Lens advice

[ozimax]

Hello folks (as Neddie Seagoon would say):

I am seriously thinking about moving from the D70 to the 30D for several reasons. Firstly, one of my (Canon) pro mates has some Canon glass which he will lend me when needed, and secondly, the 30D shoots at 5fps. Among the lens that I can have access to are:

70-200 2.8 (non IS)
28-135 IS 3.5-5.6
24-105 IS f4

My question is this, I would like to start a decent collection of useable glass. I want to invest in lens that will also be usable on future FF bodies, and I would rather buy quality than a stack of hardly used cheaper lens. That is not to say that some cheaper lens don't perform with excellence: they do, but some should most probably be avoided. Lens budget approx $2000 (AUD).

As far as focal length goes, I am looking at the following:

1 x wide for landscapes and general usage (17-40mm?)
1 x portrait and general usage (85 F2.8?) (100mm F2.8?)

For longer stuff I can borrow the 20-700 F2.8 at this stage if need be. (Or do you think I will miss the longer lens right from the start?) I would like to buy a 70-200 F2.8 IS but that's just too expensive for my budget.

I don't believe that Canon has an 18-200 all purpose do everything lens like the newer Nikon variety.

What about primes? I have read that the 135 F2, although longish with the 1.6 crop factor, is an incredible medium telefoto lens for head portraits and indoor sports and street candids.

Any advice from experienced heads out there will be appreciated.

Many thanks,

Ozi.

[big pix]

Good choice to go to Canon...... lens are a personal choice........

The Nikon 18-200 lens that I have had to be recalibrated, a bit sharper now, but lacks depth of field and very easy to brake in half I have read

[hart]

Hello folks (as Neddie Seagoon would say):

I'm sorry, I didn't see you standing in that coffee pot!

I would like to start a decent collection of usable glass. I want to invest in lens that will also be usable on future FF bodies, and I would rather buy quality than a stack of hardly used cheaper lens.

All good logic there

Lens budget approx $2000 (AUD).

As far as focal length goes, I am looking at the following:

1 x wide for landscapes and general usage (17-40mm?)
1 x portrait and general usage (85 F2.8?) (100mm F2.8?)

The 17-40mm f/4L USM is an awesome lens on the 30D, I have one and love it. It gets a rave review at photozone and I agree 110% with their summary. I do need to use a speedlight at night, but it performs wonderfully either way. Check out some of my flickr shots for examples.

Cheers

Leigh
Bluebottle: Now, man, I was trained in Judo by the great Bert. Using the body as a counter-pivot to displace the opponent, I use the great Bert's method of throwing the opponent to his death! Be warned, Moriarty, one false move and you die by Bert's method!
Moriarty: Take that!
[thud]
Bluebottle: AHOO! Wait till I see that twit Bert.
Eccles: You- you hit my friend Bottle again and see what happens!
[thud]
Bluebottle: AHOO!
Eccles: See, that's what happens!

[PiroStitch]

Ozimax, don't think you'll regret making the move

In terms of lenses for FF, go for EF mounts and not EF-S.

A lens that's sort of general walkaround is the 24-105L f4 IS USM. It's the lens I'm currently using and it's a beautiful lens!

For something wider, consider getting the 16-35mm however on the 30D you'll have a 1.6x crop so that might not be wide enough. If you want to go wider, have a look at the sigma, tamron, canon 10-22 range. Mind you, these are EF-S lenses.

[ozimax]

Actually Piro, I'm very happy with my D70 but I usually upgrade camera/bodies every 2 1/2 years or so. I only have the kit lens and the 300mm Tamron lens so there is no great need for me to stay with Nikon.

I just would like the 5fps. I could go with the D200 but it is a tad more expensive than the 30D. However, being able to borrow some good Canon lens will most probably sway me to Canon.

I have thought of going a bit over budget and just buying the 70-200 2.8 IS. I will be interested to see how yours performs (you still have one on order??).

The interesting lens seems to be the 135mm F2 - I have seen quite a lot of portrait shots taken with this lens and they are just incredible, if you like close ups.

Ozi.

