Question about DSLR and topdown pics

[Pfft]

Hi all..
I'm an old Canon G5 owner , I'm pretty happy with my results so far with that camera , even in my reef tank.
I built a photobox and I take a lot of pics with it with close subjects (corals closeup mainly) thanks to the tilting and flipping LCD screen.
In the last few months , as I take tons of pics, I learned the limits of the P&S cameras , so now I think it's time to step in a DSLR camera.
Probably I'll buy a Canon 450D as soon as I can find a decent priced one with the 18-55 IS kit lens (just to begin).

None of my friends have a dslr so I'm not able to test it for reef pics, and I've some questions :

1 - anyone of you have corals or fish pics taken with this lens ?
2 - I know I've to build another photobox , anyone take pics using a box with a DSLR ? with which lens ?
3 - which can be a good lens to use for my tank ? , not only FTS , even fish pics and , mainly corals closeup (not macros).
4- my main question is about minimal focusing distance , with the photobox I can reallly get close to corals so I'd like to know which lens are good to take those kind of shots.

Any other inputs are welcome.

BTW.. the nex step after the kit lens is going to be a 24-70 F 2.8 L series or a 24-105 F 4.0 IS USM , which will be better for the pics I take ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

1 - anyone of you have corals or fish pics taken with this lens?
The 18-55 isn't the best...you can take a picture of anything with any lens, but you can take a better picture of something with the right lens.

2 - I know I've to build another photobox , anyone take pics using a box with a DSLR ? with which lens ?
I think the 100mm f/2.8 Macro is the most used photo box lens.

3 - which can be a good lens to use for my tank ? , not only FTS , even fish pics and , mainly corals closeup (not macros).
I think the 100mm f/2.8 Macro is probably the most used reef lens, I love other fast lenses such as the 24-70 f/2.8, 135mm f/2, 85 f/1.8, 50mm f/1.8...f/1.4...f/1.2, ect. Wide apertures and fast focusing are key.
4- my main question is about minimal focusing distance , with the photobox I can reallly get close to corals so I'd like to know which lens are good to take those kind of shots.
Well Macro lenses (100mm f/2.8, 180mm f/3.5 ect.) and minimal focusing distances go hand in hand...in fact that is the whole point.


BTW.. the nex step after the kit lens is going to be a 24-70 F 2.8 L series or a 24-105 F 4.0 IS USM , which will be better for the pics I take ?
The 24-70 is going to be better for a reef IMO. I also (very personal opinion) think it is better for just about anything else. I'll take an extra stop of aperture over IS any day of the week, and IS doesn't really pull its weight until about 150mm anyways IMO so....hands down 24-70. Some argue "well it has an extra 71-105mm". I say to them...what do you think they made the 70-200 for? The 24-70 is already a little long on a crop body anyway. If you never intend to get one of the super duper expensive full frame cameras, the 17-55 f/2.8 IS may be worth looking into. Again the IS doesn't really pull its weight at that focal length IMO. The f/2.8 part however is the real deal.

 

[Pfft]

TitusvileSurfer thanks for your reply

I think that after the kit lens I'm gonna take the 24-70 L USM (as all in one lens to bring with me ever , just a bit worried about its weigh) and the canon 100 mm macro.

If anyone have pictures taken with the 18-55 IS lens please post them .

 

[Recty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14430154#post14430154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pfft
TitusvileSurfer thanks for your reply

I think that after the kit lens I'm gonna take the 24-70 L USM (as all in one lens to bring with me ever , just a bit worried about its weigh) and the canon 100 mm macro.

If anyone have pictures taken with the 18-55 IS lens please post them .

For what it's worth, I just spent 8 days in Hawaii carrying around a 50D and the 24-70L, it's not that bad. I'm not a serious photographer either with a strong neck from carrying lenses for my entire life This was my first trip with the camera and it finally made me put on my camera strap so I could put it around my neck.

You definitely feel the weight of the f2.8 but it wasnt that bad, I had it around my neck 3-4 hours a day most days and while I didnt really ENJOY it, I got used to it after a couple days and barely noticed it.