What Lens???

MadFrankie

MadFrankie

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Gary
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Hi all,

I'm after your advice. I have a Canon 50D and currently have the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens that I use as a walkabout.

I'm looking to upgrade to a much nicer lens, one that will stay with me for a long while which is a good walk about...

I'm looking at the:

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM

Now I know the L series are more for full crop factor cameras and I would lose some wide angle but it would only be a 38mm on my 1.6x 50D so not too bad. I like the range on the 24-105 but prefer the f2.8 of the others...I also like the IS, so the 24-70 falls down there, and will the 55 be enough???

:shrug:

So is it worth getting an L or stick with the well liked 17-55?

I mostly photograph landscapes and 'studio' stuff but am getting more and more into people and protraits, candid and staged...

Does anyone have some real life experience and help? I'm also open to other lens recommendations, tamron etc, as I have had no experience in these I wouldn't know how they compare.
 
17-55 2.8 is the one, no question IMHO. Used one for years, superb lens. The other one I like the look of is the 15-85, which has a fantastic range and is very sharp, but only f/4-5.6 :(

For walkabout most people find the 24-xxmm L lenses just too long on a cropper, but that's a personal thing really. Check the Exif data on the stuff you have shot with the 17-85 and see how much you actually use the short end.
 
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM would be my pick from those you've suggested.

I had a 24-105 on a crop and just became frustrated as I was forever taking it off for something wider.

The 24-70 is also 2.8 but you'd also paying a lot for quality around the edge which your cropped sensor wont be using.

If you're put off by the EF-S mount (perhaps thinking to the future) this lens 'sells on' well.
 
Thanks guys, I was leaning towards the 17-55 so that's just confirmed my choice.

Off to go and see what price I can get one for!
 
MadFrankie said:
Thanks guys, I was leaning towards the 17-55 so that's just confirmed my choice.

Off to go and see what price I can get one for!
Click to expand...

You know about Kerso?
 
I found that with a 17-50mm i kept running out at the 50mm end and wanted more reach. It all depends on the sort of stuff you want to shoot. I looked back at all my images and that took me to buying a 24-105 f4L. I still want a decent 17-whatever but have the 17-85mm for now which is an ok lens.

If you like the 17-50ish end then the 17-55mm f2.8 IS is the one!
 
I have owned all three - I've ended up with the 24-105 but only because I upgraded my 50d to the 5D MKII - I've had the 24-70 as well but found it rather heavy, so I sold it and bought a 24-105mm

The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM on a crop body is fantastic...

Cheers

Ian.
 
Only own the 17-55 so can't really comment on the others

Very pleased with mine and think the others you mention would leave me wanting at the wide end on a crop sensor camera
 
I've been looking into a similar conundrum as going to upgrade my camera soon and found the tamron17-50f2.8 which has some really good reviews and is about£300-350 I think

Clearly if u have the money the 17-55 will b better
 
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