[John]

Hi All

I've just ordered my first DSLR, Canon EOS 350D with the kit lens 18-55. All this is new to me as I have been using a Fuji S7000 for a couple of years. I would like to purchase an additional lens the Sigma 70-300mm f/4.5 DG Macro (Canon AF) here for £89.99,will this fit the 350D? Sorry if I'm being dumb guys.

College Cameras Ltd. - Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro S 2

John.

[Steve]

John you are not being Dumb at all, the lens that you have listed there will work fine with your new camera. For just a little more money you can get the superior 'APO' version that seems far more popular.

Some of our members have written some reviews of the lens in our equipment review section. You can read them below.

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro DG

HTH

[John]

Thanks for your prompt reply Steve, I've just ordered,can't afford the 'APO' though,will have to make do with the bargain.

John.

[Steve]

No problem John, you will get along fine with the new lens and enjoy the range it offers.

I'll look forward to viewing some of your shots from it after it arrives

[daveyuk]

Have you tried these people?
http://www.onestop-digital.com/catal...sort=2a&page=2
70-300 APO £119.00

Hope it helps

[John]

Thanks Dave

I've already ordered the £89 one,funds exhausted now after buying the cameral as well.

John.

[Markulous]

Same lens as I've got, John!

It's not too shoddy, tho' it can't compete for macroes with my 105mm. I was in same position as you (tho' needed it in a hurry) and couldn't get the APO, which I'm sure would've been better {shrugs}

[John]

Hi Mark

Got the lens on Monday,put it on my Canon 350D and tripod and off into the garden,the pics looked sharp on the LCD,but on the PC monitor they were very blurred.

Spent more money for the Canon remote control,it arrived this morning and made a big difference,pics a lot sharper,but I don't think I am getting the best out of this lens and camera,this is my first DSLR and zoom lens and I don't really understand all the different settings,I've ordered a book from Amazon but it wont arrive until October 19th. I am just snapping away on different settings and looking at them on the monitor,at least I don't have to pay for film.

John.

[Markulous]

LOL, John! Best way, to be honest!

But as a rough guide, you don't want to try hand holding at slower speeds than 1/focal length. i.e. 1/300 @ 300mm, 1/70 @ 70mm. Varies from person to person (some can hold a camera very still, some not so still - I'm the latter and increase the speed a little more than that guideline)

Tripod will make a big difference, tho' with the weight of the camera/lens, you may find some vibration transmitted (all down to how good the tripod is!). And of course zooming in close will affect your depth of field more - especially if you've the lens wide open.

Good luck and look forward to seeing some of the resulting pics!

[Steve]

The shutter speed to focal length factor that markulous has already said is the key area for most beginners but depending on what you are trying to shoot, increasing the F stop to a higher number and using manual focus while on the tripod will also help with the overal picture sharpness.

[John]

Thanks Steve and Mark for your help and guidance,my 65 year old brain is still trying to understand the strange language of focal length and shutter speed,I'm sure it will come in time.

I have uploaded a photo of a neighbour of mine to the gallery,the first with a decent focus,so I must be learning a little bit.

John.

[Steve]

Slow and steady progress is always the best...one step at a time learning as you go

Shutter speed to focal length is straight forward once you have got the basics..

60mm focal length should be 1/60th sec min shutter speed
100mm focal length should be 1/100 sec min shutter speed
125mm focal length should be 1/125 sec min shutter speed
200mm focal length should be 1/200 sec min shutter speed
300mm focal length should be 1/300 sec min shutter speed
Etc

the shutter speed should always be the same or faster than the focal length when shooting hand held to eliminate camera shake introduced by man. This is the general rule of thumb and as mark has already said some people can manage lower speeds (if they are steady) while others need to use faster ones. Either way its a good basic guideline.

Hope that helps

[daveyuk]

John.
Another tip for you.
When you're out in your garden and have everything set up try this.
Find a plant/flower/pot/fence post it doesn't really matter what you focus on so long as it stays the same. Then zoom in a touch and leave your zoom alone after that, then set your lens to it's largest apeture in your case f4 and take a photo then reset your apeture to f5.6 and repete do this for every f stop your lens has.
When you've done that upload them to your pc and keep them on there as this will give you a rough guide to how depth of field works and what each f stop will give you.

Hope that helps