Buying a 10D, could use some advice!

[HeatherJL]

I plan on purchasing a 10D in the very near future and was hoping to get some opinions on lenses.

Obviously this question has been asked a million times, and I apologize in advance for my ignorance. I just recently found this forum and find the information to be extremely helpful... although somewhat confusing. :)

I consider myself an enthusiastic hobbyist, and know a fair amount about photography in general, but I am new to the SLR realm.

I'm debating between the following:
Canon 28-135mm IS
Tamron 28-200mm
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 50mm f/1.8 or 1.8 II
???

My intended use is just general photography... family, friends, baby, outdoors, etc (nothing spectacular). I guess I'm looking for a fairly multi-purpose lens (or two) so that I can mess around and learn what I really need and purchase from there.

Thanks!

[Brian Mackey]

The 28-135 IS , is a must have in my opinion :) Forgot to mention, I also use the Sigma 15-30 , I have had solid results with it.

regards

[ssim]

I'm of the mindset that if one is investing in a camera body such as the 10D then I will only attach Canon glass to it. I'm sure that the 3rd party manufacturers do a fine job but I'll stick with Canon.

The 28-135 is a good lens. I have the 50mm 1.8 and gives good quality. You will pay more for the 1.4 and for me the difference in the f value just wasn't worth the cost differential.

[Belmondo]

Heather:
For as many people as are willing to express an opinion, you will get as many different points of view. One common thread you will see among most of the responses is that the 28-135 IS lens is really a great all-around piece of equipment. It won't allow you to go wide angle to any great extent because of the 1.6 multiplier, but it will give you an reasonably sharp, fast-focusing lens that runs out to the equivalent of over 210mm in 35mm terms. The image stabilization is supposed to give you the equivalent of two additional f-stops, so that helps in lower light situations.

I can recommend it highly if it's going to be your only lens for a while.

As time goes by, you can pick up additional lenses that increase your capabilities. For general photography, the 28-135 will serve you well.

[bwb s30]

as a longtime Canon SLR user I have a few pieces of advice:

1) ONLY use CANON Lenses

2) The 50 mm f/1.4 is likely not what you need .. overkill based on what you have said you are looking for. The 50 mm f/1.8 will be a great lens for low light and portrait use (equal to 80 mm on the 10D)

3) the 28-135 IS is a great lens, but that is equal to a 45-216 on the 10D .. great for telephoto, lousy for wide angle ... probably your best "all-around" starter lens

4) I'd be inclined to get a really wide zoom - like the 17-35 (equal to 27-56 on the 10D) as a second lens

5) ONLY use CANON lenses on Canon Cameras

[Mark Kemp]

Are you sure you want a 10D?

The big advantage of an SLR is the inetrchangeable lenses which give you the widest and the longest.

If your intended fields are portraits and some landscape as you indicate you will probably only use mid range lenses.

In which case a G5 might be a better bet. Its cheaper, fine for portrait and landscape and above all, much easier to carry.

by all means buy a 10D and a 28-135 IS, both are fantastic kit, but I would advise you to be sure that you know why you want one before spending that much!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Welcome to the forum :D

I agree with the sentiments concerning the 28-135mm IS,. this is a great lens to start a collection with,.. and if you have only one lens it is probably the best choice.

As far as the statements to only use Canon glass on a canon SLR.... I disagree completely. There are soe excellent lenses being made by third party manufacturers that are a real bargain compared to Canon,. and have brilliant optics. I own a mixed bag of Canon and Sigma lenses,. and I can not say that the Canon lenses are superior.

That said,. I still think that your best bet for a single lens is the 28-135 given "normal" camera use,..



Let us know how you make out :)

[Longwatcher]

Adding my two bits.
Get the 28-135 IS and the 50/1.8.

The flexability of the 28-135IS is fantastic. I use it as my primary travel lens for short trips. The lens will limit you in low light however. The 50/1.8 will make up for most of that. If you can afford the 50/1.4 within a couple of months then wait for that one instead as it makes the slight difference that can give you a shot you might not otherwise get.

