wide angle cameras.. need purchasing advice

[Kal]

Hey guys,

I am looking for a camera that can take wide angle pictures. I don't know anything about cameras and I highly doubt I will be using this for recreational use. So for that reason, I do not need a top of the line one but am looking for a camera that will last me a few years.

The main use for the camera will be to take real estate pictures. I want to keep it under $500. Also, what is DLSR?

Thanks guys,

Kalveer.

[hustler]

I don't think you will find much under $500 that will do true wide angle pictures.

I am also a Realtor, and use one of these for back yards and front elevations, and one of these for interior work where there isn't typically so much light available. As you can see, it gets pretty pricey - that is just for lenses!

For $500 or under, I like the Canon point and shoot options. Something like this model will take nicer pictures than the tiny ones - definitely enough for a feature sheet or website.

[Kal]

Thanks for the info. Those lenses are pricey! I thought prices would have come down by now!

[T.Dot_E30]

Panasonic lx3 has a slight wide angle, that is about as wide as you will get without a true SLR.

[Deep 3.2TL]

Nope - not even close Kal - It's not like technology - Lenses have always been pricier for the lower f-stop ones.

To get TRUE wide angle on any DSLR you will need get to 10-14mm range - remember that Digital cameras have a crop factor of 1.5 (some are 1.6) this means you multiply the mm by that number. So when you talk about a traditional camera versus digital, the mm's are not the same. IE 50mm is said to give you the truest picture for portraits. With digital, that's a 35mm lens because you have to multiply by 1.5. With film, it's an actual 50mm lens.

A bit of a science - takes some learning - but for true wide angle - welcome to big money.

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/sto...2&itemID=98204

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/sto...2&itemID=37176

[hustler]

^ Yup, from what I understand a high quality lens is never going to get cheap. It takes a lot of time to make them, and there's no other way.

Lenses are also more addictive and expensive than crack.

[T.Dot_E30]

Originally Posted by Deep 3.2TL

this means you multiply the mm by that number. So when you talk about a traditional camera versus digital, the mm's are not the same. IE 50mm is said to give you the truest picture for portraits. With digital, that's a 35mm lens because you have to multiply by 1.5. With film, it's an actual 50mm lens.

This is not entirely true, atleast not for canon lenses.

That is only true when you use an EF (Full Frame) lens on a EF-S (Crop Sensor) camera.
For example an EF 50mm 1.8f, is effectively an 80mm on most crop sensor cameras (Xti, XSi, X1i, 40D, 50D, 7D, etc).
But a 18-55mm EF-S lens, is a 18-55mm lens on an EF-S camera.

I'm pretty sure this is the same for Nikons, they just use different codes (FX vs. DX) for their full frame lenes vs. crop.


Either way i think we are confusing the OP, i think all he needs is a LX3 and call it a day.

[Deep 3.2TL]

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

This is not entirely true, atleast not for canon lenses.

That is only true when you use an EF (Full Frame) lens on a EF-S (Crop Sensor) camera.
For example an EF 50mm 1.8f, is effectively an 80mm on most crop sensor cameras (Xti, XSi, X1i, 40D, 50D, 7D, etc).
But a 18-55mm EF-S lens, is a 18-55mm lens on an EF-S camera.

I'm pretty sure this is the same for Nikons, they just use different codes (FX vs. DX) for their full frame lenes vs. crop.


Either way i think we are confusing the OP, i think all he needs is a LX3 and call it a day.

Not from my understanding - Then again I don't know about Canon, I know about Nikon. All Nikon's get multiplied - regardless of DX or FX lenses.

[Deep 3.2TL]

more info...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/crop-factor.htm

[terrence330]

you can also think of the new canon S90

[Kal]

you guys threw a lot at me and i'm still trying to digest all that info! I am going to test some cameras out this weekend to see if i can find something that would do the trick in my budget.

[Axxe]

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

This is not entirely true, atleast not for canon lenses.

That is only true when you use an EF (Full Frame) lens on a EF-S (Crop Sensor) camera.
For example an EF 50mm 1.8f, is effectively an 80mm on most crop sensor cameras (Xti, XSi, X1i, 40D, 50D, 7D, etc).
But a 18-55mm EF-S lens, is a 18-55mm lens on an EF-S camera.

I'm pretty sure this is the same for Nikons, they just use different codes (FX vs. DX) for their full frame lenes vs. crop.


Either way i think we are confusing the OP, i think all he needs is a LX3 and call it a day.

18-55 on a crop body is still multiplied by crop factor, regardless if it's EF-S or not. I wasn't sure, so I took one picture with my 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens at 50mm FL (EF-S mount on my 450D/Rebel XSi), and one with my 50mm f/1.8 II (EF mount) and the photos have identical magnification.

Either way, for $500 he will barely get into Nikon/Canon DSLR (maybe used), or he can get a P&S and use it for now. Ideal setup would be a full frame DSLR with a 10-22 or 10-20 on it, but the lense alone is 3 times his budget, and full frames aren't pocket change either.

[Kal]

Alright guys I finally made my purchase.

I have bought a Canon EOS RebelXS (EF-s 18-55 IS KIT).
I also purchased another wide angle lens ef50mm f/1.8 II.

I dont know what half that of all that means lol

I have absolutely no clue on how to use this thing. I am going to play with it this weekend and see how it goes. I have a listing to do on Sunday so hopefully I'll have the hang of it by then.

What do you guys think of the camera and the lens I purchased though?

[Kal]

What is wierd about this camera is that the lens that came with the camera is giving me a more wide angle then the one I bought sperately. As a matter of fact the one I bought seperately is barely giving me any zoom or wider picture. As mentioned before it is an ef50mm. Did I just buy a lens that is inferior to my stock lens?

Also in case anyone is wondering I bought this stuff from BestBuy. The Camera was $579+tax and the lens was $129+tax.

[jello_g]

This "ef50mm" is a redundant purchase, as you're just discovering.