Which lens on Canon 50D?

Shane

Shane

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Hi, I'm about to reunite myself back in to the world of photography. I have narrowed my search for a camera down to the Canon 50D, it's seems the closest thing I can afford to the 5D I had before. (preferred the price of the Nikon D90 though, just didn't like how it felt)
Only thing I'm stuck with now is the choice of lens, is the 18-200mm lens worth the extra £100 than the 17-85mm costs? :thinking:
 
I don't know anything about the 18-200 but the 17-85 we found disappointing very quickly.

I've just got a 50D and currently have the 17-55 with IS that came with it. I've every intention of upgrading at some point but from what I've read the 17-55 is pretty much on a par optically with the 17-85 and is cheap as chips. What about getting that as the kit lens and saving the difference towards something better?
 
trapper501 said:
I've just got a 50D and currently have the 17-55 with IS that came with it. I've every intention of upgrading at some point but from what I've read the 17-55 is pretty much on a par optically with the 17-85 and is cheap as chips. What about getting that as the kit lens and saving the difference towards something better?
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Are you sure you don't mean the 18-55 IS? The 17-55 F/2.8IS is about 5 times the price!
 
What is it you found disappointing with the 17-85mm lens?

I was trying to avoid the 18-55mm lens, I find theres never quite enough zoom when I need/want it.
Although this option would leave me £200 - £300 to spend on another lens, but then what lens can I get for £200 - £300 that is better than the 17-85mm or 18-200mm lens?

Soooo confused :shrug:
 
I have a 24-105L on my 50d, it's an excellent walkabout lens.
 
New EF-S 18-135 is probably favourite walkabout for a modest budget.
 
Why don't you get a used 5D for the same money, and L glass or primes on top? You will find all f/3.5-5.6 and 4.0-5.6 lenses extremely lacking particularly when coupled to a very high density 15MP sensor on 50D.
 
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 around the £300 mark, optically a great lens, similar to the more expensive canon 17-55mm f2.8, good focal range on a cropped sensor 27-80mm and is better than the kit (18-55) or 17-85mm lenses already mentioned.

As for the 17-85mm lens, perfect walkaround focal range, but optics let it down. Major problems at both extremes, edges etc, although centre sharp throughout the range, it didn't really deliver and is only slightly better than the kit lens.
 
The 24-105mm f4 a great lens on a full frame camera, but not a 1.6x cropped sensor camera. I know there are a large number of togs who have this lens on their 1.6x cropped sensor camera's and yes its a good walkaround lens, but with a 1.6x crop you're losing 1/2 the lenses potential, 24mm becomes 38.4mm.... wide angle capability lost and its also £800, OP has a budget of £300......

OK depends what you want to take photo's of (if landscapes or group shots don't interest you, perhaps it will be ideal 38-168mm focal range) and yes you could always fork out even more money and get a 10-22mm to fill the gap as some people have suggested :bonk:, but it almost seems like buying the lens because its an L. :shrug:

You would be better of getting a Canon 17-40mm f4, 17-55mm f2.8 IS or Tamron 17-50mm f2.8
 
To fit inside your budget and get good results I recommend the Sigma 17-70. It's well regarded on here. Had one myself until I got a 24-105L, have to say I miss the Sigma ***'.
Nice and light, good build quality and very sharp.
 
After spending my £1000 I won't have any money for photography for a little while, this is why I'm looking for the best walk around lens for my money. when I had my nikon d40x I felt limited with the 18-55mm lens. After that I had the canon 5d with the 24-105mm lens, which for me had the range I'm looking for now.
If you had £1000 ish to spend, what would you go for?
 
Shane said:
After spending my £1000 I won't have any money for photography for a little while, this is why I'm looking for the best walk around lens for my money. when I had my nikon d40x I felt limited with the 18-55mm lens. After that I had the canon 5d with the 24-105mm lens, which for me had the range I'm looking for now.
If you had £1000 ish to spend, what would you go for?
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It depends what you want to take photo's of..... for me, action photography I like the advantage of the faster autofocus abilities of the 1D MkIIn and 20D camera's I own. The 20D being my first camera, reason why I chose it, didn't like the compactness of the Canon 350D, hated the controls on the Nikon D70s, the 20D just felt comfortable in my hands and ergonomically worked for me.

Unfortunately, there probably too much choice now, not only from the main 2, but from the likes of Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Fuji.......even Panasonic getting in on the act.

It seems the 5D 2nd hand prices have shot back up, check ffordes, Park Cameras, mifsuds, MBP, Camtech and there around the £800-...., were £700-.... what about a 40D and extra money for a lens?
 
Get the Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. I have a copy and sometimes think it's sharper than my 24-70mm f/2.8 L..;)
 
oops, sorry, yes I mean the 18-55, which as far as I've read is as good as the 17-85 and a fraction of the price.

The EF-S 17-55 f2.8 is indeed a cracking lens and the sort of thing I was thinking of when I talked about upgrading, though I think that if you kept the 18-55 IS you would be able to get a really good longer lens, like the 70-200 f4L IS which is high on my own shopping list.

Ultimately it all depends on what you want to shoot, but either way I don't think the 17-85 is worth any more than its usual secondhand price of around £200, and even then I'd rather put the money to something else.
 
You could try the Canon 28-135 IS, should just be on your budget and focal length requirements, if not the Sigma 17-70 mentioned above seems to be the best fit for your budget and FL.

Good luck

Al
 
I bought a 50d earlier in the year and bought a TAMRON 17-50mm f2.8...LOVE IT...

A great lens and far cheaper than the Canon...read some reviews and see what you think...and ask loads of questions...

Best price I could find was at One Stop Digital...from HK import...but a company with a good rep...again check reviews...

I also have a 70-200 L Canon...also great...

And am just about to buy a TAMRON 90mm MACRO...from OSD...

Have a good look about and ask loads of questions...is the best advice...then read reviews and make your own mind up...

STEVIER
 
HoppyUK said:
New EF-S 18-135 is probably favourite walkabout for a modest budget.
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I can vouch for that, its an excellent lens. Sharp, colourful and very versatile. The IS is very good as well and its nicely built and finished. Some early reviews stated it suffered from CA, but even when looking for it, pixel peeping (:bonk: I know!) as hard as I can I cant find any issues with it!!
 
odd jim said:
I can vouch for that, its an excellent lens. Sharp, colourful and very versatile. The IS is very good as well and its nicely built and finished. Some early reviews stated it suffered from CA, but even when looking for it, pixel peeping (:bonk: I know!) as hard as I can I cant find any issues with it!!
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That's very promising, I've been looking at this lens. I'm almost ready to order! :clap:
 
I can't help feeling that I might be better off with the 70-200 f4L even if I can't afford the IS version. Non IS is about the same price as the 18-135 isn't it? Means still using my 18-55 kit lens.
 
I'll look for a secondhand one then I think hoppy. Now I've experienced it I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.
 
YAY i have finally ordered!!!

  • Canon EOS 50D
  • Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Total: £982.98 delivered.​

Thanks for all your help :thumbs:
 
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