First lens for 10D

[agent22]

I have just bought a Canon EOS 10D. I figure my enthusiasm for photography and improving my skills makes up for my total lack of knowledge of SLR cameras.

I can't afford to spend a lot on lenses at this point, but obviously I need at least one before I can use the new camera.

Can anybody recommend a reasonably priced zoom lens that performs well? I'm not looking for a telephoto, just a zoom that can essentially act as a few different lenses until I pay off the camera and start splurging on more toys.

Thanks so much,
Heather

[iwatkins]

Hi Heather,

Welcome to the wonderful world of digital SLRs :)

If money is tight and you want a zoom, I would be taking a look at Sigma lenses. All my lenses are Sigmas a) because they are very good these days and b) cheap compared to Canon.

Take a look at the Sigma site (http://www.sigmaphoto.com/) and see what tickles you, then shop around for a good price.

I would look at something in the 28-200 kind of range to get yourself started. I have the 28-300 and even though it isn't an EX lens (their version of Canon's L) it still gives great results.

Cheers

Ian

[ssim]

My first lenses were the 24-8r and 100-300. Both were relatively inexpensive in the grander scheme of things.

However, after seeing some of the images of people with better lenses I made the plunge and went "L".

You fail to mention what lens you now have and what your intended subject matter is. The 24-85 was a pretty decent all round zoom which I was happy with and my son now enjoys it.

[Belmondo]

Whenever I see a question like this, I'm always reminded of the old saying, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

Clearly you need a lens....any lens. But you really do need to give a little thought to what you're going to be doing with it. Once you determine that, then you'll find your decision to be a little easier. If you really don't know, then I'd suggest buying something like the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. It's cheap, works very well, and will get you started on taking pictures. It will give you the opportunity and time to learn how to use the camera, and trust me, there is much to learn. From your experience with it, you'll determine soon enough if you're going to want more wide-angle capabilities, or greater telephoto power. Then, and only then can you make an informed decision as to which zoom lens offers you the best focal range for the majority of pictures you'll be taking.

One mistake you don't want to make is that of buying a lens of extremely poor quality, no matter how much a bargain it might seem. Once your skills become sufficiently developed, you'll find you have a piece of equipment that's holding you back, and you'll just end up replacing it. That seems to happen quite quickly in most cases. At least with the 50mm lens, you'll have something that will continue to produce high-quality pictures for as long as you own it.

Otherwise, if you feel you must have a lens with more than a fixed focal length, the Sigma 28-200 Ashperical lens looks pretty good for just over $200US. I have no personal experience with this lens, but it's a good range for everyday use, and I've heard generally good comments about it.

The two best things you can do right now are:
1. Start taking pictures. Take lots of them, and Learn your camera. The beauty of digital is that your mistakes don't cost anything.
2. When you're not taking pictures, read, read, and read some more. Hang around the bulletin boards and see what other people are thinking and doing. Keep an open mind and try to learn. When you're tired of reading, go take some pictures, or read some more. There's an incredible amount to learn, and those are the only two reliable ways of doing it.

Welcome aboard.

Tom

[slin100]

I'm surprised no one has recommended the Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS. It's a very popular lens.. On a 10D, it provides a FOV equivalent to a 44-216 mm zoom on a 35mm film camera.

[Belmondo]

Granted, the 28-135 is an excellent recommendation. I own one and have been generally pleased with it. With a street price of $400US, though, it really isn't cheap, and might not be the best choice for a brand new user still learning the vageries of the camera.

This is the point I was trying to make earlier: what works for you, or what has worked for me, is not necessarily going to be the best setup for someone else. That's why I recommended the most basic lens (of good optical quality) to give Heather time to figure out where she wants to go with this business. Maybe 135 isn't long enough...maybe 28 isn't wide enough. In the meantime, she needs to be taking pictures.

$70 for a lens that's a 'keeper' is not going to break anyone, especially if they will never have cause to look back on it as a mistake.

[Andy_T]

Another presumedly good lens is the Tamron 2.8/28-75 XR DI - look for JAF Doorhof's Mini-Review Thread!

Supposedly nearly as sharp as an 'L' lens, acceptable build quality (though much plastic), 2.8 over the complete zoom range, price around USD 400.

Regards,
Andy

[agent22]

Wow, I didn't expect such a helpful response so quickly. Clearly this is going to be a wonderful place for me to learn.

Sorry about the failure to provide appropriate details. I recently purchased the 10D (body only, no lens) brand new on ebay from the camera store that has provided my Canon A70, Nikon 4500 and Nikon 5700. While the 10D comes with the same great 1 year warranty as an in-store purchase I will only have 5 days to return it if it is defective. While I have not received the camera body yet it will arrive this Wednesday, hence my haste to acquire a lens.

I am that annoying person who takes pictures of everything from a light fixture in a restaurant to a particularly fetching sunset to raindrops on a windshield. I currently photograph military history artefacts for a digital archive, using the Nikon 5700 (it has fantastic macro capabilities), and am in job negotiations with the newspaper in the small town (pop. 15,000) that I am moving to. When I attended journalism school it was to learn how to write, but I find that now I am much, much more interested in photojournalism.

