Camera experts, what to look for in a lens?

[michaels]

I have a Canon S3 and I know I can buy different lens, but I am clueless. What are some of the best options and any pics to show what kind of results I could expect?

 

[tfinch2]

Don't waste your time and money unless it's a Canon lens for the S3. Aftermarket lenses for P&S are junk.

Oh, and are you looking for wide angle or telephoto?

Wide:

http://www.adorama.com/ICAWCDC58A.html?searchinfo=s3%20lens&item_no=6

Telephoto:

http://www.adorama.com/ICATCDC58B.html?searchinfo=s3%20lens&item_no=1

And to put any lens I believe you need this:

http://www.adorama.com/ICALAHDC20.html?searchinfo=s3%20lens&item_no=3

 

[Ayah]

One that isn't broken.

 

[JinLien]

Live with what you have & put away money for a DSLR.

 

[michaels]

I don't want a DSLR. The only reason I got the S3 over a smaller P&S is because of zoom. And what exactly will a telephoto lens do?

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: michaels
I don't want a DSLR. The only reason I got the S3 over a smaller P&S is because of zoom. And what exactly will a telephoto lens do?

If you don't know what a telephoto lens is, you need to put the money aside, and spend it after you've done a little research.

 

[destrekor]

glass

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: JinLien

Live with what you have & put away money for a DSLR.

screw digital... takes the art out of photography.. master film and the darkroom, and then move to digital.

 

[JinLien]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: JinLien

Live with what you have & put away money for a DSLR.

screw digital... takes the art out of photography.. master film and the darkroom, and then move to digital.

That would be ideal. But, the cost of film/paper/darkroom can be prohibited and Photoshop allows amateurs to produce professional images.

<-- Gave away my darkroom equipment 3 years ago (2 enlargers, colour & chrome printers).

 

[iamtrout]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: michaels
I don't want a DSLR. The only reason I got the S3 over a smaller P&S is because of zoom. And what exactly will a telephoto lens do?

If you don't know what a telephoto lens is, you need to put the money aside, and spend it after you've done a little research.

Bwahahaha.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: iamtrout

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: michaels
I don't want a DSLR. The only reason I got the S3 over a smaller P&S is because of zoom. And what exactly will a telephoto lens do?

If you don't know what a telephoto lens is, you need to put the money aside, and spend it after you've done a little research.

Bwahahaha.

he's right though.

 

[Ika]

The only lens the S3 really needs is a close-up ones. It's a PITA to take nicely focused (I use manual focus, but it still won't turn out right, even at the closest setting), up-close pics of things like bugs.

 

[Quasmo]

For low light get an rx lens, allows more light in, it's a "faster" lens. When you finally get rid of your P&S get a nice telephoto for supurb depth of field.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Edit: Sorry, wrong post.

What's an rx lens? I wasn't aware a lens could add more light...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
For low light get an rx lens, allows more light in, it's a "faster" lens. When you finally get rid of your P&S get a nice telephoto for supurb depth of field.

Telephoto has nothing to do with depth of field. Well, not "nothing" but the focal lenght of a lens is far less important to depth of field than the aperture. Cheap lenses have larger depth of field because they do not offer large aperture settings (most inexpensive telephotos are F4 maximum aperture while the expensive ones offer a range down to F2.8 or even F2). Additionaly, a wide angle lens, for a given aperture value, will have a slightly larger depth of field than a telephoto lens, but again this depends much more on the aperture setting than on the focal length of the lens.

ZV

 

[michaels]

I'm wanting a lens for more zoom.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: michaels
I'm wanting a lens for more zoom.

You need more zoom than 12x? God help you if you ever want a DSLR.

 

[Tylanner]

it has to weigh at least 5kg

 

[NaOH]

If money is an issue just stick with your s3 and pick up the converter adapter and lenses that tfinch recommended. Don't forget a uv filter and polarizer. Having an SLR will get $$$. If you are fine with your camera just stick with it. Learn a thing or two and use it on the full manual mode.