Should a beginner with a Canon APS-C DSLR start with the 18-55mm kit lens or a prime like the 40mm f/2.8 or 50mm?
Asked 10/25/2013
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I'm buying my first Canon APS-C DSLR and am deciding between getting the standard 18-55mm kit zoom or skipping it and buying a prime lens instead. I mostly like photographing people and shallow depth of field, so I was also considering a 50mm prime. Some friends advised me to avoid the kit lens and either get the Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM or go straight to a 50mm prime. For a beginner, is it better to keep the 18-55mm kit lens, or replace it with a prime? What would I lose by not having the kit zoom, and which option makes the most sense for learning and general photography?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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We have so many question/answers already here that address all of the questions you have. See:
- Do I really need a fast 50mm lens?
- What's the advantage of buying a fixed 50mm f/1.8 lens when my camera has an 18-55mm zoom lens?
- Which lens serves best as the only lens on a cropped body for a beginner: the 40mm f2.8 or 50mm f1.8?
- Why do people recommend 50mm or other prime lenses as starting lenses for learning photography?
- Is it worth to upgrade from Canon 50mm f/1.8 to Canon 50mm f/1.4 on 550d?
If you have a very specific question not answered by the above answers, please either edit this question significantly(before it gets closed) or ask a new question.
My opinion
The kit lenses of today are generally not that bad, especially for the almost zero cost that they add to the body price in most cases. Even though they are not that bad as far as image quality, they do have limiting maximum apertures(f/3.5-f/4.0 to f/5.6 typically) though so that is the main reason picking up a inexpensive f/1.8 lens is usually recommended. Having that huge aperture opens up possibilities that you simply can't have with a f/4 lens. It is also literally eye opening when comparing it to a point and shoot camera, since f/1.8 is nearly unheard of in a point and shoot camera.
What should you do? I would buy the kit anyways due to the very small additional cost, use it for a few months, then when you know what is limiting your progress in the art, you will know what to buy! If you really have the extra cash, the 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 will be great to own at the same time as a kit 18-55mm zoom lens. Many, many people go this route.
Originally by user4892. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4892
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a beginner, the 18-55mm kit lens is usually worth having. Modern Canon 18-55mm kit lenses are much better than older versions and can produce decent results, especially for the low added cost.
The key advantage is versatility: on an APS-C body, 18-55mm covers a very useful general-purpose range for everyday shooting, learning composition, and figuring out what focal lengths you actually like. It also focuses closer than a 50mm and often includes image stabilization, which helps.
A prime is still valuable, but it doesn’t replace the kit zoom. A 50mm prime on APS-C behaves like a short telephoto, which is great for portraits and shallow depth of field, but it is much less flexible for general use. The 40mm is also a different tool rather than a replacement.
So the most balanced starting point is: get the kit lens, and add a 50mm prime if portraits and background blur are a priority. That gives you both flexibility and a fast lens for people shots. Skip the kit lens only if you already know you want to work within a single focal length and accept the limitations.
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