Silly question

I have been looking at buying an entry-level SLR for quite a while as my good ol' faithful point n squirt is dying. I have come across a really good deal - A canon 600D with a triple lense bundle for under R9k. My "bloody good deal" senses are on fire.. but first I want to actually know what the lenses are acutally good for. I know about the first 2, because I have played with them before, but what is the Canon EF 50mm f 1.8 II actually good for? I don't really need a R900 paper weight, so if anyone can explain to me (in baby english) what I would actually use this for, I would be extremely grateful!

PS: I hate photographing people, so if its only good for portaiture then it qualifies as a paper weight! :)

You'll probably find that the 50mm 1.8 is the best lens of the 3 (don't know what the other 2 lenses are but probably really entry level zooms.)

The F1.8 is the key.
Sure you might not be able to zoom with the 50mm but the 1.8 aperture means that you can get in so much more light than with the other 2 lenses, and depth of field can be much shallower (more depth/background blur).
You'll also find images much sharper from the prime.

Whether it's a 'great deal' or not - not sure..

the deal is good, is it the: Canon EOS 600D DSLR with EF-S 18-55mm IS + EF-S 55-250mm IS + EF 50mm f/1.8 Ultimate Bundle?

Under 9 is very good, normal retail should be around 12. Make sure the retailer is legit.

600D is good for "entry level"

Kit lenses normally are not the best but the 50mm is good and the pack will be enough to get you started.

We will see big discounts on the 600D as the 650D is now out in most markets (not SA yet).

650D body will start at around 8k.

18-250 range covers just about anything you would wanna shoot.

go for it!

Matt

Thanks :) I've read some very disparaging reviews on the multi-lense kits, so I was a bit worried. The others are entry level zoom lenses, which for an ecologist doing lots of field work are pretty useful, but I didn't want to be stuck with something that's only really decent on a tripod, in a studiom with lots of lights to help it along...

The deal is actually the twin bundle kit from Orms for R7995, but the additional lense is R900, which puts is at a whole lot less than the standard triple bundle kit. I think they might be clearing out old stock before the 650D comes in. :)

cant go wrong with ORMS, enjoy.

Ta :)

Ivok-Matt is right - 50mm 1.8 is awesome. 90% of all my shots are done with my nifty-fifty.

everyone needs one of those. it will out-perform any of the kit lenses.

Great little lens that nifty 50. Surprises me time and again against lenses costing many times its price.

Surprises me time and again against lenses costing many times its price.

Nikon 18-200 "Jesus" lens: R12,500
Nikon f/1.8 nifty-fifty: R1,300

Difference: priceless.

Everyone seems to be encouraging you to go for this deal, and to take the 50mm along with it. Im going to advise you try bargain with Mike and the boys. Try discount the overall price by going for this body, and the 55-250mm and try replace the 18-55mm with the 50mm.

The 18-55mm is a dog, and if you really feel youre missing out on the wide angle length buy a secondhand one on ODP for next to nothing, or buy a wide angle prime (which are also relatively cheap) at a later stage.

Either way, its a good deal, for the body and lenses. The body will last you a long time, if you look after it... The lenses you can accumulate later as you grow used to shooting with a slr.

Heh that sounds like a great idea, but probably not one they would really want to go for. The 600d body only and the 600d with the 18-55mm are going for exactly the same price, so I reckon that they are trying pretty hard to get rid of the kits with those lenses.

Anyhow, you have all succeeded in convincing my that the 50mm is worthwhile, and that I'll have an 18-55mm paperweight instead.... or maybe I can put it in the end of a sock and use it to smack muggers with... :)

or maybe I can put it in the end of a sock and use it to smack muggers with

don't do that, it may bounce off his head and hit youin the face.