17-40L: What was Canon thinking?

[Sketcher]

Rather, what was I thinking!?

I've had almost NO time for photography this summer, have had significantly less time to enjoy the messageboards yet here I went and B&H'd a 17-40 F/4L like I coudn't live without it!

Actually, what I was thinking is that I wanted to get a little wider than my Tamron 24-135mm. I framed some images for my Father-in-Law's Burger Joint (50's style A&W Drive-in) because he didn't have any pictures of vintage cars on the walls. Well, he calls me and tells me that people want to buy copies and that the car owners want to know if I'd shoot their cars for the wall, personal use and mabye even a calendar. I tell him that I'm just a hack but they say that if I my pics of their cars are as good as what I've framed then to consider them paying customers. The pics really aren't much more than snapshots as far as composition/quality go; I think they're just not used to seeing their car in an 8x10 or larger frame.

Anyway, enter the 17-40 F/4L. The cars I shot last summer were with the Tamron 24-135 I remember wishing I had just a little wider end on that thing. I also remember getting frustrated with not having a constant aperture. And, if someone's going to make time for me to photograph their cars I might still be a hack but at least then I'll know my shot won't be held back by the gear.

So, you 17-40L owners; any words of wisdom about this lens on a 10D for the Sketcher?

[sGu]

well, here is a link my motorshow album, all photos are taken on 17-40L with 10D, and some of them i was very close to the car, too many crowd passing in front otherwise.

hope it gives you a feel what it's like to use that lens on cars.

Birmingham Motorshow (http://gu.smugmug.com/gallery/133947)

[maderito]

Actually, what I was thinking is that I wanted to get a little wider than my Tamron 24-135mm.

Almost every time I take out my 17-40L, I bring back a car pic. Here's one at 21mm -- i.e. a little wider than your Tamron:

http://www.pbase.com/image/26334857

Don't leave home without your 17-40L, a moderately sharp, excellent walk around lens for everything except perhaps an in-your-face closeup of your wife. :)

[jbradc]

Here are 2 car photos I took last month with the 17-40 F4 L on my EOS 10D. The white car was shot at 17mm and the Green one was at 23mm. This is by far my favorite lens, it is so sharp.

http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/Car1_June19_04_058.jpg
http://www.sevenhillsphotography.com/shots/Car2_June19_04_065.jpg

[Flyball Rebel]

Buy it! Sketcher, you won't be sorry. I'm more than happy with mine. [F.R.] :)

[DaveG]

Rather, what was I thinking!?

I've had almost NO time for photography this summer, have had significantly less time to enjoy the messageboards yet here I went and B&H'd a 17-40 F/4L like I coudn't live without it!

Actually, what I was thinking is that I wanted to get a little wider than my Tamron 24-135mm. I framed some images for my Father-in-Law's Burger Joint (50's style A&W Drive-in) because he didn't have any pictures of vintage cars on the walls. Well, he calls me and tells me that people want to buy copies and that the car owners want to know if I'd shoot their cars for the wall, personal use and mabye even a calendar. I tell him that I'm just a hack but they say that if I my pics of their cars are as good as what I've framed then to consider them paying customers. The pics really aren't much more than snapshots as far as composition/quality go; I think they're just not used to seeing their car in an 8x10 or larger frame.

Anyway, enter the 17-40 F/4L. The cars I shot last summer were with the Tamron 24-135 I remember wishing I had just a little wider end on that thing. I also remember getting frustrated with not having a constant aperture. And, if someone's going to make time for me to photograph their cars I might still be a hack but at least then I'll know my shot won't be held back by the gear.

So, you 17-40L owners; any words of wisdom about this lens on a 10D for the Sketcher?

That would be a very usefull lens to use as you've described. Now I love wide angles so don't get me wrong, but the other way to shoot this is with a longer lens. You'll get a completely different look if you were to shoot the car with a 50/85/100mm lens on your 10D. Obviously you are going to need some room to do this but you eliminate a lot of foreground and sky with the longer lens. Hey if it works on people why would a portrait lens work on cars?

[Volatile]

Rather, what was I thinking!?

I've had almost NO time for photography this summer, have had significantly less time to enjoy the messageboards yet here I went and B&H'd a 17-40 F/4L like I coudn't live without it!

Actually, what I was thinking is that I wanted to get a little wider than my Tamron 24-135mm. I framed some images for my Father-in-Law's Burger Joint (50's style A&W Drive-in) because he didn't have any pictures of vintage cars on the walls. Well, he calls me and tells me that people want to buy copies and that the car owners want to know if I'd shoot their cars for the wall, personal use and mabye even a calendar. I tell him that I'm just a hack but they say that if I my pics of their cars are as good as what I've framed then to consider them paying customers. The pics really aren't much more than snapshots as far as composition/quality go; I think they're just not used to seeing their car in an 8x10 or larger frame.

Anyway, enter the 17-40 F/4L. The cars I shot last summer were with the Tamron 24-135 I remember wishing I had just a little wider end on that thing. I also remember getting frustrated with not having a constant aperture. And, if someone's going to make time for me to photograph their cars I might still be a hack but at least then I'll know my shot won't be held back by the gear.

So, you 17-40L owners; any words of wisdom about this lens on a 10D for the Sketcher?

That would be a very usefull lens to use as you've described. Now I love wide angles so don't get me wrong, but the other way to shoot this is with a longer lens. You'll get a completely different look if you were to shoot the car with a 50/85/100mm lens on your 10D. Obviously you are going to need some room to do this but you eliminate a lot of foreground and sky with the longer lens. Hey if it works on people why would a portrait lens work on cars?

