Rookie Lens Confusion

[txhptroop]

Hello All,
I have been enjoying this sight for months now but never posted. I am saving for my first DSLR (10D). I have had a Canon S110 for 3 years now and have shot near 3,000 photos. I have become the family photo guy.
I have so much to learn and it is very overwelming. I've never used an SLR and I am just starting to learn about focal lengths, shutter speeds, and all the other things I could not do with a point and shoot. I hardly know how to post process. I read your posts every day and have learned much from you, thanks.

Most of my photos will be of family and friends on vacations and many weekends at the lake skiing and boating. I like all nature photography (animals, landscapes, and weather).

It will be months before I have saved up the $ for my 10D, lens(es), and all the other goodies on my ever growing wish list.

I think the lenses I want are:
Canon 24-70 F2.8L AF
Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS Af
Canon 1.4X II Exender
( about $3,000 and 1 year to save )

But now there is the new Canon 28-300 F3.5-5.6L IS AF
( about $2,500 and 8 months to save )

An all around lens sounds really good. No changing lenses and exposing sensers and internal goodies. One less filter and polaryzer.
Will losing the F2.8 and starting at F3.5 make any differences? Am I on the right track with these lens selections or have I got everything confused. Why does my head hurt? Why is the Wife tired of hearing about camera stuff already and I dont even have them yet?
Hope this was not too much info.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Jim

[timmyquest]

It really depends on the type of photography you are doing, and as you said you are pretty much going to be doing family photos and the like. It's great that you've got such a nice selection of lenses on your list, but i question the actual need.

The 24-70 is a fantastic lens from an optics standpoint, and then there is the f/2.8. However the 17-40mm is about half the price and in my opinion slightly more useful. Becuase you could then afford something like a 550EX flash. With a flash, losing the speed of that lens becomes less of a problem.

The 28-300, from what i've seen, and as can be expected, isnt near as nice as the 70-200 f/2.8. But why the need to spend an extra $500 on the IS. F/2.8 is already pretty quick, and although you can handhold it at much less shutter speeds with the IS, i honestly question how often you'd use it.

I mean, i could go on and on, but for a casual photographer there are so many other cheaper choices.

The 50mm f/1.8 lens is only $70 and if you look around here you'll find it's an awsome lens that not only is tac sharp, and lightning fast...but it's narrow Depth of field gives you some pretty fun options as seen here:

http://mishuna.image.pbase.com/u48/timmyquest/upload/30484670.john.jpg

Then there is the 28-135mm IS USM lens, i've yet to use it, but around $400 and based on everyones opinion of it. It's a steal!

My advice to you would be to just take it one step at a time, get the camera a medium zoom lens and a flash, then see what you need and build from there. I think you'll learn more from it and in the end i suspect you'll save yourself some cash.

[txhptroop]

Thanks Tim. I have much to thank about but I have plenty of time to learn. I probably don't need the IS on the 70-200. Coming from a point and shoot all I can think about is Zoom Zoom Zoom.

I was looking at your photos. Very nice. Can you tell me how you shot the lightning photo. Thanks,
Jim.

[WestFalcon]

I like the 28-135IS lens. I keep it on all of the time for its versatility. I have made gorgeous 16x20's from it. It is a great lens for the money. I like the L lenses and have 4 of them but for just an everyday carryaround lens, the 28-135IS is hard to beat. I got mine refurbed from B&H and use it extensively at weddings.

[timmyquest]

Thanks Tim. I have much to thank about but I have plenty of time to learn. I probably don't need the IS on the 70-200. Coming from a point and shoot all I can think about is Zoom Zoom Zoom.

I was looking at your photos. Very nice. Can you tell me how you shot the lightning photo. Thanks,
Jim.

Thanks for the kind words.

Lightning...ahh, i wish i could do it more often. It was actually taken with an AE1.

I'd explain technique but i think you'd be better off reading this page
www.lightningboy.com

[PacAce]

.
..
But now there is the new Canon 28-300 F3.5-5.6L IS AF
( about $2,500 and 8 months to save )

An all around lens sounds really good. No changing lenses and exposing sensers and internal goodies
....Jim

One thing to consider regardng the 28-300L which may keep it from becoming your all-around walk-around lens and that's it's weight. At 3.7 pounds, it's not really what one would call light-weight. Even the 70-200 IS L which most people would consider on the heavy side is lighter than that.

[sheldon]

If you are on a budget, as most of us are. One way to get some "L" glass at a reasonable price is to buy the 17-40 f/4 and the 70-200 f/4. This is how I started, and like both lenses very much. They are both easy to handle as far as weight, and can be used as a walk around lens. I would like to get the 70-200 f2.8 IS, but even then I will most likely hang on to the f/4. I really like this lens.

[Jesper]

You should realize that the 28-300 L is a very big, very heavy, large and conspicous white lens. If you've never used an SLR camera, I think you might already find the 10D quite big and heavy, and with the 28-300 L you're going to be carrying around a very big and heavy set. It's something completely different from your Powershot S110 !

Are you sure you want to start with big, heavy and expensive "L" lenses immediately? Don't let the forums and other Internet sites make you crazy if you read things like "if you don't get L lenses you're just a silly amateur". There are some quite good non-L lenses, like the EF 28-135 IS USM someone already mentioned, or the EF 50 f/1.8 II (which is very small, light, sharp and very cheap - around US$ 70).

I think it would be better if you buy the 10D first with a less ambitious lens (for example the 28-135 IS), try it out for a while and find out what you want, and then start looking at other lenses.

[Canuck]

I will add this too, there are a lot of great lenses, and a lot of crap lenses out there. There are a few sites you can check out to see what people have to say about the, and they should be listed in the depths of the "all the best links" thread. You might want to have a loot thu that. There is a ton of good info there!