Your second zoom lens should be the 75-300 IS and then later follow with a 17-40L when you can afford it. Short of all "L" glass that seems to be the best combination for most utility.

Lastly,
Canon lenses are best - you know they will work.

followed by Sigma - usually good lenses, but some have problems

and finally Tamron - 50/50 good lenses, expect problems - you get what you pay for.

[martcol]

This is amazing! A lens thread with consensus! :D

I have the 28-135 (stays on the camera 95%) and the Sigma 15-30 (I don't have much use for the extra wide so far and wish I'd saved my money but it's a nice lens) and the cheapo 50 mm which is as above, a fabulous portrait lens which is nice and sharp, sharper than the 28-135 IMHO.

That's almost a grand (UK£)! I would be tempted to just get the 28-135 and the 50mm 1.8. I actually started with just the 50 mm.

However, I will in the not-too-distant future, sell my soul for L lenses - I just gotta have 'em.

Let us know what you choose 8)

Martin

[martcol]

Annybody wanna buy a soul?

[Hatem Eldoronki]

HeatherJL wrote:
My intended use is just general photography... family, friends, baby, outdoors, etc (nothing spectacular).


For what you said you wanted to use the 10D for, and confined by the four lenses you chose, I'd suggest the 28-135IS. I wouldn't use the 10D to just shoot friends and family though, for that, and if you want high quality, I would go with a 5MP point-and-shoot camera. I am sorry, but I don't recommend Canon P&S cameras, like the G5 or the S50, from my personal experience.

Your other choice might be the new Canon 300D. At $999, you get a smaller SLR with better quality than any P&S camera, and included is a 18-55mm lens. If you decide you wanted more lenses, the choice of four you made will work just fine with the 300D too..
Just my $.02....

[k_s_rajeev]

What do you guys think of the ZENITAR 16mm lens for WideAngle shots.

how it is suitable with the 10D.

I currently have 28-135 and it is absolutely stunning.


Thank you.

[danphoto1]

I found the 24-70 f 2.8 to be a great lens and results are stunning for portraits and just plain all around sharpness. I took a few shots at a car show of an car and the owner grandson and presented him with the prints a week later. I was walking around and a half an hour later he was still showing off the prints and raving about how clear the shots were. I have a freind who is a professional Photo Journalist working for a newspaper and he feels the same way about the D-10 and that lens. The Canon 24-80 f4 is a pretty good 2nd choice and works well on the D10.

[HeatherJL]

http://geoparent.com/graphics/emoticons/wow.gif Thank you so much for all of your replies.

Based on this information and some more research, I think I will be purchasing the 28-135mm IS and the 50mm f/1.4. http://geoparent.com/community/icons/thumbgrin.gif

I am certainly getting in over my head with this camera, but I would much rather be limited by my own abilities than my equipment. I am currently using a G3 (wouldn't upgrade to the G5 due to the noise issues), and have reached its limits.

I had thought about the 300D, but then I would just have to upgrade again. And while I don't have unlimited funds, I do have the money to purchase a good set-up and learn as I go.

Now I just need to find one in stock... http://geoparent.com/graphics/emoticons/headscratch.gif

[Andy_T]

Heather,

try out you WC58 on the 28-135!

Should give you a little bit of wide angle (although not as much as, let's say, the Canon 17-40).

Kind Regards,
Andy

PS: Maybe you'll also have a look on the new 300D with the 18-55 lens! For many here on the forum it's no alternative to the 10D, as they need some of the (few) specialties only the 10D has to offer or the more robust construction of the 10D, but for the casual snapper :) it might be an interesting combination. That is, if you're ready to wait until, say, November, when the first hype should be over and it should be widely available. This 18-55 (100$ extra if you buy the body) surely will be a lens with a lot of bang for the buck.