[Kris]

ozimax, I have the 135 F2. I think on your cropped camera it's going to be too long personally. It's very long on my 5D

That said, its a AWESOME lens and very versatile (the aeroplane shot in my gallery is the 135 F2) I think its better suited to the 5D and FF bodies but it will still be nice on the 30D and when you decide FF is for you down the track at least the 135 will REALLY fit nicely then.

Definitely grab EF only lens if you want to have a lens collection that lasts a life time.
If your in Sydney your welcome to use my 135F2 to test on your 30D when you get it..

[moz]

I'd be really tempted to go with the 85/1.8 for portraits (same FoV as 135mm on a full frame). I have that lens and it's excellent.

The 17-40 is also nice, especially on a crop camera like the 30D (which I also have, BTW). It's half the price of the 16-35 or 24-70 lenses and in many respects on a par with them in IQ terms. Obviously you lose f/2.8 though. But it makes a good general purpose lens on the crop camera, I know a couple of people who have that as their most-used lens.

Wide-ish and fast Canon don't really do too well IMO - there's the 35/2 which is quite nice for an affordable lens, but aside from that IMO you're better off with the Sigma 30/1.4. It's not quite as good as the (expensive) Canon full frame wide primes, but bang for buck it's hard to beat, and it gives you the classic 50mm street lens. Unfortunately they haven't followed up with a 20/1.8 DC or something to give you the 35mm FoV lens.

For longer stuff if you want your own, a Sigma 70-300 for under $300 will do ok in the meantime while you save for something better (and borrow the Canon when you can).

[ozimax]

Might just take you up on that Kris, thanks!

[moz]

Maybe we should have a cannonite micro-meetup in Sydney?

[ozimax]

What about a cannonite-nikonnite meetup?

Or a canonnite-nikonnite-fujiite-but-no-sonyite meeting?

[Kris]

I wouldnt mind a meet/swap/play for a while guys

[ozimax]

To be honest, I enjoy being around photographers. The people that I have met from this forum on only a few occasions are incredibly nice and well, just fun to be around. Gary has done an amazing job with DSLR.

I will be in Sydney for the week of 26-30 March. If anyone is interested in having a micro meet sometime (not Wed 28th) in/near the city or where ever, I'll be in it.

Ozi.

[Kris]

Lets organise it then, I'm happy to do any of those evenings somewhere... name the place. Maybe something a bit different? I think the Opera house has been shot eleventy billion times.

Just dont ask me for ideas thats my biggest problem

[moz]

How about the western end of Anzac bridge? There's parking for the cripples underneath it, PT in Victoria rd and there's a most cool bike bridge over the road that is fairly photogenic as well as a useful transport option. Plus there's port stuff, and you can see the CBD, and there's misc other things that are interesting. Food options in Leichhardt or Victoria rd or Glebe.

[ozimax]

Hello folks...helloooo folks (as Ned Seagoon would say):

I've done it, taken the plunge, sold my Nikon gear and purchased a shiny new 30D and 70-200 F4 L (non IS) lens.

First impressions? Well, anything Japanese built is outstanding in my experience of 5 trips to Japan, and this camera/lens combo is no exception.

The 30D is built like a tank compared to the D70 (which still is an incredible camera), but the lens is something else. Mind you, I am coming from the el cheapo Tamron 70-300mm so I don't have much to compare to.

I have only taken a few shots so far, but the detail at 100% crop is outstanding. 1000 ISO at F4 is a cinch with the Canon. Colours seem to be true and the build quality is what you would expect in an "L" lens.

Now all I have to do is wait for the sun to come up and I can start taking more photos! BTW, I passed up on the battery grip. Weight is very important to me and after using one last weekend I don't think I will need it. At this stage, I am a happy camper.

Ozi.

[Alpha_7]

Look forward to the photos Ozimax, I hope the move is a good one for you!

[ozimax]

Thanks Craig, a good friend up here on the coast has lent me (sort of permanently) a 28-135 IS lens for the wider stuff, which won't be very wide on a 1.6 body but should be adequate for the moment. I am looking at a 17-40 lens down the track a bit when (if) some more moolah becomes available.

I too am very much looking forward to taking some photos with this gear. I'm not sure about surfing shots with a 200mm lens but there are some spots here on the coast where you can get very close to the action. We'll have to wait and see....

Ozi