For real. I build custom computers, was a telecommunications engineer, a big bore air rifle dealer, and owned my own precious metals business, this is still the most complicated field I've ever delved into. Very rewarding though and you don't have to know much to get started.
Every day when I open my camera bag it's like Christmas all over again. I looove my camera. I've taken around 6,000 shots so far and I'm just starting to get a feel for her. Digital gives me the opportunity to take a lot throw away pics and learn more quickly.
My illness kept me down the last few days. I don't do well when storms roll in. This camera is helping me to be motivated to get up and get past my pain. Will be ordering my new prime tomorrow. (Still haven't figured out which one I want yet, lol)
Here's a question you should be able to answer. I have a 55mm-300mm and the 18mm-55mm, can one of these primes replace the 18-55? I want to buy the K-30 (body only) and it would save me some money if I can give the 18-55 to my mom until I can afford something nicer for her.
I really appreciate your help. It's great to be to getting a professional's input. Thank you again.
The awesome thing about these 'prime' lens is the speed they focus and the sharpness theyre able to give you. The reason they are able to do that is because there is less moving parts, mainly the glass inside the lens body. This helps with faster focusing because the lens motor doesn't have to turn as much heavy glass which also helps with sharpness and chromatic abrasions. The build quality with a prime.. well you wont have to buy another usually unless you drop it or another user error.
The draw back with only having a prime, is basically you lose the ability to zoom or go wide. So I would suggest trying to find something similar to my sigma 35mm to replace the 18-55 , youll lose the 50mm but you still have 55 on the other lens. Then just keep upgrading from there to fill the gaps.
I used to shoot super wide like 17mm all the time but the distortions have become to much for me unless im doing some type of documentary work, the sharpness and how fast it focuses is a better trade off for me because all you have to do is just move back a little if you want it wider...the prime zoom lens are super expensive once you start going above the 100mm for Canon but the sharpness is unreal.
Below is my basic combination that works best for me and give me all the range I need in the field and studio. Thats basically the norm, then I rent something special if I need it. Im hoping to get a 65mm macro in the future but until then im going to reverse mount a 50mm to the 100mm macro so it will give me a 3:1 magnification, just gotta get around to going to the camera store to get that stepdown ring.
SIGMA 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART prime ( i find this to be kind of a special lens because its not super expensive but if you read enough technical information about it and compare, its the same as the more expensive canon lens)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (prime) (pretty much the sharpest lens ive ever used)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM (this one give you a ton of focal length and the ability for macro)
and no problem, love sharing this information.