Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: 10DB on August 24, 2006, 12:40:05 pm

Title: Canon Len
Post by: 10DB on August 24, 2006, 12:40:05 pm
Hello,

I have recently purchased my first DSLR (10D).  My next project will be to buy a good all-purpose Canon lens.  This lens will be used for photographing landscapes, nature, and social events.
I need suggestions as to what to lens to buy first for the above mentioned purposes.  All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
10DB
Title: Canon Len
Post by: DarkPenguin on August 24, 2006, 12:48:20 pm
How much $$?
Title: Canon Len
Post by: 10DB on August 24, 2006, 12:58:55 pm
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How much $$?
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Title: Canon Len
Post by: 10DB on August 24, 2006, 01:02:14 pm
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Title: Canon Len
Post by: 10DB on August 24, 2006, 01:03:50 pm
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Willing to invest between $500-$1000 dollars.
Title: Canon Len
Post by: DarkPenguin on August 24, 2006, 01:53:19 pm
I'd go with the canon 17-40L, the sigma 17-70 or the tamron 17-50 f2.8.

Of the lot I'd probably try the tamron first.  Although the canon is a lovely lens.
Title: Canon Len
Post by: 10DB on August 24, 2006, 05:24:22 pm
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I'd go with the canon 17-40L, the sigma 17-70 or the tamron 17-50 f2.8.

Of the lot I'd probably try the tamron first.  Although the canon is a lovely lens.
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I need you to help me understand the numbers on the len.  I have always been under the impression the larger the number (200mm,300mm) meant, the closer the subject would be.  Is this thinking incorrect.  Thanks for your help.
Title: Canon Len
Post by: DarkPenguin on August 24, 2006, 06:07:17 pm
With a 10D 17mm would be in the wide angle range.  70mm would be short telephoto.
Title: Canon Len
Post by: stever on August 24, 2006, 11:07:59 pm
i'd really recommend a 17-70  -- this is equivalent to a 28-112mm on a full frame 35 mm camera and will take care of your everyday "walking around" needs.  the Canon 17-40 is a great lens, but expensive overkill for use on a 10d.  Check the Photozone reviews.

as a second lens i'd recommend the 70-300IS, but if you don't want to spend this much money, the standard Canon 75-300 will give good results on a 10D, - just try to keep it a stop down from wide open even if that means going to a higher ISO (a good idea with the 70-300IS as well).  

except for snapshots, avoid zooms with a range of more than 4:1
Title: Canon Len
Post by: boku on August 25, 2006, 07:51:49 am
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Canon 17-40 is a great lens, but expensive overkill for use on a 10d.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=74401\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

What does that mean? Are you saying a $600 investment in really decent last-forever L glass is "above" a 10D?

I contend it is a perfect match for that camera and any of the since-released 1.6 crop Canon bodies.

Good price, good performance, rugged.

It may or may not exactly match the dude's application, but your dissing of the perfectly obvious choice is baseless.
Title: Canon Len
Post by: jimhuber on August 25, 2006, 05:16:23 pm
Bob may be in a slightly foul mood today, but his point is valid: the 17-40L is a fantastic choice for a 10D. If I were to build an inexpensive lens system for a 10D, I'd start with the 17-40 f/4 L and 70-200 f/4 L. In between either a 50mm f/1.4 or the 50mm compact macro. Total lens investment: $1,579.85 USD at B&H today if you go for the f/1.4, $1,504.85 USD if you go for the compact macro.

Sure, he can't buy them all at once on the stated budget, but the 17-40 f/4L is in the $500 to $1,000 range. You can buy both of these first-rate zooms for a total of $1,264.90 if you skip the 50mm altogether. That's about the same price as a 24-105 f/4L IS if you can live with 38-168mm coverage, but it's all in one lens.
Title: Canon Len
Post by: stever on August 25, 2006, 10:58:16 pm
this all depends on the expectations of the user and budget -- if the 10D was bought very cheaply with the expectation of future upgrade (assuming that upgrade is full-frame) then the 17-40 is fine, it's a great lens -- but too short for the user's stated objectives, except landscapes -- unless the objectives include trying to maximize print size, i'd save the money, get a couple decent lenses, take a lot of images, then decide where to make a long term investment

i've got a 10D gathering dust which i need to get around to selling
Title: Canon Len
Post by: budjames on August 26, 2006, 06:10:13 am
My first DSLR was the 10D.  A great camera. For a few years, I used it with the Canon 28-135 IS lens. The IS feature is awesome.

I've produced many excellent 11x14 prints on my old Epson 2200 printer. I sold mine on eBay earlier this year for about $300, a great buy.

I replaced the 10D with the 20D. I also have a 1DsMkII. I have all "L" series Canon lenses, but my new "normal" lens is the Canon 24-105 f4 IS. It's just over $1,000, but worth it. It's lighter than my 24-70 f2.8 L Lens, has a longer reach, and the IS feature is used often.

Whatever you buy, I recommend sticking with Canon. When you figure how long you will own the lens, the initial cost saving for other brands isn't worth it.

My 2 cents.

Bud James
North Wales, PA
Title: Canon Len
Post by: 10DB on August 28, 2006, 03:30:39 pm
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My first DSLR was the 10D.  A great camera. For a few years, I used it with the Canon 28-135 IS lens. The IS feature is awesome.

I've produced many excellent 11x14 prints on my old Epson 2200 printer. I sold mine on eBay earlier this year for about $300, a great buy.

I replaced the 10D with the 20D. I also have a 1DsMkII. I have all "L" series Canon lenses, but my new "normal" lens is the Canon 24-105 f4 IS. It's just over $1,000, but worth it. It's lighter than my 24-70 f2.8 L Lens, has a longer reach, and the IS feature is used often.

Whatever you buy, I recommend sticking with Canon. When you figure how long you will own the lens, the initial cost saving for other brands isn't worth it.

My 2 cents.

Bud James
North Wales, PA
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Title: Canon Len
Post by: DarkPenguin on August 28, 2006, 03:46:25 pm
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Whatever you buy, I recommend sticking with Canon. When you figure how long you will own the lens, the initial cost saving for other brands isn't worth it.

How so?  What pain did I inflict upon myself by buying the tamron 28-75 that I will regret in the future?