One camera one lens
- Thread starter bellair
- Start date
Instead of
I own a Canon 40D plus the Canon 15-85 and the 70-200 f/4 IS, i would just like one decent camera and one allround lens, has anyone got any suggestions or would this not work all info would be appreciated thank you
Get a compact. What you're asking for is impossible, or at least pointless, with a DSLR.
andyst2409
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 87
- Name
- Andrew
- Edit My Images
- Yes
5d mk II + ef 28-300 L should cope well with 99.9% of your shots
Sorry but i think your wrong
That seems a sensible option i will give that a lot of thought thank you andy5d mk II + ef 28-300 L should cope well with 99.9% of your shots
Liam
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 2,162
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Well, all I use on my DSLR is a 400mm f5.6 but I must be a bit strange
...What do you normally photograph?
dingdang
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 30
- Name
- Dong
- Edit My Images
- Yes
5d mk II + ef 28-300 L should cope well with 99.9% of your shots
Good suggestion, if you don't mind taking all the time a big and heavy Camera+Lens.
However once again. Without more detail you probably won't get a suitable answer.
I would analysis first your existing photos:
For example: How many % indoor, ?% outdoor, ?% wide angle, ?% standard, ?% Zoom
Interest in Macro, Portrait, Sports or just for traveling?
Flexible, light weight more important than quality?
Neither Canon nor Nikon won't produce a lens which is perfect for all situation unless they don't want earning on lenses anymore.
fuzzyedges
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 1,638
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I use an 85 1.8 only on my 50D but it suits what I shoot If I shot landscape or indoors it would certainly proove a challenge
J.R.Abbott
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 105
- Name
- John
- Edit My Images
- No
I use the Tamrom 18-270 is lens for my all round work and have a 18-55 kit lens but dont use the 18-55 much now keep the tamron 18-270 on most of the time.
john
john
- Messages
- 43,206
- Name
- Alan
- Edit My Images
- No
I used to have a Sigma 28-300mm and it was ok if you worked within its limits. I got some good shots with that lens.
These days a 18-200mm might be a better option. You wont get the widest apertures and you wont get the best optical quality that's available but if you know and accept the limitations of these lenses they make a perfectly sound option.
I don't agree that these lenses make a DSLR pointless as unless you print very large or crop heavily they'll probably be easily good enough.
I don't know if I could live with a superzoom as my only lens but they'd be a lot more attractive as a part of a two lens kit together with a fast prime or a macro.
You should be able to Google your way to some superzoom reviews, the last time I read one it actually did well.
Good luck choosing.
These days a 18-200mm might be a better option. You wont get the widest apertures and you wont get the best optical quality that's available but if you know and accept the limitations of these lenses they make a perfectly sound option.
I don't agree that these lenses make a DSLR pointless as unless you print very large or crop heavily they'll probably be easily good enough.
I don't know if I could live with a superzoom as my only lens but they'd be a lot more attractive as a part of a two lens kit together with a fast prime or a macro.
You should be able to Google your way to some superzoom reviews, the last time I read one it actually did well.
Good luck choosing.
andyst2409
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 87
- Name
- Andrew
- Edit My Images
- Yes
its surprising how quickly you get used to it, i have only just got mine and spent all day with it at south lakes wildlife park...im old and knackered but surprisingly found after 30mins i didn't notice the weight
have to agree with this as the most sensible thing to do first, when you figure out what you mainly shoot then get the most relevent lens
Neither Canon nor Nikon won't produce a lens which is perfect for all situation unless they don't want earning on lenses anymore.
again gotta agree here too they will just be losing too much revenue
pete.rush
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 3,321
- Name
- Peter Rushworth
- Edit My Images
- No
I own a Canon 40D plus the Canon 15-85 and the 70-200 f/4 IS, i would just like one decent camera and one allround lens, has anyone got any suggestions or would this not work all info would be appreciated thank you
Would help if we knew what you photographed and what focal length you required or wanted to work with and some sort of budget would help?
The 28-300mm is over £2000 so are you looking to pay this? and personally its not a great lens for the price tag.
Is there one all round lens, NO, that's why an SLR is a interchangeable lens system, right lens, right job.
There are these budget hyperzooms like the 18-200mm just don't deliver in anything other than near perfect conditions, great as travel lenses when weights a consideration for holiday snaps, but not much better than that.
dingdang
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 30
- Name
- Dong
- Edit My Images
- Yes
That's okay for wildlife with good condition of the lights. I was thinking taking photos on the street or indoor like a Paparazzi.