So, long story short (if you're still with me, thanks) the main use for the 10D will be a photojournalism tool. The sort of things I'll be covering initially will be small town events: the Corvette weekend, festivals and fairs, local electoral debates, crazy weather phenomena, etc. Because I am engaged to a military police instructor posted to the base nearby I will also have access to photograph military training excercises and ceremonies.

My feeling is something in digital equivalent of 50mm to a mid-telephoto is probably the best to start, but I am willing to concede that I really don't know.

Again, thanks so much for your help. This forum has already become a favourite of mine.

Heather

[tip top]

Hi.
I was interested to see you mention an "L" lens. I have had a 10D since May. I have 2 Canon lenses 28-70 f 3.5-5.6
& 70-300 f 4.5-5.6. The trouble is apart from struggling with the light the image quality is not that good either. I would be interested to know if you think that i may not be getting the best out of the camera with these lenses. I like to shot action shots but I'm only getting 30% of good results.

Paul.

[CyberDyneSystems]

If you were to go back deep into the history of the "Eos" forum here,.. you would notice that this same question has illicited a very strong leaning towards two Canon lenses.

1. Definately get the Canon 50mm f/1.8 at some point. For $70.00 you can't go wrong nor can you beat its sharpness or its amazing low light capability without spending 4X the price.

2. The Canon 28-135mm "IS"
This particualr lens has been the bread and butter "starter" lens for the 10D to such a degree that it should have been bundled. The number of people who have recomended this lens to first time DSLR owners is huge,. and many who go on to own multi-thousand dollar "L" lens collections still find a use for "old faithfull"


I myself started with the afore mentioned Sigma 28-200 though, (and the venerable 50mm f/1.8 of course) but I woud not recomend the 28-200mm unless you had specifically asked for a fairly long telephoto on the cheap. In fact you specifically said that you were NOT interested in a telephoto,.. so the additonal 65mm over the 135mm Canon (still telephoto) may be of no interest to you at all in your "starter" lens.

[CyberDyneSystems]

tip top wrote:
Hi.
I was interested to see you mention an "L" lens. I have had a 10D since May. I have 2 Canon lenses 28-70 f 3.5-5.6
& 70-300 f 4.5-5.6. The trouble is apart from struggling with the light the image quality is not that good either. I would be interested to know if you think that i may not be getting the best out of the camera with these lenses. I like to shot action shots but I'm only getting 30% of good results.

Paul.

Paul,

Dig through the "EOS DIgital" forum back a few pages and read any article that refers to lens decisions in the title.. specifally those with reference to "L" lenses..

I think you will see again and again that with the exception of a few "bargain" lenses that 10D owners recomend the very best lenses to get the most out of your camera. In the case of the 28-135mm and 50mm f/1.8,.. the one being a prime it is as sahrp as many thousand dollar lenses,.. and the 28-135 with IS though not quite "L" glass has a solid reputation of being very servicable glass.

In the end though,. to do what you require is exactly why high dollar "L" lenses exist.. to get the best out of your camera in that application a large aperture prime will be your best bet. Look at the 300mm f/4 if the f/2.8 is completely out of the question price wise. And look very closely at the 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms either from Canon or Sigma.

[Longwatcher]

There are three ways of going about the first lenses for the 10D.
1. start low
2. Go for the middle
3. You have tons of money to blow

For all three options Sigma is a well known alternative*, but I list the Canon versions

1. As is described above. Start with a 50/1.8 (or 50/1.4)
shoot until you know what you want. Cost $70 (or $300)

2. Get a 50/1.8, 28-135 IS, 75-300 IS, and maybe a 17-40/4
Cost $885 ($1685 with option)

3. Go for the 2.8 "L" glass series. 50/1.4, 16-35/2.8L, 24-70/2.8L, 70-200/2.8L IS, and 100-400 and extenders as option.
Cost $4630 ($6590 with options)

Remember to add filters and other accessories as appropriate.

Any of the above will give you good glass to play with, but obviously the best is #3 if you can afford it. The nice part of option #3 is you only need one size of filter.

When I got my D60 I went route 2 (except I got 50/1.4) and later got the 16-35L because the 17-40 had not been available.

For your purposes, if you can afford it, I would get the following, 50/1.8, 16-35/2.8L and then either go 24-70 or 28-135 IS depending on budget, followed by 75-300 IS or 70-200/2.8 (w/wo IS).

The extra aperture and angle of the 16-35 will make a huge difference if doing indoor ceremonies (the 17-40L is a good substitute if you also get a good external flash), a 28-135IS will give you plenty of zoom range for most other purposes (it also is relatively light compared to the "L" lenses in that range) and then 75-300 IS will give you the range (and again is way lighter in weight). The "L" versions will give you aperture if you find you are shooting at less then f5.6 a lot.

Hope maybe that helps a bit,

[* = completeness note: I mistrust Tamron lenses, so suggest being very careful which ones you get, they are very variable as to quality based on mine and a few others experience, but a few of them are apparently very good also)]
[trivia = all prices based on 28 Oct 2003, B+H web listings]