Author Topic: Which Lens (Read 9514 times)

Freezingpictures · « **on:** January 29, 2007, 12:36 »

Maybe someone has an advice. I am considering to buy a new lens for my Canon Eos D60 in the near future ( depends on the image sales) What do you consider the best lens to get, if you want good quality for a good price, lets say arround 400 €uro.
I do not care so much if it is a 50mm, or 28-80 or 100-300. Right now I would prefer a lens where I know that I will have a good focus/good quality pictures.
The thing is, I have a tamron lens with a range from 28-300. Its a nice range, but the quality is lacking.
Any advice?

red_moon_rise · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2007, 12:45 »

Sigma 150 2.8 macro HSM. Not the fastest to focus (macro) but awsome quality near and far and extremely versatile (people, Macro, landscape ...). my most used lens. Sorry but it is US$535 in the US from this place (no affiliation with me but I have personally used them with much luck):
http://www.sigma4less.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1545be32056f3c0/shopdata/0040_Lenses/0020_Fixed+Focal+Length/0010_Macro/product_details.shopscript?article=0380_Sigma%2BTelephoto%2B150mm%2Bf%3D26slash%3D3B2%3D252E8%2BEX%2BAPO%2BMacro%2BDG%2BHSM%2BAutofocus%2BLens%2Bfor%2BNikon%2BAF-D%2B%3D28SG150F28NI%3D29

steve-oh · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2007, 12:49 »

I would spend the money on Canon "L" glass. What's great about Canon L glass is the consistent image quality at all apertures. Tamron is a good lens. I own one, but at the wider apertures (< F/5.6), it's way too soft.

You should consider the Canon 70-200 F4 L. It's about $550 US. The canon 50mm F/1.8 is also a very good lens for the price, under $100 US.

Also, in general, zoom lenses that cover a huge focal-width range, such as 28-300, will always suffer in image quality. So if you don't want to buy L glass, buy a lens with less zoom range.

Good luck.

GeoPappas · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2007, 12:49 »

A great place for reviews on lenses is the Fred Miranda site. Here is the link:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/

Greg Boiarsky · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2007, 12:55 »

Consider either the Sigma 24-70 EX DG 2.8 ($370 US from Sigma4less.com, gray market import) or the Tamron 28-75 2.8 ($370 US at Amazon.com).

eendicott · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2007, 12:57 »

For my style of photography, if I had to stick to one lens, I would choose two

The first being a 24-70 f/2.8L The second being a 70-200 f/2.8L

My experience with Canon L glass is that it is sharp and it is consistent, but the faster the glass, the sharper the image.

Having said that, I would love to get my hands on a 200mm f/1.8L but it is no longer manufactured and the price for a used one on eBay is about $4,500 USD.

epixx · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2007, 13:14 »

I would have a look at the Sigma 150mm 2.8 macro as mentioned above. It's super sharp, fast focusing for being a macro, and it's a good telephoto lens as well.

If that one is out of your price-range, have a look at macro-lenses around 100mm. Canon, Tamron and Sigma are all very good.

Then there's the excellent Canon 85mm 1.8, which is relatively inexpensive, and of course the 50mm's, 1.8 as well as 1.4.

Why no zooms in my list? Because good zooms are expensive, and zooms that are as good as and (almost) as fast as the corresponding primes, are very expensive. Using primes is also a great way to learn to see, and to get new ideas, since you have to relate to one focal length only.

MiguelAngelo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2007, 13:50 »

I was about to tell you that the 50mm and the 85 could be a good starting point.
Personally I'll go for the 50 if you have any conversion factor on your camera.

At Nikon with the 1,5x conversion the 50mm f:1,4 it's the best lens one can get for the money.
I love it for portrait and people shots in general.

I can also go with the opinion to go after L glass. When I was a Canon guy (back in the last century) I used most of the Canon L lenses and they are great. So if you want nice sharp glass go for it. Sigma is good, just not as good in my opinion.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2007, 14:42 »

Wow so much information in such a short time, thanx guys! That helps, no I only need the money

red_moon_rise · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2007, 14:53 »

Thanks epixx for backing me up. Wow this is a place where one can actually get very good info without the brandwars. I personally use Sigma, Canon, Nikon MF and Leica R on my XT . Whatever gets the job done for the best bang for the buck bacause every purchase will be scrutinized by a higher authority - the boss aka wife

leaf · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2007, 15:24 »

if you are pinching pennies while still wanting a good lens I would go with a tamron/toknia lens.

I have the 24-70 2.8L for Canon and like it very much (the range and aperature and sharp...). I believe the tamron equivalent is dandy and considerably less $$.

