Need lens advice please!!!

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Permalink Reply by jwass on January 25, 2009 at 5:11am

I have the 40D and its a great camera. You'll love it. If I were you I would determine your ideal set of lens you want to buy in the future and set about saving for them one by one. The lens is the most important part. The less money you spend on inferior lens the more you have for the better ones. You will be nothing but happy with great glass. A great way to start is with prime lens. You can get the Canon 50 1.8 for less than $100 and its a great learning lens. You can get an 85 1.8 for less than 400. I would recommend the 70-200 F4 IS, and the 17-55 IS as the fundamental lens in your collection in the future. They run about $1000 a peice. After that wide angle and primes. I understand if you want to get the zooms to start, so I would opt for either one. They'll both serve and you can learn on them but my best advice is don't skimp on the glass. For what its worth. Hope it helps Charlene. Happy shooting.

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Permalink Reply by Antonow on January 25, 2009 at 8:52am

I have 40D too and the last year my favorite lens has been 24-105 1:4 L. I know, L series is pricey but still. It's such a versatile lens. I've shoot everything from macro to landscapes. Not to mention the image quality.
The way the lens works with the 40D body is just great.

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Permalink Reply by SoCal Island Girl on January 27, 2009 at 2:47pm

In my opinion, either one of the above would work but the 85mm f/1.8 prime lens is more suited for portraiture and weddings. Since it is f/1.8 (it is also inexpensive, some $300 used), it is well suited for low light/indoor photography. However, since it is a fixed focal length, you will have to do the composing with your feet (which is not a bad thing as it forces one to think. The 17-85 would be a second choice in my opinion and the 17mm (equivalent to 28mm on the 40D) is nice for wide angle shot, say for group shot. On the other hand, the 28-135 IS USM is rather heavy, the IS does not really work too well, most turned the IS off. It is really more suited as a walk around/travel lens. 28mm would be equivalent to a 45mm on 40D so it is not very exciting if you are trying to be creative.

Another lens you might want to consider is the 70-200 f/4 or the f/2.8 if money is not an issue, it is the signature L lens (white) and color fidelity is excellent. Once you used the L lens, you are hooked :)

A good way to go about your selection is rent out the lens for a day and see how you like them before you buy.

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Permalink Reply by Ste on January 27, 2009 at 10:45pm

Hi Charlene

This is a difficult one...
You can't really buy a "one size fits all" lens - you either have to buy good lenses for each thing you want to do, or make compromises and get less good lenses that cover more focal range. The kit type lenses currently on offer by Canon aren't bad, but they aren't really great either. That said, to start, if money is an issue get one that covers the range you want, with your new camera. Then save up and get better glass covering specific focal ranges as and when you can.

I use the 50mm 1.8 - excellent for the money and well worth having. I also have the 60mm Macro 2.8 USM, which is superb for the money, its been described as an L lens without the price tag and I would agree. Its also useful for portrait incidentally.

I don't have a great long lense - I currently have the (awful) 90 - 300mm EF, which I will be upgrading at a later date. For wide angle I have the Sigma 10-20 2.8 DX, which again is excellent for the money. Its great for landscapes of course, but also great for creative portraits. The Kit 18-55 that came with my old 350D hardly ever gets used nowadays.

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Permalink Reply by Charlene Nicole on January 28, 2009 at 2:14pm

Thank you all for your recommendations! I really appreciate it! :)

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