Lens Question

[faust]

Hi there, just want to say this is a fantastic site and you guys have some great tips and advice. I've been lurking for the past 3 weeks (and taking notes) and have decided to test the waters.

I just got my first dSLR and now I'm shopping for lenses and wanted advice on which one I should get.

My uses: mostly travel as we try to take 3 foreign trips a year plus I travel for work now and again.

Options
A (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004XONF/ref=pd_sbs_p_1/102-7010649-2332939?v=glance&s=photo)
or
B (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000053HH5/ref=pd_sbs_p_3/102-7010649-2332939?v=glance&s=photo)

I had asked Santa for a Canon 20d for xmas but she got me a Rebel instead.

That said I thought about exchanging it for the 20d but then thought the extra $$$ wasn't worth it to go from 6.3 megapixels to 8.2.
Am I totally wrong here?

The Rebel was just over $800 but rebate it will be just over $600.
Is the other one worth the extra $900?

A and B contain the links, didn't want to crowd the page with the amazon address.

[Jon]

Assuming you got the DR with the 18-55 kit lens, I'd say option A, and throw in a couple more storage cards and batteries, the 50 f/1.8 and some polarizing filters, or a good tripod or monopod. The 70-200 is going to be a much better lens, but it's bigger, it's heavier, and it takes a significantly larger filter size. The 75-300 IS is, in Jerry Pournelle's words, Good Enough for the average shooter. And the fast 50 will be good for those low light situations where flash isn't acceptable. Extra storage and batteries are always useful; you can shoot at maximum resolution and not worry about scrimping on your shots.

The 20D has better high ISO performance than the DR, as well as ISO 3200 (which you can only get on the DR with the firmware hack) and a bigger buffer, but you're planning to mainly shoot travel, not sports where the buffer would be important. High ISO and low noise would be useful for those evening shots, but a tripod can help compensate, and the DR hack will get you a (noisy) 3200. But that's still only 1 stop over the straight DR. Again, if you're not shooting sports or a cheetah running down a gazelle in the dusk, you can probably live with the slower shutter speed (plus there's IS on the 75-300). The 20D has only 30% more pixels than the 10D; that's a 30% increase in print area, not linear magnification. If the shot's good enough to want to print it bigger, it should be able to carry it off. If this is your first SLR (never mind DSLR), then use the DR until you know what its weaknesses for your purposes are. It may not have any, for your needs. But in a year or three, you'll have a better idea of what your real needs are, and will be able to justify an appropriate model.

[faust]

Thanks Jon appreciate it.
I'm coming over from having a regular SLR all these years, a Minolta 7xi.

I'm now off to shop with your advice at my side.

Thanks

[dphoto]

Hey there,

One year ago this month I bought a digital rebel. Thanks to this board I also bought the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. Whoa, what a life saver that has been in so many situations! You've got a great camera to learn with so use it and use it often! :D

Also, just a heads up... probably the quirkiest thing (in my opinion) about the digital rebel is that you cannot force it to stay in one shot mode in the P, Tv, Av, or M creative modes. Ouch! If you decide to get the firmware hack, however, you can use one shot while in those creative modes. You then, of course, void your warranty in any case where you cannot reload your original firmware back to the camera, so I would caution against this unless you feel that you really need something offered by the hack.

Have fun! :D
-Deva

[tim]

If I were buying new now, i'd get the 20D for sure.

Of those lenses the 70-200 will be better quality, but has less range and no IS. The 75-300 won't giev you pictures quite as good, but unless you're a pro it shouldn't matter too much. I'd be tempted by the larger range and IS, plus it's probably lighter too. Tough choice, only you can make it i'm afraid ;)

[KevW]

Faust, have you considered a Super Zoom like the Tamron 28-300 F/3.5-6.3 (Canon Mount)? When I was starting off in photography, I had the 28-200 version and found it great for travel photography (travel light =). Buy a decent tripod and you're laughing.

[Pyromaniac]

I have the 75-300 with out the IS (didn't make the IS version when I bought mine) and have been pretty happy with it. I would second Jon's opinion. The 75-300 will definatly be liter and easier to handle than the 70-200. Plus you get that little extra reach out of it.

[CyberDyneSystems]

B

B

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:)

[cactusclay]

The only thing I don't like about the Rebel is the three second start up time, which has caused me to miss shots. The 20D is ready to roll as soon as you push the button. As far as the lens goes, variable apature isn't to much of a problem, with auto modes ap and tv, sucks in manual. The 70-200 L has some excelent reviews as far as image quality goes and I think that would be my choice.