If you're gonna shoot a straight up profile of the car, you could get kinda far away and then use a telephoto with a large aperture setting, thus blurring the background. I wonder how that would look?

[Sketcher]

well, here is a link my motorshow album, all photos are taken on 17-40L with 10D, and some of them i was very close to the car, too many crowd passing in front otherwise.

hope it gives you a feel what it's like to use that lens on cars.

Birmingham Motorshow (http://gu.smugmug.com/gallery/133947)sGu
Thanks for your motorshow link. Does two things for me; excites me to see some of the capability of this lens and reminds me that I have a Smugmug account which I haven't used! I look forward to addressing both :). Mind if I ask what your workflow was for the motorshow images?

Don't leave home without your 17-40L, a moderately sharp, excellent walk around lens for everything except perhaps an in-your-face closeup of your wife. :)
oh, I don't know maderito you have some pretty nice 'in your face' closeups in your gallery! (I know, just kidding).

Here are 2 car photos I took last month with the 17-40 F4 L on my EOS 10D. The white car was shot at 17mm and the Green one was at 23mm. This is by far my favorite lens, it is so sharp.

I can envision where you were standing when you took those. That's about the distance I'll be shooting mine for these particular car shots. Even w/the 1.6x factor of the 10D I already think I'm going to be quite pleased with the wide aspect of this lens/camera combo. Thanks for the pics.

Buy it! Sketcher, you won't be sorry. I'm more than happy with mine. [F.R.] :)
Already did my man! Just now regrettin' I didn't pay for overnight deliver... sigh. Should have it on Wednesday just in time for Thursday's Hot Rod Night at the Drive-in. I'd like a day to get used to it but a trial by fire will certainly make it a memorable getting to know one another! ;)

That would be a very usefull lens to use as you've described. Now I love wide angles so don't get me wrong, but the other way to shoot this is with a longer lens. You'll get a completely different look if you were to shoot the car with a 50/85/100mm lens on your 10D. Obviously you are going to need some room to do this but you eliminate a lot of foreground and sky with the longer lens. Hey if it works on people why would a portrait lens work on cars?
Dave, you make a good point about the use of a longer lens. I've actually taken a few that I like with my 70-200 IS; however location and the people there to see the cars prohibit the use of the longer glass. WA becomes a necessity for this venue. I do have a 50 f1/8 which might be worth playing with after i get the shots I need though.

If you're gonna shoot a straight up profile of the car, you could get kinda far away and then use a telephoto with a large aperture setting, thus blurring the background. I wonder how that would look?
If I get the time, space and patient car owner I want to give this a try because I think it could look neat. Hmm, suppose I could just shoot my own car for a proof. Nah, that just wouldn't be the same ;).

Thanks for the feedback and pics everyone! I appreciate the information and images. I should be receiving this lens on Wednesday so the agonizing won't have gone on for too long :).

[Sketcher]

Here's a shot with my Tamron from last year. The 'kind' of image among others that I'm shooting for.
I look forward to the capability and pleasure of shooting with the 17-40L.

http://www.pbase.com/image/31565541/large.jpg

(image is intentionally dark shadowed)

[sGu]

well, here is a link my motorshow album, all photos are taken on 17-40L with 10D, and some of them i was very close to the car, too many crowd passing in front otherwise.

hope it gives you a feel what it's like to use that lens on cars.

Birmingham Motorshow (http://gu.smugmug.com/gallery/133947)sGu
Thanks for your motorshow link. Does two things for me; excites me to see some of the capability of this lens and reminds me that I have a Smugmug account which I haven't used! I look forward to addressing both :). Mind if I ask what your workflow was for the motorshow images?

well, i shot in jpeg due the number of photos i took, so pretty much everything is straight out of camera, no post processing on them.

[defordphoto]

I don't always shoot cars with my 17-40. ;)

I was amazed at how much wider the lens is with the 1.3x sensor.


http://racefamily.racinglines.com/Galleries/2004/JetSprints/Woodland0710/_l5c6093_std.jpg

[Sketcher]

I don't always shoot cars with my 17-40. ;)

I was amazed at how much wider the lens is with the 1.3x sensor.

Your boat shots always impress Jim; even the ones sitting still :). Crazy paint job on that one. Alas, I'll have to be satisfied with the 1.6x for some time. The MKII is on my wish list but I'm gonna have to sell a whole lotta pictures before I can start stalking it.

[Chris1le]

I've had almost NO time for photography this summer, have had significantly less time to enjoy the messageboards yet here I went and B&H'd a 17-40 F/4L like I coudn't live without it!

I did the same thing I bought 17-40 & the 100-400 at the same time. I've taken nearly all my shots with the 100-400 this summer. That was until the F-Body show. I took every pic with the 17-40. It is a great outdoor car show lens. Looking forward to this weekends show.

As far as a walkaround lens. Not for me. It's not long enough for my tastes. For about the same size and weight the 28-135IS works as my walk around lens.

http://www.pbase.com/image/31511823.jpg

[Zmac55]

For all the 1.6 factor people this lens is a good one for even Weddings.
put it on a mark II and its now the wide angle lens of choice. I have noticed some pixel un-sharpeness near the edges and some distortion that always come with wide lens. For the 700 it is a good lens to have.
:D