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I need help with my E500

> Thanks Andy. So it seems like everyone is suggesting th 11-22mm lens which I will consider in time. But I know first things first..I need get better at taking photos with my camera with the lenses I have now beforeI can move onto better lenses. I tend to jump the gun because I get excited. One question, it is the wide angle lens that creates the effect of making objects seem a lot closer than they are, right? Or did I confuse that with something else?

Thanks again Andy
 
Hi Anne,

Well, it's quite a complex subject , this idea of certain lenses making things appear closer.
The simple answer is that the longer the focal length the larger image of the subject you will capture (but less of it) Think binoculars or a telescope?
A wide angle lens used from the same position will show a wider field of view and reproduce everything in it at a smaller scale.
Simple enough so far....

However, where it gets more complex is when you consider the relative sizes of different objects.
This is controlled solely by the position you take the photo from and NOT by focal length. You can prove this to yourself - take a photo with the 14-45mm @ 14mm and also one with the 40-150mm at 150mm (from the identical place) . Open them both in your image editing software and crop the wideangle one to show the same coverage as the telephoto one. Perspective will be the same.

Now, take two photos of, say, a car with a house in the background, using both lenses and same focal lengths(longest and shortest you have) as before. Fill the frame with the car by moving nearer or further away (NOT by zooming).
Open both of these images (leave them full frame, don't crop) and see the difference in the relative sizes of the car and house .

So, the short answer now is that a wideangle lens can lend more prominence to foreground objects, whereas the longer focal length you use the more emphasis can be given to background objects too.

This is without going into depth of field, which is a whole subject in itself.

I would like, if I may, to give two bits of advice.
1) Find a good basic text book, by someone like John Hedgecoe.
2) Experiment (and keep some notes) That is the beauty of digital capture - until you go to print it's not costing you anything.

Best wishes,

Andy.
 
Anne - something I forgot..
Don't try to sell the kit lens, for what you can get for that lens on the secondhand market I would keep it, it will always be useful.
BTW, you already have focal lengths from 14-150mm covers (28-300mm in 35mm equiv.)which is not bad really. That range probably covers 90% of the needs of 90% of photographers!

Andy.
 
> What is the point in going cheap? I understand it may be a matter of budget, but when you get poor looking pictures which are not sharp at the edges or there is color fringing, the only thing you can end up saying is "well atleast the lens was cheap." I suggest saving your money for a while and investing in a quality lens.
 
On the other hand, if the choice is the cheaper lens or no lens, go with the cheaper lens, learn what you can with it, and eventually go for the better lens.
 
Whovever it was asked the OP if he bought the E-500 "body only", I wasn't aware you could do that with Olympus 'E' cameras. They only come as a kit over here in the UK(unless you buy privately s/hand of course)?
 
Have a trawl through the advertisers in Amateur Photographer - I think that you'll find quite a few supplying the E-system cameras as a "body only" option.
Digital Depot, Park Cameras and Warehouse Express are just three that spring to mind.
However, bearing in mind the really low extra cost to have the 14-45mm included it is probably worthwhile getting it anyway even if you only keep it as a spare or sell it on eB*y.
 
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