Lens advice please

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Fien397

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Hi guys, ive just recieved my 40d :), which i cant believe how much better it is than by 300d, well pleased and its like new. Anyway, i posted a few months back regarding getting a 24-70L, which everyone approved, i have also been recommended the EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM. Can i assume its of a similar quality as its fairly close in price? i think i would like to have the slightly wider angle, as i already have a 55-200, but i also have L series lust. your opinions please
 
Might I just make a quick point, I don't have any experience of the lenses listed here, but do remember that if you ever upgrade to a full frame body, the "s" lenses won't fit.
I have been saying this for some years to friends, and their answer used to be "I can't ever afford a full frame". However, with 2nd hand 5d bodies now dropping in to the realms of £7-800, some are regretting their armament of "s" lenses.

I may just be stating the bleedin' obvious to you, and if so I apologise in advance.
Just remember that good glass doesn't depreciate like bodies, and even 2nd hand lenses of quality will hold their value.
George
 
My understanding from what I've read, and its been a bit since I am in the same position, is the following;

  • Build Quality: the EFS isn't a patch on the L, its plastic and more akin to a good quality kit lens than L glass. EFS isn't sealed
  • Speed: The EFS is a faster lens with IS and as such will shoot in lower light
  • Quality of Shots: People rave about the 17-55 f2.8 IS and say its a great lens, people keep quieter about the L BUT people who buy L glass have high end equipment, they are often pros and not amatuers like me and they are probably less likely to come on forums and talk about lenses rather than shot and collect the cash (not that we don't have our fair share of pros here)
  • FF vs Crop, The L will work on both, the EFS won't. If you are going to upgrade (I probably won't) then you'll have to sell the EFS.

    And thats my findings so far, I want to take indoor candids next year and I doubt my 17-70 will be up to the low light so I'll be getting one of these two and I'm interested to hear what other people who have owned them say :)

    I am also considering the new Tamron too which is fast like the Canon and has IS but again won't be L glass quality and is a crop lens.

    MB
 
very good point on the efs not fitting full frame, i hadnt thought of that. as you say, prices are already quite low for older 5d's, so i think il rule out the efs lenses then. that pretty much brings me back to the 24-70. i have to say im slightly confused about one thing, my old kit lens is EFS 18-55, but canon are saying that its effective focal length is equivalent to 29-88mm in 35mm film format. I thought it was already corrected so to speak as it was designed for a croped sensor?? so if canons spec is correct, there should only be 10mm difference at the wide end between the EFS 18-55 and the EF 24-70L, ie the 18mm becomes 28mm and 24mm becomes 38mm ?? :thinking:
 
ok ive just dont a little test, i set my 18-55 to 35mm and took a pic, i then set my old sigma 28-80 to 35mm and took the same pic, and guess what, there both the same.
 
Fien397 said:
I have to say I'm slightly confused about one thing, my old kit lens is EFS 18-55, but canon are saying that its effective focal length is equivalent to 29-88mm in 35mm film format. I thought it was already corrected so to speak as it was designed for a croped sensor?? :thinking:
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The focal length of a lens is fixed; a 200mm lens is a 200mm lens, irrespective of which body it is attached to.

What Canon are saying is that with any lens that is attached to a cropped sensor body, to find the effective focal length, it should be multiplied by 1.6 (or 1.3 on a Mk1 body). This is purely down to the fact that a cropped sensor will give a narrower field of view compared to a 35mm film or FF digital body.
 
I have replaced my only EFS lens now so if I ever go FF then I am all set. To be honest I dont see myself getting there anytime soon but always best to prepare!!

what are you shooting? would the 24-105 L IS F4 be an option? lots of white box ones going at about the price of the 17-55 IS F2.8 at the moment.
 
slats said:
I have replaced my only EFS lens now so if I ever go FF then I am all set. To be honest I dont see myself getting there anytime soon but always best to prepare!!

what are you shooting? would the 24-105 L IS F4 be an option? lots of white box ones going at about the price of the 17-55 IS F2.8 at the moment.
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well here lies the main problem, im fairly new to photography, ive been doing bits and pieces for about 5 years, but as i have no fav area of photography, i thought id start with a good quality main lens. i did think about the 24-105, but i thought id be better with the slightly faster 24-70, but then it dosent have IS. its a tough call really. also i enquired about hiring one of the two, and was advised that the 24-70 is slighly sharper, but also a fair bit heavier and it obviously has less range. im sure whichever one i get will be hugely better than the kit lens from the 300d. its just quite an expensive decision
 
Yes, difficult decision, I've been constantly changing my mind between these 2 lens (24-70 F2.8 & 24-105 IS). I've decided to see if one of the larger local shops has both lenses in and see if I can pop in and have a play with both to see if I can notice a difference.

Be interested to see what your decision is (if it's before mine :lol:) and reasoning for that choice.

Good luck with your search :thumbs:
 
andyred said:
Yes, difficult decision, I've been constantly changing my mind between these 2 lens (24-70 F2.8 & 24-105 IS). I've decided to see if one of the larger local shops has both lenses in and see if I can pop in and have a play with both to see if I can notice a difference.

Be interested to see what your decision is (if it's before mine :lol:) and reasoning for that choice.

Good luck with your search :thumbs:
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ive just booked a 24-70L for hire over christmas from lenses for hire :), ill let you know my thoughts
 
I got the 24-105 as I wanted the extra reach and if I am doing anything in low light I have a flash!! Also have a 50mm 1.8 and a 100mm 2.8 if I cant use the flash.

I need the IS though as I cannot hold anything still!! Also looked at the 17-55 2.8 but dont like the range and the fact it is EFs

Will be good to hear what you think of the 24-70 over xmas. I am shooting a family wedding on monday so I will tell you how the 24-105 was :)
 
slats said:
I got the 24-105 as I wanted the extra reach and if I am doing anything in low light I have a flash!! Also have a 50mm 1.8 and a 100mm 2.8 if I cant use the flash.

I need the IS though as I cannot hold anything still!! Also looked at the 17-55 2.8 but dont like the range and the fact it is EFs

Will be good to hear what you think of the 24-70 over xmas. I am shooting a family wedding on monday so I will tell you how the 24-105 was :)
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yeah would be nice to know how you get on. Im also going to add a 50mm 1.8 to the bag soon. i must admit i did think the same as ive got a 430 ex II flash which seems pretty good, its just nice to shoot without it where posible
 
micloi said:
Have you considered the 17-40L if you are looking for something wider than the 24-70L?
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i did have a look, but im thinking for my main/general lens it may just be lacking a bit at the long end. its a real shame they dont do a 17-70L, or somewhere thereabouts
 
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