Canon lens - advice needed

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IckyThump

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Aimee
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I looked at thisl site. However, I have no idea where to start.

I'm wanting a lens that is suitable for:

Modeling shots.
Close ups.
Gigs/concerts.


you can also tell me a variety of lenses if not one alone can perform all this.


I have a Canon 400D
 
Any lens in particular?

your link fetches up an index page for me :D
 
well, I'm looking for something a 17 year old girl can afford :P so nothing too pricey!

I'm not sure about how any of the lenses perform, so I'm not sure how i could give you an example of what I'm wanting it to be like.. hmmm.. (sorry if im talking gibberish)


and the link is the home page from the looking for a lens thread.
 
Well here's my suggestion - The Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5. At the wide end (17mm) it's wide enough for most requirements and at the 70mm end it's good for moderate close up work. In between would be ideal for the model shots. Also, being f2.8 at 17mm it would be good for low light conditions like concerts. Cost wise you're looking in the low £200 area which is a very good price for a lens of this reputation :)
 
thanks! £200 sounds good to me since I have £150 right now, what other options are there?
 
Well, I can't help on the money side of things :(

Gigs/concerts is going to mean no flash, so a fast lens is going to be the top priority, maybe with IS too to really help with the shutter speeds.

Modeling / portraiture, thats going to need a lens thats not too short or too long so you don't suffer with distorted perspectives.

Close up's as in true macro might be a step too far though.

In my mind, if you want to stay with Canon's lenses on your 400, I'd be looking at the 24-70 f2.8 (no IS) or the 24-105 f4 IS

both are similar price, but thats not a cheap place to be :)

Good luck.
 
There are many options to be honest but if you're looking for one lens for multiple uses then you really want a mid range zoom. A Canon lens will cost you more, Sigma and Tamron have a good reputation and will cost less. Have a look back at the Photo Zone site and look at the list of lenses around the 17-100mm range. Read the reviews and get some prices off the interweb. I still think the Sigma 17-70 would do everything you need it to though ;)
 
Hi IckyThump,

I've just bought the Sigma 17-70 for my Pentax K10D and I can tell you it's a cracking lens for the money. I'd agree with Grendel that, given your budget, it's got to be worth a look. The only thing I would say however, it's quite a bit heavier than the kit lens of the 400D (if that's what you're using now).
 
I've got a Canon EF-S 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM (£359 new from WarehouseExpress)
that I dont use and am willing to part with for £100 posted.

Yes there is a catch, the manual focus ring doesnt work (just spins), but autofocus, optics and IS are spot on. If I get it fixed for ~£80 then I'll have to ask approx £200 for it, and that doesnt make sense when you can get a new one for not much more.

Let me know if you are interested.
 
I'd go for the nifty 50 i think over th 17-70, my reason, well, at 70mm (which is what you'll probably use for a concert, you'll be at F/4.5 which will more than likely be very limiting in the dark of a gig, the 50mm will fit the bill perfectly @ F/1.8, secondly, as a portrait lens, again, the F/1.8 will offer a great DOF for a portrait. For close ups, just buy one of those Raynox lenses that everyone's going on about in the macro section, you may lose 1-2 stops at most from the nifty fifty, but that's still F/3.5 which is very useable. Then finally, what may very well sell the fifty for you is it costs only about £50/£60, leaving you with enough money to buy the Raynox lens (about £30) and have enough for a couple of good nights out/ a new pair of shoes :D
 
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