Canon lens?
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Hey guys,
I am in the market for a new lens: wide angle. I hae read some blogs and reviews of the 50mm f/1.4. I think it runs about $300-$350. I am just looking for a good wide angle for my XSi, but not necessarily L series glass. I do not think I will try to get any L series lenses until I upgrade bodies. So, for now while I am still in student mode, I just need to pick up a good wide angle. What are your suggestions?
Thanks for the help,
DustyI like the 17-40 f4 L.
It’s good value and will work on a full frame if you get one in the future.
I think all these cameras are heading to full frame anyway.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Hey David, I was hoping you would have some input here. We have all been talking about the 5D going away or the prospect of a new full-frame Canon, and I am trying to make my new lens decisions based on this. Kind of feels like a crap-shoot at times. How much should I expect to pay for the lens you suggest?
D.Dusty, the XSi has an 1.6x 35mm-equivalent focal length crop factor, so a 50mm lens will put you in the effective medium telephoto range. A 35mm lens would be roughly equivalent to the 50mm.
I would probably look at the 20 or 24mm 2.8 EF lens around that price range. http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=151
Do you have a kit zoom? If so, that is, what, 28mm on the wide side? So you can get an idea of if 28mm is wide enough or not for you. Just set your lens on that focal length and go around viewing subjects to see what kind of field of view it gives you and if you are happy with it. If you need more, then go with the 24 or 20mm. I think you will be happy with the 2.8f.
17-40L is around $650-700. Dave’s right though, that would be a quality lens for the money.
Scott,
Kit lens is an EFS 18-55mm. So, 18 x 1.6 is, 28.8. If I want a wider image than what I have I need to get a 17 or 20, correct?Regarding the “L” series, is the $300 jump worth the money? Is it noticeable? does it offer more possibilities in post?
D.
You’re already wide then. You are talking ultrawide, now. Short of the L stuff, you choices are:
1. 15mm fisheye ($650)
2. 10-22 EF-S mount zoom (about the same).
3 . 3rd party lensesThe glass and build and build is generally better in the L series lenses. But they generally start at $1000. The 17-40 Dave mentioned is an exception. I debated long and hard over it and the 24-70 and went with the latter.
You might check out this old thread on the zoom choices.
http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1185050619/0#028mm (full frame) is wide enough for most things and is where you still get a wide shot without distortion or soft corners on most lenses.
It’s a very useful length for shooting people on the water as well because it’s wide enough to show where you’re fishing, but not so wide as to loose the angler.The 17-40 on your crop frame would be a 28-60 (ish) and be a very useful zoom.
You don’t have to have an L on your Canon lens for it to be great, the 50 & 100 Macro’s, 35 2, 50 1.4, 85 1.8 and 100 f2 are all great lenses and are more than capable of pro results.
If you get the 17-40, the 100 macro and the 70-200 F4L IS, you would have a great set of lenses for fishing stuff.
I use the same kit when I go except I have the 16-35 2.8 II because I shoot a lot of low light stuff in my normal work, but it’s only faster than the 17-40, not sharper..
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Thanks for the help you two. So then, what are the major advantages of the 17-40 f4 L over the 18-55 kit lens, other than sharpness. It seems that they are relatively equal when considering the widest possible angle.
DustyThey are relatively equal on focal length, however they are not the same in quality. I’m not sure on the tech specs for both, but with the L series you should expect a sharper image, less chromatic aberration, and a set aperture throughout the zoom range.
If right now you feel like the lens you have is not wide enough, I would look into some of the 10 or 12mm zooms that are out there. I have seen good results from the Tokina and Tamron and Sigma lenses. I’m not sure, but I think all of these lenses are designed for smaller sensor cameras (1.6x crop bodies). If you plan on buying a full frame body, be aware of this because these lenses will become obsolete on the new body.http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox InstagramThe kit lens is ok, but no better.
The 17-40 on the other hand is very good, but at a price.
I think it’s worth paying more for good lenses, I would rather have a couple good ones than a bag full of crap.
That said, if all your doing is posting shots here and doing the odd print or a blog or something the kit lens will be fine and save you some money.www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Thanks, all of you.
David,
You are correct. Blogging and personal entertainment is currently all I do with photography, but I hope to do more in time. With this in mind, and not wanting a bag o’ crap either, I am trying to be meticulous in my purchases. I also debate even buying lenses as I am unsure of future bodies to be unveiled. Just trying to learn now, but I am also beginning to feel limited by this one lens.
D.With Daves help I have headed down this path ..New 70-200lF4 IS should arrive over the coming weeks and already have the 17-40lf4 and 100 macro . It is well known thet the 70-200 f4 is the sharpest of this series ….the macro is sharp as well …but I long for 16-35l but not the price …seems I am shooting more and more in Dim light …but I am also considering the 35l f1.4, 24-70l f2.8 and 135 f2 …”L” series rocks …looking at a nifty fifty (50 1.8) last night I noticed it is chock full of Dust and headed to the bag of crap lenses. All are used on a 40d but would not consider a “s” lens with all the full frames popping up.. Its the “invest in Glass and upgrade the body” scenario for me … here are some examples and some taken with the stock 18-55 on a 350d
17-40l (excuse the vignetting it was done in lightroom)
100macro
18-55 350d
Nice work! I guess the set-up I have can produce some good images. But I still feel the need to get another lens. I was thinking wider angle, but the other guys have helped me away from that. Maybe macro should be my next purchase. How do you all feel about the lens initially discussed: 50mm f/1.4? This is Macro? Is this an “S” series lens?
D.Dusty, the 50 1.4 is a great lens, but no macro, it’s awesome in low light though and is a cheap way to great bokeh.
On a crop it’s a great portrait lens as well.The 50 2.5 is a macro lens and will do half life size with no extensions and life size with the dedicated extension tube.
(Whoops, on a crop it would be almost life size-)One problem with the 50 2.5 is it has the old focus motor in it and can be a bit slow and clunky (or like a modern Nikon AF lens
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
If you get the 17-40, the 100 macro and the 70-200 F4L IS, you would have a great set of lenses for fishing stuff.
David,
Would all of these lenses work on a full frame in the future? As this is what I am planning for in the future, should I be only purchasing “S” series glass?
D.“S” glass wont work on a full frame…the EF and L series work on Full frame …I have read that S series will only work on a FF if you throw on and extension tube…
If you get the 17-40, the 100 macro and the 70-200 F4L IS, you would have a great set of lenses for fishing stuff.
David,
Would all of these lenses work on a full frame in the future? As this is what I am planning for in the future, should I be only purchasing “S” series glass?
D.All three of those lenses are full frame…
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
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