Carring for 30 mins. is still no problem, but for few hours without tripod? I sold my 70-200mm 2,8 IS last month. It is just too heavy.
To compare:
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS USM (1670g)!! 3.6 x 7.6" (92 x 194mm)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L IS USM (760g) 3 x 6.8" (76 x 172mm)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM (1470g) 3.4 x 7.8" (86 x 197mm)
seriousrikk
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 5,881
- Name
- Richard
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Well, all I use on my DSLR is a 400mm f5.6 but I must be a bit strange
What do you normally photograph?
Quoting in case you missed the most important question that has not yet been answered...
tijuana taxi
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 15,748
- Name
- Rich
- Edit My Images
- Yes
You already have the one good camera, stick on a Canon 17-55mm IS and go take some pictures
Musicman
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 9,866
- Name
- Rob Telford
- Edit My Images
- No
I think there's another important question to ask: what's wrong with your current setup?
The 40D is a decent enough camera.
By all accounts, the 15-85 is quite a good lens if you don't need a constant aperture or to be able to open up wide and covers a good general-purpose range.
The 70-200 f/4L IS is one of Canon's sharpest zooms and not that bulky and heavy (at least compared to the f/2.8L).
What, specifically, is missing that makes you want to switch to something else?
The 40D is a decent enough camera.
By all accounts, the 15-85 is quite a good lens if you don't need a constant aperture or to be able to open up wide and covers a good general-purpose range.
The 70-200 f/4L IS is one of Canon's sharpest zooms and not that bulky and heavy (at least compared to the f/2.8L).
What, specifically, is missing that makes you want to switch to something else?
Last edited:
danbroad
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 1,634
- Name
- Dan
- Edit My Images
- No
+1. Is it change for change sake, or a need to regain the 'muse'?
Use an EXIF viewer to decide where your focal length of choice is. Then, get either a prime at that length, or a great zoom that covers it. For example, my only focal length below 100mm is my 24mm [35mm on a crop]- which covers everything I ever shoot except my wildlife, which I bought the 100-400L for.
Sorry but i think your wrong
I'm not.
It isn't wide enough for landscape, long enough for wildlife or fast enough for portraiture. It's a good walkabout lens - nothing more.
You definitely proved me wrong there!
Look i asked for advice, if you want to be sarcastic just shut up and stay away from me:razz:
I see your a clever so and so i will just ignore you from now on:shake:
tuscan30
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 208
- Name
- Pete
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Lots of good and useful advice has been put forward. It sounds like you need to sort out your photographic priorities and then try to match them with suitable equipment.
Strikes me that a decent compact would do the trick. Having a decent DSLR and hobbling it with only one lens defeats the object in my view.
Strikes me that a decent compact would do the trick. Having a decent DSLR and hobbling it with only one lens defeats the object in my view.
Yardbent
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 7,761
- Name
- John
- Edit My Images
- Yes
.......manners too
It's interesting to see that the general consensus seems to be that if you have an SLR you per default also need a plethora of lenses to go with it.
You don't need a different lens for every type of photography you do, even more so if you dont do photography for a living; that's just equipment whoring and reiterating what "professionals" recommend.
If you cant take a landscape photo with the 24-105 because it's not wide enough, or a portrait photo because it's too slow; well, sir, then in my opinion you need to work on your photographic skills because pretty much any lens would do the job. It's how you use it.
As a always on general usage lens I'm tempted to recommend a 50mm lens, and the use of your legs. It's amazing how much fun they are to use and they work quite well for most things. My personal work horse is the 24-70, but depending on budget and size requirements it might not be suitable.
You don't need a different lens for every type of photography you do, even more so if you dont do photography for a living; that's just equipment whoring and reiterating what "professionals" recommend.
If you cant take a landscape photo with the 24-105 because it's not wide enough, or a portrait photo because it's too slow; well, sir, then in my opinion you need to work on your photographic skills because pretty much any lens would do the job. It's how you use it.
As a always on general usage lens I'm tempted to recommend a 50mm lens, and the use of your legs. It's amazing how much fun they are to use and they work quite well for most things. My personal work horse is the 24-70, but depending on budget and size requirements it might not be suitable.
mrgas
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 3,420
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Speaking as one of the "professionals" you appear to be mocking here (and what's with the bloody quotation marks? What am I - an ironic professional or something?
