Which Canon lens to buy?

[FINA4]

So I've finally decided to get a better lens for my Canon Digital Rebel XT to replace the POS kit lens. Here are the options I've been thinking about:

1. Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM (NEW lens from Canon)
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=12955

2. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=8503

3. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=11924

Which one would you choose? They are all "about" the same price range.

I don't know how much more zoom I actually need (kit lens is 18-55mm) so the new 17-55mm (#1) looks pretty tempting. Also it would be 300g lighter than the 24-70mm.

[Slapshotnerd]

more details!!

what do you shoot? what's important to you?

sharpness wise, the 24-70 is one of the sharpest lenses that canon has ever made. You should learn to read MTF charts, as that will help you.

But if you need IS, then obviously this is the last lens in the list you would want to buy.

I bought my 24-70 off of someone who was switching to the 24-105 because the extra focal length and the IS was more important than the extra stop and the sharpness difference. Also, something to note is that you can probably find slightly used 24-70's and 24-105's, while you'll have to buy the 17-55 brand new.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

The 24-70 is a great lens, but I think you'll find the 24-105 has more versatility.

Also, the 24-105 perfectly coincides with the full range of zoom adjustment on the 580ex flash.

[FINA4]

more details!!

what do you shoot? what's important to you?

sharpness wise, the 24-70 is one of the sharpest lenses that canon has ever made. You should learn to read MTF charts, as that will help you.

But if you need IS, then obviously this is the last lens in the list you would want to buy.

I bought my 24-70 off of someone who was switching to the 24-105 because the extra focal length and the IS was more important than the extra stop and the sharpness difference. Also, something to note is that you can probably find slightly used 24-70's and 24-105's, while you'll have to buy the 17-55 brand new.

I don't shoot anything specific (besides my baby daughter) so I'm looking for a good "walk-around" lens. Sharpness and contrast I want to be much better than my current kit lens.

By looking at the MTFs for 17-55mm and 24-70mm, the 24-70mm has better contrast at 24mm at wide open lens but then it drops towards the end of the lens. 17-55mm doesn't have so drastic drop, but then it's not exactly as good from the center of the lens.

Closest focusing distance for the 24-70mm is only 0.03m worse than 17-55mm (0.38m vs. 0.35) so maybe the little extra focal length with the 24-70mm would be good.

Where is a good place to buy used lenses? How can you see if there's something minor broken inside the lens?

[FINA4]

The 24-70 is a great lens, but I think you'll find the 24-105 has more versatility.

Also, the 24-105 perfectly coincides with the full range of zoom adjustment on the 580ex flash.

That's true. Although I like the F/2.8 with the 24-70mm for more "blur" background especially in baby pics.

Which lenses you have currently?

[FunkTron]

look for a 50mm f/1.8 lens......pretty damn cheap...and get some good practice with the focal length adjustments....

just a recommendation.........

[FINA4]

look for a 50mm f/1.8 lens......pretty damn cheap...and get some good practice with the focal length adjustments....

just a recommendation.........

I've been thinking about that 50mm/F1.8 lens as well. :tup:

[FunkTron]

I've been thinking about that 50mm/F1.8 lens as well. :tup:



get it...work with it...then decide on the other lens....see how you like it....small investment for good practice.

[A4wheelin]

I agree. Get the 50mm f/1.8. It's a great little lens and you really can't go wrong for the price. If you're not taking pro shots I don't see the need to get an "L" lens. Just too pricey if you're not going to be making money from them. That's my opinion at least.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

My bag:
50mm f/1.8
28-135 IS f/3.5-5.6
70-200 IS f/2.8

I use the 50mm when I do portraits of my daughter. It's got an okay bokeh, the wide aperture really shallows the DOF, and on at 1.6x camera it's just about a perfect effective focal length.

I use the 28-135 for my "walk around".

[sdsilverm3]

I found the 50mm/F1.4 on a 1.6x body a little tight indoors. I switched to a 30mm/F1.4 which seems to work great for most things.

[mcinvale]

my kit;

50mm/f1.8
17-40mm/f4L
24-70mm/f2.8L
70-200mm/f4L

the 24-70mm stays on my camera 90% of the time....

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

And to add to the confusion....

I know a few people that have the Tamron 28-75 and are extremely happy with it. They shot it side by side with the Canon 24-70 and Sigma 24-70. Neither of them saw enough difference to justify the extra expense of the Canon. I can't recall why they didn't like the Sigma.

http://www.fredmiranda.com has a great review section and a wonderful classfieds section. You have to join to view the classifieds. It's a good photography forum overall, you can learn alot there.

[FINA4]

And to add to the confusion....

I know a few people that have the Tamron 28-75 and are extremely happy with it. They shot it side by side with the Canon 24-70 and Sigma 24-70. Neither of them saw enough difference to justify the extra expense of the Canon. I can't recall why they didn't like the Sigma.

http://www.fredmiranda.com has a great review section and a wonderful classfieds section. You have to join to view the classifieds. It's a good photography forum overall, you can learn alot there.

I've read a lot of good stuff about 24-105 from http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1029

I went to local dealer yesterday to play with the new 17-55 and 24-105. For some reason the 17-55 felt better with the Rebel XT but the extra reach that the 24-105 offers is awesome.

[FINA4]

And to add to the confusion....

