

**Gymbal** · 02-09-2011, 01:22 AM

[QUOTE=LaurenceGough;710909]

Would the 55mm be ok for photographing helis (not too far away).

Cheers,

Laurence[/QUOTE]

Not if you like your eyebrows ;)

Why not get the kit lens 17-55 and get a sigma tele, a lot cheaper and pretty good lens for a non pro. I sold all mine now, but I did have the 70-300mm Sigma, nice lens, half the price of the canon. Those two together will cover most stuff.

Rob

**LaurenceGough** · 02-09-2011, 01:31 AM

Well for most close up work I am looking to get a 1.8 50mm prime lens, man what beautiful results you can get with that lens...

Jason yours seems to take pretty good heli pics ;).

Ian, that makes sense, so what do you think would be best regarding the price? I might as well get one of the kit lenses as I hear they're good general lenses and I can't afford one of those expensive lenses yet.

To be honest my powershot does take amazing pics if I may say so, just I know DSLR's even with the kit lens are so much better for helis due to the viewfinder.

It won't be just for heli pics of course but it's going to be coming with me to every event and I love taking pics :).

**theglennster** · 02-09-2011, 01:49 AM

Laurence I think you already know the answer but 55mm is way to short a lens for shooting helis.

I shoot using an old Canon DSLR 30D body but have high spec L series lenses. My BIG lens for shooting RC stuff is a 70-200mm IS L series (costs a bleedin fortune) sometimes this needs a 2x converter to get close enough (ie 140-400) a 55mm will not cut it unless you are hovering 6 ft away its certainly not good enough for action shots, I'm sorry I know thats what you didnt want to hear.

Also be aware the aperture size has a BIG effect on what photos you can take the smaller the F number basically the better the lens. Pro spec lenses have the wide open aperture of f2.8 or less. (small numbers mean big aperture hence more light entering the lens)

A 55mm lens is basically what can see by human eye it has minimal distortion compared to a wide angle lense 28mm and less etc. but you wont get a close up shot unless the object it a **** stride away.

Another thing to note is low end DSLR's are not full frame sensor so a lens is effectively cropped (factor of .6) only on high end cameras £1.5k+ are the same effective view angle as a 35mm camera.

I know its a lot of dosh but once you have the decent glass thats all the investment you need. Sorry welcome to another very expensive hobby!

Just to give you an idea this shot was taken a few strides away with a 70mm lens and its a 2.6 m wingspan plank.

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**LaurenceGough** · 02-09-2011, 01:57 AM

18-135mm it is then! Thanks all for the help, these forums are amazing!

I used Grant Cooper's 550D and it was great for taking heli pics with, not sure if he was using the kit lenses, I think it looked like it but I can't remember now.

Any recommendations for places to buy, I've already seen and felt it :).

I take it the 18-135 can take pics pretty much the same as the 18-55 but with the ability to also zoom further? I know the 18-55mm takes excellent close up pics as I've seen them.

**theglennster** · 02-09-2011, 02:06 AM

Sometimes its best going for a better spec second hand lens. Canon stuff is horrenously expensive my big lens 70-200 was over £1k with another £250 for the tele convertor.

All my lenses came from ebay either HongKong or a reputable dealer in the UK. Just having a quick surf you are looking at around £205+postage.

**theglennster** · 02-09-2011, 02:11 AM

Or you could bid on this and have the dogs bollox. very cheap so far

[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/canon-zoom-lens-ef-70-200-mm-/150655933171]canon zoom lens ef 70 200 mm | eBay[/url]

**LaurenceGough** · 02-09-2011, 02:12 AM

I might buy one tomorrow :). And yes I know the high end stuff is crazy.

Lenses I can purchase later on when I have the funds and find out what would suit me best.

I guess the 1.8 50mm lens does not need IS.

[B]If anyone has the Canon EF/EF-S 18-135mm IS lens please let me know what you think of it.[/B]

Edit:

Not sure if I fancy used lenses to be honest. Looking up it is a nice lens, that will probably be my next one after the kit lens, will sell the kit lens which I hear keeps it's value.

**theglennster** · 02-09-2011, 02:22 AM

High end lenses hold ther value so are a good investment, my best lens is probably worth more second hand than what I paid for it.

You are correct 50mm prime lenses are not image stabilised there is no need due to the short focal length, I use a 50mm 1.4 for close ups or a 16-35mm IS L series zoom for distorted wide angle shots, another costly lens but worth far more s/h than I paid for it.

**Zeeflyboy** · 02-09-2011, 02:34 AM

Before committing to buying expensive lenses, renting them out first to see if they suit you can be pretty good... also helpful if you have a one off event such as a wedding or something.

I've used these guys before and you're pretty close to them (in maidenhead) [url=http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/]Lenses For Hire[/url]

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