Lens question

[Josh]

I have heard that with digital cameras lens can make or break a picture qualitly wise...is this true? I dont want to spend $1700 on a lens if its not going to make it any clearer then a $400 lens
Thanks for your help!

[PeterS45]

I have heard that with digital cameras lens can make or break a picture qualitly wise...is this true? I dont want to spend $1700 on a lens if its not going to make it any clearer then a $400 lens
Thanks for your help!

A lens can make or break a picture qualitly wise, period.

A picture is a picture, digital or not. A poor lens can never produce a high quality picture but it all depends on how high you set your standards.

I never owned a 'L'-lens and was perfectly happy with my standard quality EF-lenses, although I could see the differences. But I didn't think the differences were important enough to persuade my wife to let me buy a 'L'-lens :wink: .

[RichardtheSane]

Josh, a lens can help make a great picture, but it needs more than the lens to make the picture.

Do you have examples of the lenses in question?

The extra money on lenses usually goes further than image quality. For the extra money you usually get a faster lens, higher build quality, better and quicker autofocus as well as a more contrasty and sharper image.

But if you photography doesn't justify that then it is often better to wait...

[Josh]

Thanks for the replys everyone

The lens I have questions about:
Geting just this lens
Canon EF 35-350 F 3.5-5.6 USM$1499.99

or

I would do these to together
Canon EF 28-80 F3.5-5.6 USM V $199.99
Canon EF 75-300 F4.5-5.6 IS USM $389.99

There is a huge difference in price there! so the question is.....which one? I really like the convience of not having to switch the lens all the time...but if I do have to ...it wont be a big deal. I take a number of different types of photos. you can see what types I take at
www.nrg.to/jpimaging/index9.html
I would like to get as clear of a picture as posible since I would like to one day be able to sell my pictures if any one would ever want to buy them.

Thanks for your help everyone

[Guillermo Freige]

The lens I have questions about:
Geting just this lens
Canon EF 35-350 F 3.5-5.6 USM$1499.99

or

I would do these to together
Canon EF 28-80 F3.5-5.6 USM V $199.99
Canon EF 75-300 F4.5-5.6 IS USM $389.99


None of the above :)

The 35-350 is REALLY a big lens, not very nice for everyday use, and a too large zoom, so image quality will suffer, even in an L lens.
The second choice uses lenses with poor optical performance. I've used a 28-80 IV and I still have the 75-300IS, and image is soft and with noticeable CA, and the AF of the 75-300 is slow and not very reliable. My main lens is the 28-135 3.5-5.6 IS USM. A very sharp lens and also with IS, and with all the focal lengths I use (at least in 35mm). I've added to it a couple of prime lenses (the $70 Canon 50/1.8 and a Sigma 20/1.8 ) for low light situations. If you really need the 300mm range, you can just use the 28-135IS and the 75-300IS, for less than the 35-350 alone., buy a 300mm prime, or buy the excelent but expensive 100-400 L IS. If 200 is enough for you, you can buy the topnotch 70-200/f4 L but if you want IS you must pay top dollars for the 70-200/f2.8L IS

[Josh]

http://www.expresscameras.com/cart/prodetails.asp?prodid=8935&start=1
http://www.expresscameras.com/cart/prodetails.asp?prodid=8937&start=1

How do those two lens look to everyone? Good lens?
BTW I dont think I really need IS...

With that lens set up and the camera it will cost me close to 3500.

If anyone can find good lens like that for cheaper it would be helpful. I am looking for something with great clarity and a 28-300 zoom (multiple lens are fine) I would like to keep the price down below 1700..Thanks!!!

[Josh]

http://www.expresscameras.com/cart/prodetails.asp?prodid=79541&start=1
what about this one? is it as good as the other one?...will it fit the 10d?

[CyberDyneSystems]

All three of those lenses are very good..

But I would not send any CC info to the particular vendor you have selected...

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1805.html

Try B7H or Delta international. or Adorama... Better yet,. look at the "Recomended vendors" thread in our MarketPlace forum.

The last lens above,. the 70-200mm f/4 L is a SUPER value.. it has all the image quality of the f/2.8 IS version at less than 1/3rd the cost.

The 28-70mm you link to has been discontinued and replaced with the 24-70mm f/2.8 L,.. which seels for about $1400.00... however you can find USED 28-70mm f/2.8 L's for about $700.00 (half the cost of the new lens)

Thats what I did and it is a great solution.

[cc10d]

Probably one of the sharpest 70-200 's in the Canon line

[Josh]

ok...looked at the recomended vendors...and I found lens that I like even better....here are the links..
http://www.adorama.com/CA1740.html
http://www.adorama.com/CA1740.html

These are what I have found that I think will work really good
what does everyone think?

Also, with those lens, what is the multipling factor on the canon 10d. What would the zooms really be on them?

Thanks everyone for your help.....its a HUGE help

[Josh]

what about the second link...and then this
http://www.adorama.com/CA100400ISU.html

I here it is a pretty good lens.
what do you think?

[daaaveman]

Josh, You just need to do research. If you are interested in lenses, see the sticky thread on the forum entitled "All the Best Links". You've come to the right place and all the info you are looking for is here, you just need to spend some time reading and use the search tool. You will find more info than you can imagine on the 17-40 and the 100-400. Many, many have asked these same questions and the answers are here to be found. I say this not to shoo you away or give the impression that asking these questions is a pain, but to let you know that if you read the info that is already here, you will learn much more than utilizing a q&a session. Besides the search engine on this forum, start with these.....

www.dpreview.com
www.luminous-landscape.com
www.fredmiranda.com
http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Hope this helps. As for lenses, here is a recommended start that I think many here would agree with:

Canon 17-40mm f/4L - $700
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 - $310 (if you want to save $$ over the L - many comparisons available-just search)
Canon 50 1.8mm - $70
Canon 70-200mm f/4L - $550
Canon 100-400mm f/4L - $1,400

If you've got the bucks, that's a good line-up. If you have more money, go for the 24-70mm f/2.8L and get the 2.8 in the 70-200mm.

