How to get rich colors and highest image quality of 450D with default 18.55 lense?

Question

I using the default lense 18-55 mm and manual mode with a higher contrast, saturation and color tone. But not happy with the outcome.Any idea about the ideal settings for contrast and saturation?

Also any idea about a better lense which can get me better image as quality and colorwise?

Answer 1

Shoot in raw mode for the highest quality. You can then adjust saturation, color tone, and contrast in post processing. The down side is that it takes more time.

Any of the L series lenses will give you the best optical quality in your lenses. Contrary to what others may tell you, there is a difference between these and the kit-type lenses. However, they won't give you better images if your technique is lacking.

To be frank, most beginning photographers are unhappy with their images because they think that their equipment is inferior. In 99% of the cases, it's their lack of experience. I've seen people with $10,000 cameras and lenses in situations where it's obvious that they had no concept of composition or the direction and quality of light. I recommend honing your skills before shelling out for expensive glass.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with your camera or lens.

There are custom options within your cameras menu that will increase the colour saturation artificially and to shoot at your cameras highest resolution, you have only to set your camera at its highest resolution.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos...

If you have any experience shooting transparency film, you will know that to get good saturation you need to slightly under expose the film (sensor in this case) and to get the highest quality, choosing a very fine grain low ISO film will enhance that goal.

Since all Canon lenses are fine pieces of glass, spending an extra $1000 for a "L" lens may or may not do what you want.  The "L" lenses tend to be the faster versions of other Canon lenses and have less tendency for internal lens flare.

Try setting your cameras EV to + 0.3 and see if that gives you what you want.