What lens(es) for pigasus?

[pigasus]

Hello, my friends.

I'm going around in ever decreasing circles trying to figure out what my best combination of lenses will be on my D30.

At present I'm using the Canon 28-135 IS. I'm awaiting delivery of a Canon 70-200 f4 L. Most of my pictures (well over 75%) are in the 70mm + range. So I suspect that the 70-200 will live on my camera. I'm trying to decide what wll best (for me) fill the gap below 70mm.

Before I outline what I believe my choices are, here are my ground rules:

1. Most of my photography is done on walk-abouts, camera gear carried in belt packs (with extra shoulder strap support). I'm just a light-weight myself and not overly strong. So weight of equipment is of paramount importance. If I have a lot of heavy gear, I'm apt to leave some behind when I go out. Purpose of having gear thus defeated!

2. I'm not a great wide-angle person, but I find that 28mm (with the 1.6x crop) isn't enough even for me. I could be happy with 24mm or less. But I don't need anything less than 20mm.

3. The fewer lenses I have to choose between, the more likely I am to change between them. I have this image of myself trying to juggle 3 or more lenses into belt packs. It's not a pretty picture. :D

So here are the options as I see them:

Choice 1: Stick with my 28-135 (540g)
Pro: Not too heavy. IS. I can get nice results with this lens.
Con: Not wide enough. Better quality lenses can be had.

Choice 2: Canon 24-85 (380g)
Pro: Weight! Nearly perfect range.
Con: Mixed reviews on quality of this lens. Some say not as good as 28-135 (though some say better).

Choice 3: Canon 20-35 f/3.5-4.5 (340g) + Canon 50 f/1.8 (130g)
Pro: Two very good lenses. Weight.
Con: Two lense to cover the range (I know, I know, that's why they're better quality).

Choice 4: Sigma 20-40 f2.8 EX (595g)
Pro: Nice range in one lens. Some good reviews.
Con: Sigma quality control (or lack there of) means it's probably best if I buy a Sigma lens locally so I can swap it if needed. This means not getting the best price deal. Weight on the higher side. Will I miss the 50mm?

Choice 5: Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX (700g)
Pro: Perfect range. Good reviews (on good examples of this lens).
Con: Weight! And the Sigma quality control issue.

So what do you guys thinks about these? And have I overlooked anything? Thanks for the help.

pigasus
(or Sally to my friends)

[Rudi]

Pigasus,

may I suggest a variation of 'Choice 3', as that is what I (sort of) have. :)

Consider the Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom. I have one. It is half the cost of the Canon, and you WILL lose the USM and FTM, but... my friend has the Canon version, and we cannot tell the lenses apart on digital files or slides that we shot side-by-side. I have the Canon 50mm f/1.4, and if you can stretch your budget, I would recommend you do so. The build quality and the optics are just that little bit better than the f/1.8. Then again, the f/1.8 is very cheap and much lighter, so you could lose or break about one a year and still not notice the effect on your wallet, IMO.

Having said all the above, the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 is something that I have been looking at very closely lately. :) I have only had very good experiences with Sigma in the recent past. I have a Sigma 135-400mm APO lens that puts most Canon prosumer lenses to shame as far as build quality is concerned. It doesn't hurt that the optics are nice and sharp, either! :D

How long before you get your 70-200 f/4 L?

[pigasus]

Rudi wrote:
Consider the Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom.
Hey Rudi, I'm trying to narrowing my choices! :) Seriously, though, it sounds a viable option, particularly as it only weighs 400g.


How long before you get your 70-200 f/4 L?
Well, my cheque has been cleared, but I'm still waiting as they didn't have the 1.4x TC that I also ordered in stock. Sigh... But the weather here has been distinctly non photographic of late. The sun comes out, but the winds do blow and nothing will hold still long enough for me to capture it at less than 400 ISO f/22 - not my favourite setting. So I'm practicing being patient.

[UK_Terry]

I have just gone through the same dilemma.
i bought the D30 at christmas and at the same time the standard (non usm) 35-80 & 75-300 lenses.

i started by looking to get a wider lense either the sigma 16-30 or 17-35. reviews varied from rubbish to great on various forums.

went into town and went round 4 different camera shops to get some advice & see what deals were about.

one (small independant) came up with an offer i could not refuse. so i now have Canon
28-135 IS USM & 100-400 L IS USM.
going out this weekend (had lense for 3 days) to try them out.
I have noticed the 100-400 is heavy but i think i will get used to it. and only having two lenses to choose between is a bonus (to me anyway)

for what i use the difference between 28 and lower is not that critical, but having a 400 instead of 300 will be very handy.

[pigasus]

UK_Terry wrote:
so i now have Canon 28-135 IS USM & 100-400 L IS USM...I have noticed the 100-400 is heavy but i think i will get used to it. and only having two lenses to choose between is a bonus (to me anyway)

I think you've got the perfect combination. And I originally thought I'd go that way (which is why I got the 28-135 right off). But I tried a friend's 100-400 on my D30 and it was way too heavy for me. I couldn't really hand hold it successfully. So I opted for the 70-200 f4 + 1.4x TC.

pigasus (still waiting for my new lens :( )

[pigasus]

I THINK I'VE CRACKED IT! OK, how about some lateral thinking. What gives me a zoom range from a 35mm equivalent 34 to 102 (to slot in under my 70-200 - 35mm equivalent 112-320)? Weighs only 425g? Produces really good images? A G2! And I have a host of additional benefits in having a separate compact camera with manual controls and Raw output capability for those times when I don't want to carry the whole D30 kit around with me.

I'm off now to go read the G2 forum cover to cover. :D

Sally

[iamhives]

I have a D60 and G2.

I really love the D60 but the G2 is no slouch either

[UK_Terry]

I have kept my Kodak DC210+
as well as the D30, if you go to my website and then on to Phils Bike you will see a couple taken with it.

It uses the same CF card as the D30 so that was another factor in deciding to keep it instead of part exchanging it.

[Rudi]

Sally,

I have sold my Nikon Coolpix 990 when I got my D30. If I had a Canon G1 or G2 I most probably would have kept it, as they share both CF memory and the same Li-Ion batteries that the D30 uses. I have not regretted selling the 990, but am thinking of getting a Canon S30 or S40 as a pocket camera at the moment.

Having said all that, I don't think that a G2 will replace the need for a nice wide angle lens for your D30. They're different cameras altogether and I think you will find that you will still prefer using the D30 whenever you can, with the G2 only performing the role of a pocket, take-anywhere camera for those times that you don't want to lug the D30 around.

JMHO, of course. :)

[mritchy]

I'd go with the Tamron 28-75!

[crn3371]

Hopefully, sometime within the last nine years, the OP made a decision.

[amfoto1]

Hopefully, sometime within the last nine years, the OP made a decision.

Not necessarily. Some people are really indecisive.

[mritchy]

Not necessarily. Some people are really indecisive.

Lol, true fact. Imagine all the good glass that has come out in the last decade!