Help me pick a lens for the D10

[Lunatique]

I'm about to purchase a Canon D10, and I need some help picking a lens(or lenses). I've done a lot of research on Canon lenses, and I can't seem to decide.

First of all, to see the kind of photography I do, please visit my site's photography section(www.enchanted.prohosting.com). I shoot mostly beautiful women--but in a fine arts/fashion style--not glamour.

It would seem that a standard 80mm with a wide apeture(f2 or wider) would be best for what I shoot. But, I occassionally shoot scenery, architecture, macro..etc, and to buy several lenses would cost my spleen.

So, I'm thinking a zoom lens at about 28-135mm, but I've read that zoom lenses don't perform as well as the fixed lenses. Also, the apeture are usually not as wide(around f4 or so). I'm sure the more expense zoom lenses like Canon's L series perform very well, but one would cost about as much as the D10 itself---and I'd just feel way too guilty to spend that kind of cash. BUT, if the price really justifies the quality, I might consider it.

Any suggestions?

[theflyingkiwi]

well I have just ordered the 10D :) and I know that I will have alot of fun with it.

My first lense is the 28-135 IS USM, why?

well the lense is an all round nice lense to have with good image quailty. At the moment I can not afford to get any "L" series and I am not to sure if I ever will.

I have read alot of postings about the "first" lense and alot of people recommend it.

I have noted that alot of peopel recommend 50mm f1.2 is a good portrat lense and it is cheap. Perhaps you should look at this first, then see how you go.

The cost of this lense can help since the camera cost so much.

[john_houghton]

Sorry to be picky and off the point, but just for the record, there is only one "e" in lens. I am surprised to find the extra trailing "e" cropping up so regularly.

John

[Lunatique]

Hey, thanks for the suggestion--and thanks for the spelling correction. I'm pretty picky about spelling myself, so this is kinda embarrassing...

I'm looking at the EF 28-135 3.5/5.6f IS USM, and it looks like a good medium priced, all purpose lens, with stabilizer--which is very useful, since I shoot low-light all the time doing moody candid portraits.

[Lunatique]

I've been agonizing over what to get, and the more reviews I read, the more I'm convinced that getting a less than "amazing" lens will only end up frustrating a photographer--because he/she'll be always thinking that the shots would've turned out better with a better lens.

So, I think I'm willing to spend more for better lenses.

Right now, I'm looking at maybe the following combinations:

Canon EF 17-40 f/4L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f4L USM

or

Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

or just one Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

Any of the combinations will cost me at least a grand.

Advice?

[RichardtheSane]

I personally think your first choice set would be fine. The 17-40 is a great lens and any L zoom is worth having. I would make one addition. The 50mm F1.8 MKII lens. IT is a fantastic, fast lens that is sooooooo sharp! Cheap too, it is currently my standard lens on the 10D (till I get a 17-40!)
:)

[lobo4200]

Lunatique,
I also have the 17-40 f/4L and it is a great lens. Your choice of this along with the 70-200 is good if you don't need anything between 40-70 and you don't need a faster lens than these.

Just to follow up from your post on dpreview, I can't tell you enough how much you can do with the 50mm f/1.8 II. The f/1.4 does have 8 elements compared to the 5 elements on the f/1.8 but it's a great lens regardless of the price...plus I looked at your photos and with a minimum of f/4 your going to need a tripod for doing your low light shots without a flash.

Again, no matter what other lens you get, consider adding either of the 50mm to your collection.

Here is a great comparison of the two 50mm lenses.
http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

[fox1]

john_houghton wrote:
Sorry to be picky and off the point, but just for the record, there is only one "e" in lens. I am surprised to find the extra trailing "e" cropping up so regularly.

John

British English John...... :D

[ChrisNardone]

I have the 28-135 IS. I read somewhere that it is Canons number one selling lens (lense). Not sure if that is true, but it is a good choice. I also have the 70-200 f/4L. It is also a super lens and pretty affordable for L glass. I had a sigma 70-200 f/2.8. It was also excellent, but I decided it was too heavy to justify the extra f stop.

[rcrobert]

You mentioned that you sometimes shoot scenery. Just remember the 1.6x multiplication factor with the 10D. That's why I went with the 17-40mm lens -- which is effectively only a 27mm wide angle.

This will affect your portrait photography too. If you like the 80mm range for your portraits, you need to make sure that your lens covers the 50mm range.

Your first set of lens (17-40 and 70-200) would miss this range.

[Lunatique]

Hey, thanks for the feedback.

Yeah, I read some reviews on the 50mm 1.4, and after seeing a sample photo taken with that lense(at the official D10 website), I decided to add it to the 2 zooms to fill the 80mm range on the D10.

So, I guess it's the first set, with the 50mm 1.4 thrown in.

That comparison article of the 2 50mm lenses is great, BTW.