Travel with a wider view

 

If you have plans for a trip this summer, you might already have a DSLR ready. Travelling is fun, but so are the sprawling mountains hiding behind thick clouds, the downward curve of thatched roofs and wooden fences, and the smiles on the people who inhabit these villages. All moments that your DSLR camera would be happy to capture. But as helpful as the camera might be, there will be moments when the limitations of your camera lens will hold you back. If you’re not a professional by any chance and carry a decent crop-sensor camera, taking these lenses on your trip might greatly extend your photographic capabilities.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Price 36,990

What are trips made of? Landscapes, cities, towns and architectural marvels. They all demand a wide shot that captures more of the vista than your stan­dard lens, which is where the Canon EF-S 10-18mm lens comes to the rescue. This lens is not the first attempt from Canon to satisfy the wide-angle needs of Canon APS-C users. With the 10-22mm lens the company had already managed to satisfy many DLSR users and following its success, they released the 10-18mm relatively cheaply.

Apart from providing the photographer a wider field-of-view, the lens also comes with some interest­ing features. The STM in its name stands for Stepping Motor Technology, which means the lens auto-fo­cuses almost silently and the Image Stabilization on the lens is sure to pique many DLSR filmmakers’ interest. Although not as sturdy as Canon’s L Series lenses, the 10-18mm is not shoddy either, as it follows the same aesthetics as your default Kit Lens as well as it’s build quality—a gauge of what kind of quality to expect should you order it online. The Canon EF-S 10-18mm is a great addition to your lens kit, be it for travel or otherwise.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Price Rs 15,499

You’re covered on the wide-angle front now, but what about those pesky situations where you find yourself too far from the subject you want to pho­tograph. The Canon EF 70-300mm is just the lens, which will zoom quite far into your field-of-view for a telephoto experience that will help you capture distant subjects. Unlike the pervious lens, this one is actually for full-frame cameras but will work on your APS-C sensor as well, with a bit of an additional zoom (nothing to complain about there).

While there are a few problems with this lens, like fringing and overall softer focus, they aren’t bother­some and the lens produces pretty decent photos. At this price point, the Canon EF 70-300mm is a good lens to invest in. You’re not getting the best in build quality but with a similar quality of the kit lens, it’s not fragile as well.