[Steven M. Anthony]

The only thing I don't like about the Rebel is the three second start up time, which has caused me to miss shots. The 20D is ready to roll as soon as you push the button. As far as the lens goes, variable apature isn't to much of a problem, with auto modes ap and tv, sucks in manual. The 70-200 L has some excelent reviews as far as image quality goes and I think that would be my choice.

A cheaper approach to "instant on": Rather that upgrading from a Dreb to a 20D, buy 2 extra batteries--which should be enough juice to leave your camera on all day and shooting to your heart's content. Just disable the sleep function and you are "always on" instead of that pesky 0.2 sec lag the 20D is saddled with... :)

[edsarkiss]

the 10D has a similar startup lag. i just set the "auto off" to 30 minutes -- no more missed shots. the battery still lasts a LONG TIME.

as for lens choice between these two, wait until you can afford the 70-200. the other lens is at f/5.6 at 200mm, which will limit its usefulness. in my world where fast lenses are good lenses, i'd forego the zoom and get the 200mm f/2.8 L. That's a beautiful lens and not too expensive.

[Steven M. Anthony]

the 10D has a similar startup lag. i just set the "auto off" to 30 minutes -- no more missed shots. the battery still lasts a LONG TIME.

I did a test with my 10D. Fresh battery lasted 4.5 hours and 300 exposures. So 3 gives me over 12 hours and about 900 shots. And seeing as how I've shot about 5,000 shots in the 9 months I've had the camera, that is plenty for me!

[faust]

I'm confused as to if I should return the rebel for the 20d, but if I did that there would be no money for lenses.

As for keeping the Rebel and grabbing lense A or B it seems folks are split right down the middle on this one.

I like that the 70-300 is lighter but is the 70-200 that much better of a lense?
Going to Peru in mid-March so at least I have a deadline set for making my decision. Or I'll be stuck taking my 7xi and all its heavy lenses.

[brianclark4]

Sorry Tim, but the 70-200 has IS cos Iv'e got it!

[johneo]

Options
A (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004XONF/ref=pd_sbs_p_1/102-7010649-2332939?v=glance&s=photo)
or
B (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000053HH5/ref=pd_sbs_p_3/102-7010649-2332939?v=glance&s=photo)



I went with option "A" when I bought my 10D and the 75-300 IS is an OK lens but decided it wasn't what I hoped it would be. I sold it and bought a 100-400 L IS ( more expensive but well worth it and not really a comparison, whatsoever, to the 75-300 IS)

My next lens purchase (hopefully in another month or two) will be the 70-200 L f/4.0 and from what I've read by those that use it and other reviews it is a better choice than the 75-300 IS.

I'd go for option "B" myself

As for keeping the Rebel or going for the 20D? No comment because I like my 10D ... :lol:

[BearSummer]

Hi Folks,

Err my answer would be B, as a side note will your female santa notice that you have swapped cameras, and if she does is it going to be a problems... I have always been of the opinion that your equipment should be able to produce better results than your current skill level. That way you have room to grow rather than being limited by your equipment. I had the 75-300, followed by the 75-300 IS followed by the 70-200 2.8IS. It would have been cheaper in the long run if I had just saved my money and bought the last one rather than working up to it.

For tim and brian, you are both right. Canon make three different 70-200 lenses, an f4, and two f2.8, one of which has IS. As the link specifies the f4 its not going to have IS.

Best regards

BearSummer

[Steven M. Anthony]

I'm confused as to if I should return the rebel for the 20d, but if I did that there would be no money for lenses.

As for keeping the Rebel and grabbing lense A or B it seems folks are split right down the middle on this one.

I like that the 70-300 is lighter but is the 70-200 that much better of a lense?
Going to Peru in mid-March so at least I have a deadline set for making my decision. Or I'll be stuck taking my 7xi and all its heavy lenses.

I think it comes down to what you are going to use the camera for. I'm just a hobbyist and the 10D is all the camera I need. I went for it over the Dreb because of its heftier build quality--since I often travel with it in my brief case--and I liked the ISO 3200 option.

I've got a good friend who has the Dreb and he loves it as much as I love my 10D. I know the 20D has some advantages over the Dreb, but if they are things you don't need or care about, then they aren't really advantages...

[Jon]

Sorry Tim, but the 70-200 has IS cos Iv'e got it! Canon currently has 3 70-200 zooms; one of the 70-200 f/2.8s has IS, and one doesn't; the lens Faust asked about was the 70-200 f/4 which does not have IS.

[IanBMW]

Hope you didn't already make a decision. Having owned option A I plead for you to get option B. I didnt like the 75-300is at all. The L lens would prove to be a better lens even if it doesn't have IS. Oh and keep the DG, paying the extra money for the 20d just doesnt seem worth it in my eyes. www.pbase.com/ianbmw are some pics i've taken with the Dreb.