One expensive lens VS three moderately priced lenses

[Illegally_Alive]

Hi all, I need some advice...
I think I'm finally ready to go digital and have been reading posts and hunting for good prices for a little while now, and this is the setup I think I want- the only problem is that I can't afford/justify to spend more than $3700. I photograph a wide variety of subject matter ranging from skateboarding to portraits. Is it better to get one really nice lens, or a nice range of focal lengths?

1 x EOS 10D SLR $1,249.00
_____________________________________

1 x EF 24-70mm F2.8L USM $1,138.00
---------or------------
1 x EF 70-200mm F4.0L USM $579.00
1 x EF 24-85 F3.5-4.5 USM $289.00
1 x EF 20mm F2.8 USM $389.89
_____________________________________

2 x Speedlite 420EX Flash $349.78
1 x BGED3 Vertical Grip $159.89
2 x Canon Compatible BP511 $59.78
1 x Compact Flash 1GB Card $139.89
1 x USB Memory Card Reader $24.89

Lens caps, hoods, and UV filters for all lenses $131

TOTALS- With the 24-70mm F2.8L $3161
With the three lenses $3371

Also, is there any equipment that you would change in this list?

Thanks,
Ben

[blacktape]

The most expensive lens in your list, 24-70 2.8 becomes a mediocre zoom after the 1.6 magnification. I won't recommend it.

What I do recommend is,
17-40 f4 for your wide angle needs $600
85 1.8 for low light, fast actions skateboarding, AND portraits too! $350
and if you still need anything longer,
200 f2.8
or 70-200 2.8 L IS

I don't know what you need the 2 420EX flashes for. If you want to use multiple flash, you need a master to trigger the slaves. 420EX only works as slave. So either get the ST2 trigger or the 550EX.

[TonyKInTexas]

I would get the 550EX over the 420EX. The 550 has manual capability where the 420 does not.

Of course I use a Metz 54 so I get auto, manual and ETTL. But the 550/420 have built-in wireless so they are more expandable than my Metz 54.

[TonyKInTexas]

Now lets talk lenses.

I have a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 Di lens. I like it very much. I would recommend this lens. ($370 @ B&H)

For wide angle I would look at the new Tamron Di lens 17-35 F2.8-4. ($480 @ B&H)

Now I would look at the 70-200L lens. for the long-end of things. ($550 @ B&H)

This gives you slight overlap at every option, good optics and reduces the lens hoods by 2. :)

[montyl]

Do not over look the 28-135 IS lense, it is without a doubt some of the best money you can spend for your camera. With just the body and that lense you could then see where you wanted to go from there. Which is exsactly how I started, and accesorized from there, as money would permit.

[Radtech1]

Do not over look the 28-135 IS lense, it is without a doubt some of the best money you can spend for your camera. With just the body and that lense you could then see where you wanted to go from there. Which is exsactly how I started, and accesorized from there, as money would permit.

I also reccomend the 28-135 IS. Take a look at my shot in the Train Station is Stuttgart for an example (Granted the BEST example I have) of how well the Image Stabilization works.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27674&highlight=

On an unrelated note, I would dump the 1g flash card and go for mulitple smaller ones - no bigger than 256. The 1g can hold about 375 jpgs. Imagine you are on shot # 374 and the card errors out. WHICH I HAVE HAD HAPPEN! At least if you had the shots spread out over 4 cards, 3 of them would be intact.

But then again, I am the kind of guy who has a current back up of my hard drive, so I am by nature keeping my thoughts on disaster recovery.

Rad

[montyl]

RADTECH1 unfortunately I have to disagree with you on the size of memory card. I shoot strictly in RAW mode, and that would not do at all using a 256mb card. I started out using IBM 1GB Microdrives (4), but now that prices of CF cards have come down, I have a 2GB and a 1GB, between them I can shoot a heck of a lot of RAW images. Just remember to check the number of images left occasionally, and when you get down to 10-20 changes cards.

[Radtech1]

Just remember to check the number of images left occasionally, and when you get down to 10-20 changes cards.

Montyl,

A card can error out at any time. Not just when it is full, or nearly so. I just used the frame # 374 as a Worst Case Example. Raw or not, the point that I was trying to make is WHEN the card errors out, which it WILL do at some point, eventually, would you rather lose a gig of data, or a quarter gig?

Rad

[montyl]

RADTECH1, I understand what you are saying, but since I shoot everything in RAW mode if i were to use 256MB cards I would only get about 30 pictures per card. I have a Kodak P&S that has been using the same flash cards for almost 4 years now without a hitch so I will keep knocking on wood, and keep using the bigger cards, so I don't need to have so many when I go to take pictures. And one of these days should I happen to have a card go bad it wont matter what size it is, it will have some of my best pictures ever.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Lenses:

17-40mm f/4 $700.00

50mm f/1.8 $70.00

70-200mm f/4 $570.00

Total: $1,340.00

:)

Buy 1GB flash cards.. they are now CHEAPER per GB then smaller cards in most cases... The smallest Card I use is 1GB.

[Tom W]

Lenses:

17-40mm f/4 $700.00

50mm f/1.8 $70.00

70-200mm f/4 $570.00

Total: $1,340.00

:)

Buy 1GB flash cards.. they are now CHEAPER per GB then smaller cards in most cases... The smallest Card I use is 1GB.

Good lens choices, and they all hold their value very well. So, if you decide later to go with a faster zoom like the 70-200/2.8, you will not lose a ton of money selling the used ones.

[DocFrankenstein]

I recommend against 50/1.8 If you're gonna use it as your portrait lens, the bokeh can be really distracting. If you don't care about the bokeh, go with it.

