Which one should I get as a starter lens?

[JesseK]

I will be purchasing a new Canon 40D soon, and since I have found the camera at a much better price, I will be able to choose between a couple of pretty nice lens. So I was wondering if I should get the Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM Lens or the Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM AF lens? From what I have read, the 17-85mm is about $100 more which makes me wonder if that is the one that I should get. But then again, I do not know anythig about them, and this may not be the case. This will be my only lens for a while so I need something that is pretty versatile and can maybe do some macro shots and some distance shots as well. I can also get the Nifty Fifty for not much more and I was wondering if you think that would be a good idea also. I am in AU and I am ordering it from the US so I want to get it all in one order to keep the cost of making another order and paying for shipping twice. So which one of the first two do you recommend and do you think that I will need the Nifty Fifty as well? As you can tell I'm a real newbie. I do not even know what the numbers mean with each lens so if anyone would like to explain that to me that would be really nice too.

Thanks so much,
Jesse

[Dao]

I believe it really depends on what type of photos you would like to take. 17mm is much wider than 28mm (Field of View). In fact, the 17-85mm lens on a APS-C camera such as the 40D will be similar to a Full Frame camera such as the Canon 5D or a 35mm Film camera with the 28-135mm because of the 1.6x crop factor. (40D has a smaller sensor)

In other words, 28mm on a 40D camera may not be wide enough for someone who like to take a wide angle shot (such as landscape shot). Of course, it is just a personal preference. I think you may want to see if the different in Field of view really matter on the photos you like to take most of the time.

[egordon99]

I think the 17-85 would be a GREAT lens to start out with. It has it's shortcomings, but it will be a great tool to learn photography on. Don't buy anything else until YOU discover something that the 17-85 isn't doing for you. Well ok, buy the 50mm f/1.8 because it's pretty cheap :)

[Anders Östberg]

Second egordon99's suggestion, the 17-85 will give you a more versatile focal range on the 40D, and adding the cheap 50/1.8 is almost mandatory to give you low light and shallow DOF options to play with.

[JesseK]

Thanks for all of your replies. I just learned about a place here in AU for me to buy my camera and it comes with the 17-85mm lens. So that solves that problem of which one to get first. I am not sure if I will be able to get the 50mm right away but I will save up for it for my next purchase. I also want to save up for a really nice macro lens because that is one of my favorite things to shoot. So it will be the 17-85mm first with the camera, then I will buy the 50mm, and then I think I want an extra battery hand grip. After that I am not sure what I want to get but I am sure I will think of something.

Thanks,
Jesse :)

[Mr B Pix]

I'd save up and get a flash before you get a battery grip. The 17-85 is a great lens to get started with - if you have enough light. I had a friend in the same boat (but he has a XTi). He had the 17-85 and would complain about the quality of his pictures with the on-board flash. I convinced him to buy a flash (430EX), and he couldn't be happier.

[lostmytoy]

+1 17-85IS.

[JesseK]

If you mean that I should add a 17-85mm Image Stabilization lens, I think it is. It says it comes with an EF-S 17- 85mm F4 - F5.6 II lens and the only one like that I can find is an IS lens. If I am wrong on this, someone please correct me. I am so new and I do not know much at all about lens.

Jesse

[p360]

One more vote for 17-85 IS.

[walternewton]

Just a warning, since you say you're new to photography and "found the camera for a much better price" - there are many, many horror stories about shady camera dealers who lure people in with an advertised price "too good to be true", so if you've found someone in the US listing at a much lower price than the major reputable US dealers (Amazon, B+H, Adorama etc) you might want to do some research about who you're dealing with.

[Banger]

If you mean that I should add a 17-85mm Image Stabilization lens, I think it is. It says it comes with an EF-S 17- 85mm F4 - F5.6 II lens and the only one like that I can find is an IS lens. If I am wrong on this, someone please correct me. I am so new and I do not know much at all about lens.

Jesse


It is the only one. You are correct. Also one more vote for the 17-85. I have it and it was my first lens on an XTi. It is a good all purpose lens for the price.