Have fun with your B&W wish list. You'll be amazed at how big the totals are when you get going. My wish list is at about $25k right now. Wanna float me a loan? :lol:

[Tom W]

Josh, You just need to do research. If you are interested in lenses, see the sticky thread on the forum entitled "All the Best Links". You've come to the right place and all the info you are looking for is here, you just need to spend some time reading and use the search tool. You will find more info than you can imagine on the 17-40 and the 100-400. Many, many have asked these same questions and the answers are here to be found. I say this not to shoo you away or give the impression that asking these questions is a pain, but to let you know that if you read the info that is already here, you will learn much more than utilizing a q&a session. Besides the search engine on this forum, start with these.....

www.dpreview.com
www.luminous-landscape.com
www.fredmiranda.com
http://www.photozone.de/2Equipment/easytxt.htm
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Hope this helps. As for lenses, here is a recommended start that I think many here would agree with:

Canon 17-40mm f/4L - $700
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 - $310 (if you want to save $$ over the L - many comparisons available-just search)
Canon 50 1.8mm - $70
Canon 70-200mm f/4L - $550
Canon 100-400mm f/4L - $1,400

If you've got the bucks, that's a good line-up. If you have more money, go for the 24-70mm f/2.8L and get the 2.8 in the 70-200mm.

Have fun with your B&W wish list. You'll be amazed at how big the totals are when you get going. My wish list is at about $25k right now. Wanna float me a loan? :lol:

Good list, Dave. I might add that if you are short on $$, get the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 and use it alone for a little while (its a bargain at around $225 US). It has a pretty good usable range and is sharper and cleaner than the kit lens. It will give you an idea of where you want to concentrate your spending as well.

If you find yourself bumping up against the wide end frequently (like I did), then you will want to consider the 17-40L. It is excellent IMHO.

On the other hand, if you're bumping against the long end frequently (which I also did), you'll want something longer. Depending on the lighting situation, you will either be happy with the 70-200 f/4.0 or the faster 70-200 f/2.8. If you're going to shoot birds and such, the 100-400 is a good choice.

And finally, its never bad to have a good fast lens like the 50 mm f/1.8, particularly when you can get one for such a low price. Buy it when you find it.

[daaaveman]

This is my 2002 Honda Civic. I have Neon blue underbody lights and 8 strobes on the outside. On the inside I have 9 LEDs and 6 Neons. I have a pioneer premeir head unit, infinity front speakers, pioneer back speakers, 2 12" JL audio subs, alpine amp and a sony amp.

Josh, I just looked at the pics of your car. Very nice. You like toys. If you put as much money into your lenses as you have into your car stereo, you will be doing great.....and, take advice from an old, wise guy (hah); they'll last longer than the stereo if you take care of them....

[Josh]

This is my 2002 Honda Civic. I have Neon blue underbody lights and 8 strobes on the outside. On the inside I have 9 LEDs and 6 Neons. I have a pioneer premeir head unit, infinity front speakers, pioneer back speakers, 2 12" JL audio subs, alpine amp and a sony amp.

Josh, I just looked at the pics of your car. Very nice. You like toys. If you put as much money into your lenses as you have into your car stereo, you will be doing great.....and, take advice from an old, wise guy (hah); they'll last longer than the stereo if you take care of them....

Hahahaha, Yea I started doing all that when I had just gotten my first camera....so I didnt think about getting any more camera gear....now I have just about everything done to my car that I am going to do to it and I will start puting every penny into my camera gear!!!
If its not the car its the camera sucking my money down....oh well


Also, Thanks to everyone for your replies. I think I have found the lens that will work best for what I want to do. Everyones imput was a huge help...Thanks!!!!

[sp00g3]

This is my 2002 Honda Civic. I have Neon blue underbody lights and 8 strobes on the outside. On the inside I have 9 LEDs and 6 Neons. I have a pioneer premeir head unit, infinity front speakers, pioneer back speakers, 2 12" JL audio subs, alpine amp and a sony amp.

Josh, I just looked at the pics of your car. Very nice. You like toys. If you put as much money into your lenses as you have into your car stereo, you will be doing great.....and, take advice from an old, wise guy (hah); they'll last longer than the stereo if you take care of them....

Hahahaha, Yea I started doing all that when I had just gotten my first camera....so I didnt think about getting any more camera gear....now I have just about everything done to my car that I am going to do to it and I will start puting every penny into my camera gear!!!
If its not the car its the camera sucking my money down....oh well


Also, Thanks to everyone for your replies. I think I have found the lens that will work best for what I want to do. Everyones imput was a huge help...Thanks!!!!


hehe, what about putting some moneys away for retirement or travel plans to have new places to take pictures?

[daaaveman]

Vacation!! Why take a vacation when you can sit at home fondling your new lens and taking pictures of your cat!!! That's what it's all about isn't it?

[CyberDyneSystems]

Josh,.

Your list now includes two of three most recomended lenses on the net.

17-40mm f/4
70-200mm f/4

An excellent start!

If you want something between 40mm and 70mm may I suggest rather than another zoom,. save some cahs and get a fast prime like the 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4

The 50mm f/1.8 is only about $75.00 new and it will be the sharpest brightest lens in your line up :)