With your budget, I'd go with 1.4 instead. You're gonna use the 70-200 for skateboarding, so you'll need fast focusing of the f/4. I see no use getting the f/2.8 unless it's a closed gym with dim lights.

Also you MAY want to get something in the range of 24-135 so that you don't have to carry a huge bag with you in case you decide to take your camera on a trip...

[DocFrankenstein]

2 x Speedlite 420EX Flash $349.78
1 x BGED3 Vertical Grip $159.89
2 x Canon Compatible BP511 $59.78
1 x Compact Flash 1GB Card $139.89
1 x USB Memory Card Reader $24.89

Lens caps, hoods, and UV filters for all lenses $131

TOTALS- With the 24-70mm F2.8L $3161
With the three lenses $3371[/list]

Also, is there any equipment that you would change in this list?
The filters seem to be a bit less than I expected. Are you sure you're getting multi-coated both sides?

IMO you don't need the grip
Batteries can be bought at 10-15 bucks and usually work just as well.
Get the USB 2.0 card reader...
I don't know why you'd need the 20mm prime :?

[Jon]

There's no reason to get 2x 420EX, in fact there's every reaso to not get the pair. You can't use them as master/slave wirelessly. If you want a multiple flash setup either get a 550EX/420EX combo or get some old-tech thyristor/manual mode flashes (Viv. 283/285 say) with optical slaves to go with the 1 420EX serving as your main light.

Also - get more than 1 memory card. 512s or 1 GB.

[Canuck]

The most expensive lens in your list, 24-70 2.8 becomes a mediocre zoom after the 1.6 magnification. I won't recommend it.


I very much beg to differ unless you are talking focal length alone. I realise it becomes approx a 36-105mm w/ the crop factor but it is an awesome lens any which way you put it.

[Persian-Rice]

17-40mm f/4 $700.00

50mm f/1.8 $70.00

70-200mm f/4 $570.00

Total: $1,340.00


That is my exact lens choice list, I think its the best bang for the buck set of choices.....If you really can afford it, get an extension tube and 1.4TC to really round things out.

The 50 is a lens you should have no matter what, for that price, you just can't go wrong.

Cheers.

[Illegally_Alive]

Thank you guys so much for the great replies!!!!
I think I should clear some things up-

The skateboarding is all close range, I currently have a 28mm prime (for my old minolta) and I love it! She has allowed me some very nice shots. So I was thinking a 20mm prime might be a good idea. But maybe a 15mm? I don't want it to be fisheye, but I do like the wide angle look.

The 420's were a mistake, I had read somewhere that they could be used as masters, so thanks to those who set me straight. (Too many to list) :)

I was looking at the 28-135 IS lens and am impressed.

Radtech1 wrote:
I also reccomend the 28-135 IS. Take a look at my shot in the Train Station is Stuttgart for an example (Granted the BEST example I have) of how well the Image Stabilization works.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=27674&highlight=

As far as the 1GB card goes, maybe 2 512's or spring for 2 1GB's.

I guess the battery pack is a little foolish, being that I'll have my camera bag with or near me at all times.

I should also clear up that while I like taking portraits, I am in no way a portrait artist.

Persian-Rice- with the 1.6 crop factor, is the 50mm prime all that great?

_______________________

So I guess after sitting here for a while, reading, processing, re-reading, getting some dinner, and researching a little more.... how's this sound:

AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di (Tamron)
EF 28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM
EF 70-200mm F4.0L USM

And a 550EX.

I'd still like a wide prime, but for now perhaps this shall do.

Ben

[rycelover]

I also highly recommend the 17-40L f/4. The lens is tack sharp and fast enough for landscape or big city architectural shots. Very good price for an "L" lens (can be had for ~ $690, even cheaper used - see comments below).

Also, I think you can't go wrong with the 70-200L f/4 if you need a telel zoom, and again, for the price, you can't beat it as an "L" lens.

But, if you can afford it, definitely go for the 24-70L f/2.8. You won't regret it. Super fast lens and unbelieveably sharp. This lens replaced my 28-135 IS and is on my camera 85% of the time now.

I'm not saying that the other lenses you have looked at are not good. Clearly, collecting "L" lenses isn't cheap, but these 3 lenses offer very good coverage for the range you may need.

Don't be afraid of picking up any one of these lenses used here or at Fred Miranda from a seller w/ good feedback. Try to stay away from Ebay. Too many scams and idiots bidding up the item to more than the mfg suggested prices!!

Since I'm new to this forum, I can't characterize how the deals are here. But, if you're patient you can get some great deals over at Fred Miranda. However, I'm warning you ... if you see one, get ready to pounce because the better deals go VERY quickly - often in a matter of minutes.

You can get a minty 24-70 for around $950.

A 17-40 sold in 3 minutes for $575. Read about it here:http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic2/117422/0#942556

A 70-200L f/4 sold for $425 just 9 days ago here: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/118770/0#954479. As one of the posters stated, the item lasted 7 minutes!! :D :D

These three lenses went for a total of $1950 recently.

Anyways, good luck and most importantly, good shooting.

Michael.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, you can get a mint 550EX for around $280. I got mine for $140 + my 420EX in a trade 2 weeks ago. I love it :!: :!:

[Illegally_Alive]

Sweet! Thanks for the info!

[ron chappel]

Just remember that the 28mm look you like so much with your minolta is the same as 18mm on the 10D!

And if you want a 20mm-on-film look you will need canon's widest prime (14mm) and it still won't be as wide
Canon are rumoured to be bringing out a 10-22mm lens soon....