I know a few people that have the Tamron 28-75 and are extremely happy with it. They shot it side by side with the Canon 24-70 and Sigma 24-70. Neither of them saw enough difference to justify the extra expense of the Canon. I can't recall why they didn't like the Sigma.

http://www.fredmiranda.com has a great review section and a wonderful classfieds section. You have to join to view the classifieds. It's a good photography forum overall, you can learn alot there.

Duh, you cannot register to www.fredmiranda.com with GMail account. :tdown:

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

Duh, you cannot register to www.fredmiranda.com with GMail account. :tdown:
I can hook you up with an email account if you want. PM me what you want for name and password.

[FINA4]

I can hook you up with an email account if you want. PM me what you want for name and password.

Thanks Tom. I too have my Nokia email account, but I don't wanna spread around that one.

Btw, I found the 24-105mm for $1099 (brand new), so I think I'm gonna pull the trigger for that. Especially after reading all the great feedback about that lens from www.fredmiranda.com, I'm sold.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

That's a good price. Is it from a reputable retailer?

[Slapshotnerd]

And to add to the confusion....

I know a few people that have the Tamron 28-75 and are extremely happy with it. They shot it side by side with the Canon 24-70 and Sigma 24-70. Neither of them saw enough difference to justify the extra expense of the Canon. I can't recall why they didn't like the Sigma.

http://www.fredmiranda.com has a great review section and a wonderful classfieds section. You have to join to view the classifieds. It's a good photography forum overall, you can learn alot there.

On the contrary, a friend of mine picked up the tamron 28-75 and even had it sent to tamron for calibration. it was a decent lens, but after he played with my 24-70, he admitted that there was a huge difference that he could notice.

additionally, if you're jumping into a commitment for a $1k+ lens (or even a $500+ lens) on a body that was less than that brand new, with no other glass, you may want to look into other alternatives. As mentioned, the 50mm f1.8 is a great lens to use to learn focal lengths. Another lens you may want to rent or borrow is the 85mm f1.8 (or f1.2 if you can find one). That lens would really show you if you need the added focal length or not (since it's longer than both the 17-55 and the 24-70).

Don't get me wrong, congratulations on making the plunge to buy good glass. But maybe your glass isn't the biggest thing holding you back right now...

[FINA4]

On the contrary, a friend of mine picked up the tamron 28-75 and even had it sent to tamron for calibration. it was a decent lens, but after he played with my 24-70, he admitted that there was a huge difference that he could notice.

additionally, if you're jumping into a commitment for a $1k+ lens (or even a $500+ lens) on a body that was less than that brand new, with no other glass, you may want to look into other alternatives. As mentioned, the 50mm f1.8 is a great lens to use to learn focal lengths. Another lens you may want to rent or borrow is the 85mm f1.8 (or f1.2 if you can find one). That lens would really show you if you need the added focal length or not (since it's longer than both the 17-55 and the 24-70).

Don't get me wrong, congratulations on making the plunge to buy good glass. But maybe your glass isn't the biggest thing holding you back right now...

So are you saying that buying a 1k+ lens for $800 body isn't good idea? Do you think that the body would be the limiting factor?

I've read a lot of people have been very happy with XT+24-105 combo.

[FINA4]

That's a good price. Is it from a reputable retailer?

Yes, that retailer has a lot of happy customers and the lens is covered by 100% manufacturer's USA warranty.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

Then I say go for it. I'm sure you'll be very happy with the results.

[Slapshotnerd]

i'm saying that your skill is probably limiting moreso than the lens itself. Knowing what settings to use when, what apatures to use, etc are probably limiting the quality in your images more than your lens. I would suggest, as i did in the other post, perfecting things with a 50mm and/or 85mm prime lens than dropping $1k on a lens that might not be what you need.

Figure out whether range or apature is more important, and whether or not you need IS or not. then you won't need our suggestions.

[RG3]

many people has many different opinion..

just rent those lenses if u don't shoot everyday ! :D :tup:
so far I've been playing with

24-70 2.8,
70-200 2.8 IS,
70-200 2.8 non IS,
80-200 2.8 (older version of 70-200),
17-40 2.8,
16-35 2.8,
24-85 F4

and they are all good lenses !
may be next with 50 1.4, 85 1.2
and really wanna play with arch lense (forgot the type :p)

[Paul]

tilt-shift

[Slapshotnerd]

what i played with and what i've experienced:

70-200f4 / 70-200 2.8 / 70-200 2.8IS / 100-400 - F4 is sharpest and fastest to focus, I'm going to go with the 2.8 non-IS for the long term (have F4 now). I need the extra stop around 40% of the time, and I don't find myself using IS often (if at all). 100-400 is awkward to use, and awkward if you just want to change 10-20mm in focal length. I think i'd rather use the 70-200 + 2 converter, plus you'd have better apature and it's still sealed (100-400 is often called a 'dust pump' )

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

If you want to try before you by, Calumet in Escondido has a great rental section and cheap prices. If you pick up on Saturday, you get to keep through Sunday for free because they're closed.

[Slapshotnerd]

If you want to try before you by, Calumet in Escondido has a great rental section and cheap prices. If you pick up on Saturday, you get to keep through Sunday for free because they're closed.

up here, if you pick it up friday after 5pm (usually they're open until 7p) you can return it monday before 11am for the cost of 1 day of rental.

[FINA4]

If you want to try before you by, Calumet in Escondido has a great rental section and cheap prices. If you pick up on Saturday, you get to keep through Sunday for free because they're closed.

That's a good idea.

Btw, your web site doesn't work.