I'm perplexed by the Nikon D200 suggestions seeing that your primary focus is landscapes. I own a 5D that was purchased specifically for landscapes (including stitched panos), fine art images and to a lesser degree, wildlife images. I can't imagine going for the less than full frame sensor and fewer pixels offered by the D200 if you want big, detailed landscapes. The image quality of the 5d is truly outstanding - the camera is, to me, worth every penny.
I also don't understand the "D200 body being better" comment. The 5d is built very well and altho it's not advertised as being weather resistant, my 5D has been rained, snowed, dusted and fogged on with no ill effects.
If you do purchase a 5D, try out the latest version of Canon's RAW converter, DPP. It produces very nice images.
As for lenses, it's up to you but if you want good landscape lenses that have Canon mounts and that are affordable, I'd suggest a good copy of the Sigma 20 f/1.8, a used Canon 50 f/1.8 MK I if you can find one (good for stitching) and a Canon 70-200 f/4 L (a very sharp, light, affordable L quality lens). I own or have owned these three lenses, among others, and they make fine landscape lenses. I've read about and seen mixed results from Canon's 17-40 but it might be worth a try. Also, if you want a mid-range zoom, the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 is very, very sharp and makes for a nice dual purpose landscape, bum around lens (at 50mm, my copy is even sharper than my Canon 50 f/1.8 MK I).
Caveat: When it comes to landscapes, my lens preferences show my prejudice for more "intimate" landscapes. I don't necessarily like wide angle landscape images. I feel they can lack impact. I use my Sigma 20 for stitching 90% of the time. In fact, I often use my 180, 300 and 500 for stitched, "intimate" land/mountainscapes. My next lens purchase will be a 45 f/2.8 TS-E for stitching landscapes.
Regardless of your choice of camera (really, go for the fullframe and high pixel goodness of the 5D) and lenses, have fun!
Cheers!
Hi all,
(I'm new to the board, and relatively to photography, so be gentle ;-)
I'm just progressing from a digicam (Fuji S7000) to a DSLR and am considering a 5D. My main interest in photography is landscapes (am I in the right place? ;-), especially 'big' shots and panoramas. I also seem to often end up hiking to get these shots (8hrs up and down a mountain in Chile recently).
I've a lot to learn still, but people seem to like what I've done to date so I want to step up to the next level (hence purchasing a DSLR). I've had the use of a friend's Nikon D100 for a while, and therefore I guess I'm balanced between a D200, 30D (what/when-ever that may be) and the 5D and I'm thinking that as I can stretch (due to some good luck) to the 5D, I might as well go for a full-frame sensor now rather than go down the EF-S route and regret it in the future. I'd also rather spend a bit more money on a few quality lenses initially rather than buying a wide selection of cheaper ones. Hence (finally) to my question!
Given my preference for a few high-quality lens, bias towards landscapes (and wide-angles), and desire for low weight I'm trying to decide between the following options for my first lenses:
(1) 17-40 L USM + 24-105 L IS USM
Cheapest option, good coverage of shorter focal lengths, but not much reach for the odd wildlife shot, which I could live without, some concern about the quality of the 24-105?
(2) 17-40 L USM + 70-300 DO IS USM
Better reach, nice & small & light weight for the range, but with a 'hole' in the coverage.
(3) 17-40 L USM + 70-300 DO IS USM + 50 f1.4 USM
Nice fast prime to fill the gap, would need different filter sizes for the 50 (minor quibble!)
(4) All three zooms
Full coverage, but too expensive initially, and possibly too heavy.
Or some other combination? Or some other lens I haven't considered? I guess I could live without the 17-40 but I had a 12-24DX lens on the D100 (approx 18-36 equiv) and loved the fov it gave. Didn't take that many shots with it right down at 12 (18) but I think I might feel limited with just the 24-105.
I've got a two week trip shooting in the scottish highlands coming up so I'd like to get the kit and get familiar with it soonish.
Sorry for the long first post!!! Thanks for any thoughts...
Cheers
Rob
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