Eco · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2007, 16:37 »

I see digital camera bodies as short term investments that come and go because the technology develops so quickly. Lenses on the other hand are long term investment - therefore buy the best. In the beginning I also though I could save money by buying third party lenses (Sigma, Tamron, Tokina). With numerous problems such as incompatibility with newer bodies, problems with front- and back focus and poor resale value I am now in a position that I only own Canon lenses. In the process I have lost a lot of money by buying cheap and selling at a loss.

My advice is forget about 3rd party lenses. Buy only Canon lenses. There are a few "bargain" Canon lenses that are inexpensive, but optically very good. I recommend the following:

Dirt cheap and a must have:
Canon 50 /1.8

Intermediate cost, but good value
Canon 50 /2.5 macro
Canon 24-85 /3.5-4.5
Canon 70-300 /4.5-5.6 IS (optically this is really a good lens and the IS is very useful)

Bargain L lenses
17-40 /4 L
70-200 /4 L
200 /2.8 L

Expensive, but well worth the money
24-70 /2.8 L
24-105 /4 L IS
100-400 /4.5-5.6 L IS

Pity your D60 does not accept EF-S lenses. The 17-85 IS lens is an excellent travel lens, and the 10-22 will solve your wide angle needs.

leaf · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2007, 03:40 »

well i do have to agree that older third party lenses have a problem being compatable with newer bodies. I had a sigma 100mm macro lens that didn't work on my 10D cause it was not compatible. it is a bit of a pain trying to sell such a lens as well because it won't be compatable on other peoples ever changing cameras either.

So there is benefit to buying the expensive canon line, however if you only have X $$ to spend, a third party professional lens would no doubt serve your needs, just be prepared to have to sell it in a few years.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2007, 03:45 »

Thanks again, and thanks for the nice list Eco!! I looked at the price for the 50mm.
I found one for 83 Euro!!
So the 50mm/1.8 has an excellent quality, sharpness and so on?
I guess I have to speak to my wife

Jan

leaf · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2007, 03:49 »

yep the 50mm 1.8mm is a wife pleaser

snem · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2007, 05:04 »

I was looking for a Canon 50 mm 1.8 mm in november, but in Italy it is not so cheap (120 euro). So I bought a more versatile Tamron 55-200 mm F 3.5-6.3 for the same money. A cheap lens I know, but I have no money to spend in photography and I wanted to try a tele. My first lens, canon ef 18-55 sold in bundle with my 350D, is too soft at 55mm, but still good at 18mm.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2007, 09:08 »

I got the 50mm today I like it

GeoPappas · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2007, 10:36 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on February 10, 2007, 09:08

I got the 50mm today I like it

Which one?

CJPhoto · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2007, 13:34 »

Quote from: Eco on January 29, 2007, 16:37

Dirt cheap and a must have:
Canon 50 /1.8

got it

Quote

Intermediate cost, but good value
Canon 70-300 /4.5-5.6 IS (optically this is really a good lens and the IS is very useful)

got it

Quote

Expensive, but well worth the money
100-400 /4.5-5.6 L IS

next but only if I go to Africa

Quote

Expensive, but well worth the money
24-70 /2.8 L
24-105 /4 L IS

ON the list but not high priority, But which one. The first would be better for stock, the the second better for travel???

Quote

The 17-85 IS lens is an excellent travel lens

my main lens

Looks like I was lucky and choose some good lens (based on your list) to start off with as I didn't do much research.

L lens are the next on the list to replace the current lens but I am concerned about wieght and size for travel to be carrying around a 17-40, 24-105 and 100-400 as a complete set. Must be twice the weight of my current kit at least (and that is before I figure out how to pay for it).

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2007, 02:39 »

Quote from: GeoPappas on February 10, 2007, 10:36

Quote from: Freezingpictures on February 10, 2007, 09:08
I got the 50mm today I like it

Which one?

The Canon EF50mm f/1,8 II

leaf · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:05 »

yeah weight is definatly a problem with L lenses unfortunatly. Those three lenses you talk about CJ are probably a bit of a weight. not sure what a good solution is though...

go to the gym more often? Count your photo shoot as a workout and be happy for any extra weight? I have decided on taking the mindset of the later - although i would i still crumble when i have to take as much as an extra battery around with me..

sharply_done · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2007, 00:18 »

Yeah, they're heavy alright.

I currently have a 16-35mm L, 24-70mm L, and 70-200mm IS L. I used to have a 300mm L, but that thing was so heavy that I hardly ever used it.

The 24-70 has quite a nice minimum focus distance - coupling it with a short extension tube makes a nice macro kit.

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Author Topic: Which Lens (Read 9514 times)

Freezingpictures

red_moon_rise

steve-oh

GeoPappas

Greg Boiarsky

eendicott

epixx

MiguelAngelo

Freezingpictures

red_moon_rise

leaf

Eco

leaf

Freezingpictures

leaf

snem

Freezingpictures

GeoPappas

CJPhoto

Freezingpictures

leaf

sharply_done

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