So Ive read the other threads about canon vs nikon and all the rest of it.

Will stick with a canon as my brothers have canon and have some fairly serious equipment I can hopefully steal from time to time.

Just wondering if anyone can tell me what sort of lens would be best for shooting lightening/storms etc ? Both during the day and at night ?

Due to budget and likelihood that this will remain just a hobby and no aspirations of becoming professional in any way.. we are looking at the 450D.

Dan has been told to go the 17-85mm IS ... would this do ok ?

not to crash hot on all this stuff... night time long exposure and day low light shots - is that more about the lens or the body ?

any help appreciated ! Got to find a productive way to spend our K-rudd $900 !! hhaha

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2006 Bitsamissing Ralliart Colt - WannaBE Evo

450D with 17-85mm is awesome...we took ours to the USA and not only did it do some awesome shots, but we never found it lacking too much in its range. Great all-rounder! About a billion times better than the 18-55mm kit lens, and from what I've read, about as good as the 24-105mm and 28-135mm across a lot of its range on a smaller body camera like the 450D (full frame is a different story).

Can get the 450D and 17-85mm in the Enthusiast Kit for around $1500.

NOT the greatest lens for low light shots also from what I've read and experienced, but we got a flash and a 50mm F1.8 prime to make up for this....

shooting Lightning your gonna be on a tripod so you will be shooting lowest iso possible anyways that lens sounds good enough, its more the person behind the camera when shooting lightening, easier when its darker you can just use a longer shutterspeed and wait for a lightning strike.

its a pretty specific task, tripod requirement makes IS pointless, and it also means you dont need a particularly fast lens.

only problem i can see is that your camera choice isn't water proof. only pentax and olympus offer weather sealing in this price range.

thanks for the advice guys Looks like our choice is confirmed. Now just gots to learn to use the bugger!

as for the rain... im usually not one for standing out in the open in these killer QLD storms.. I like to find cover to stand under so the rain shouldnt be a problem

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2006 Bitsamissing Ralliart Colt - WannaBE Evo

yeah plastic bag is simple solution when its raining you dont really take photos when its pissing down anyways heh.

this is true !

speaking of storm pics.. what sort of lens is needed for the wider landscape pics ?

for example.. this pic I took of the storms last year..

but the storm front carries right out to both the left and right sides of the picture.. this was from the crappy phone camera (all we happened to have on us) - but is a wide angle lens what I would need to get the whole image into the one shot ? or is this more a photo stitching type of activity ?

Or do I have the wrong sort of understanding of a 'wide angle' ?

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2006 Bitsamissing Ralliart Colt - WannaBE Evo

how wide do you want to go? there are lenses wide enough to capture a full 180c circle. the 4.5mm sigma

Sigma 12-24mm Will give you a wider shot than the photo above with out the distortion. All the lines will be stright and have the right aspect ratio

I love it best wide lens i have bought,

This is a sigma 12-24 mm group on flickr to show u examples of photos with the lens
Though im using a fullframe it will work on yoru frame too


http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma12-24/

Any comments on the Sigma 10-20 NVRENUF? It's about 25% cheaper than the 12-24....so closer to my price range.

I liked the images on the link you posted...looks like good landscape lens.

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Back at work.