), there's no such thing as an 'everyman' lens, nor one that will do everything from portraits to sports to lanscapes.If there were, we'd all own just that one lens.
I own a 17-37; 24-70 and a 70-200 all in f/2.8, which covers pretty much everything as far as the focal-lengths I need.
Why then do I also own a 50mm f/1.4, an 85mm f/1.4 and a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens?
Because those lenses while covering 99% of shooting situations don't do everything equally well...
Sometimes I want a narrower depth of field for portraits with a bit of added 'oomph', sometimes I want to get closer to small objects...
While you can use one lens for a lot of your work, the whole point of investing in an SLR-based system is precisely because of the interchangeable lens capability.
If you just want one lens, buy a decent compact.
Last edited:
Speaking as one of the "professionals" you appear to be mocking here (and what's with the bloody parentheses? What am I - an ironic professional or something?
If there were, we'd all own just that one lens.
I own a 17-37; 24-70 and a 70-200 all in f/2.8, which covers pretty much everything as far as the focal-lengths I need.
Why then do I also own a 50mm f/1.4, an 85mm f/1.4 and a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens?
Because those lenses while covering 99% of shooting situations don't do everything equally well...
Sometimes I want a narrower depth of field for portraits with a bit of added 'oomph', sometimes I want to get closer to small objects...
While you can use one lens for a lot of your work, the whole point of investing in an SLR-based system is precisely because of the interchangeable lens capability.
If you just want one lens, buy a decent compact.
Not sure which parenthesis you are talking about?
It's not intended as a mocking against working photographers; I'm a freelancer so I do get paid for it as well at times. I simply dislike the term "professional" (for any profession) because the end result is not necessarily better than that of an "amateur".
I never contested that the use of a SLR system begets much more flexibility and freedom by the choice of the different lenses. But they are not needed. The fact that you need all those lenses for the photography that you do, does not make it a general truth statement that they are all needed.
The advice of using a good compact camera is, of course, a sound advice too. The higher end ones are quite capable these days. Personally I prefer the size and feel of a SLR, so if I were to choose between a SLR + one lens vs. a compact, I would still choose the SLR. But each to their own.
Last edited:
Well. Then I, as a non native English speaker, must apologise because I thought they were called quotation marks, and that parenthesis were ().
As a native English speaker I cannot possibly be expected to know this stuff - we just attend school, you know - we're not required to actually learn anything there...
However...
Irony
Main article: Scare Quotes
Another common use of quotation marks is to indicate or call attention to ironic or apologetic words:
He shared his “wisdom” with me.The lunch lady plopped a glob of “food” onto my tray.She attempted to use her “strength” to lift the weight.To avoid the potential for confusion between ironic quotes and direct quotations, some style guides specify single quotation marks for this usage, and double quotation marks for verbatim speech. Quotes indicating irony, or other special use, are sometimes called scare, sneer, shock, distance, or horror quotes. They are sometimes gestured in oral speech using air quotes.
Last edited:
As a native English speaker I cannot possibly be expected to know this stuff - we just attend school, you know - we're not required to actually learn anything there...
Haha. Yeah. I actually detested grammar when in school, so I cheated my way through it. Of course, had I known then that I would later end up moving to a English speaking country I might've put more effort into it.
WOW why the aggression, thank you gnom i was thinking along those line very sensible me thinksAs a native English speaker I cannot possibly be expected to know this stuff - we just attend school, you know - we're not required to actually learn anything there...
However...
Irony
Main article: Scare Quotes
Another common use of quotation marks is to indicate or call attention to ironic or apologetic words:
He shared his wisdom with me.The lunch lady plopped a glob of food onto my tray.She attempted to use her strength to lift the weight.To avoid the potential for confusion between ironic quotes and direct quotations, some style guides specify single quotation marks for this usage, and double quotation marks for verbatim speech. Quotes indicating irony, or other special use, are sometimes called scare, sneer, shock, distance, or horror quotes. They are sometimes gestured in oral speech using air quotes.
WOW why the aggression, thank you gnom i was thinking along those line very sensible me thinks
What aggression? :shrug:
Aggression is me beating you repeatedly over the head with a 600mm f/4 Nikkor while shouting:
"Buy! More! Lenses! You! Idiot!"
...until you're a cowering, bleeding wreck...