comments on my strategy?

[michael.luczkow]

Here's what I was thinking...

15mm fisheye
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

I'm positive about the fisheye, and I'm pretty sure about the 70-200. I'm just not completely sure that these are the right choices for "everyday" or "walk around" lenses that "live on my camera".

I think the 24-70 should be my first purchase followed by the fisheye (because I really want it)

What are your experiences.... not just what lenses do you have but what order did you get them in.

[Andy_T]

Michael,

sounds like a sweet setup to me.
I'd maybe throw in a 50/1.4 for low light situations and portraits.

What would be the timeframe for you to buy these lenses?
If you have to wait a long time to get them all, maybe it might not be the worst idea to get some cheaper lenses in the meantime so you have the important ranges covered. (e.g. get the kit lens or 17-40 now and use it until you are ready to buy the 15FE or 16-35, sell it off with minimal losses then)

But that would be just my preference.

Best regards,
Andy

[michael.luczkow]

i know the topic is probably beat to death. Sorry :) .

I was thinking this order:
24-70
15
70-200
and if then depending on what I need more, fill my 16-23 gap with the 16-35 or get something beyond 200.
do the 1.4 and 2X extenders just suck or are they decent?

I'm looking for long term stuff here. Lenses I'm never going to get rid of, this is my only reason for going with the L lenses. I figure I'm married to Canon now and it's working out fine. Is it realistic for me to expect my lenses to last thru my next 3 or 4 bodies (probably about 10-20 years but who knows) or should I get some bargain lenses? Does the lens technology change that much over 10-20 years? I mean I would expect developments in IS technology but as far as optical quality goes have there been recent improvements? I'm new to photography and I get the impression that lenses, if purchased right and well kept, can last a lifetime.

[René Damkot]

Throw in a 50/1.4. It's for free compared to the lenses you already want :D

[tim]

Those lenses sound good, I hope you like changing lenses though because you're going to be doing a lot of it. You might even need a 2nd or 3rd body to save time at important events.

Personally i've never regretted buying quality, and L lenses have to be the way to go there - by reputation, I don't have any myself yet. I agree with the suggestion of the 50mm F1.4, or at least some other very wide lens.

Now i'm not an expert, but how long do people think the EF mount will last? 10 years? Sure. 20? Maybe. More? I wouldn't bet too much money on it. Then again the camera you have now will keep taking good photos for many years, I bet.

[scottbergerphoto]

I use the 16-35, and 24-70 a great deal. They are both great lenses. The 24-70 is my favorite portrait lens on a 1.6 crop. You could save $500 by getting the non IS 70-200 (I did). It's also supposed to be a little sharper then the IS version. You could then put the $500 towards an 85 f/1.8 or 50 f/1.4
Scott

[mdr]

How do you take photos with your 20D just now? A pinhole in the lens cap? ;)

Your choice differs not much from my dream buys, but my wife won't let me :( .

I would start with either the 16-35mm or the 24-70mm depending on your main line of photography. I opted for the 17-40mm f4 first, as this is the lens I anticipated using most for my main subject, landscapes.

I would consider something longer in addition to this though, e.g. the 300mm f2.8 L IS lens :cool: .

[michael.luczkow]

18-55 kit lens.

my allowance is 400 a month but factor in misc computer and bike parts and those lenses aren't going to be coming in the mail with exactly lightning speed.

[mdr]

No wonder you forgot to list it in your footer, a pinhole in your lens cap is better ;) !

[michael.luczkow]

:-) Yeah One of those lenses is coming in the next two months....

[ssim]

I like your choice of lenses. I have them all except the fisheye, I've just never a reall good use of it in my shooting.

I also have 50mm 1.8 and to be quite honest I hardly ever use it as the 16-35 and 24-70 as so sharp.

[rssfhs]

Don't forget to mention the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM. ;-)

[HKFEVER]

Here's what I was thinking...

What are your experiences.... not just what lenses do you have but what order did you get them in.

Here is the order that I bought the lenses:

1. 50mm f1.4
2. 28-135mm IS (sold)
3. 24-70mm f/2.8 L
4. 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
5. 16-35mm f/2.8L
6. 1.4XII
7. 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
8. 135mm F/2.0L
9. 100mm F/2.8 Marco
10. 85mm F/1.2L
11.Waiting for 300MM F/2.8 IS

So your list is very similar to mine.

[Deckyon]

I bought the 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, 50mm f/1.4, 1.4x Telec, 2x Telec for the first run on lenses. I wanted to cover from super wide (16mm) to 200mm. I got the teleconverters to help push out to a total of 560mm and on the 1D MkII, it is still autofocus, albeit slow.

After shooting with these lenses for 6 months, I cannot honestly say I "need" a new lens. Everything I want to shoot, I can. Sure, the 600mm would be nice - unrealistic right now. I would love a Macro lens. I do not need either, especially since I can rent one for a few bucks a day from a local store (spend 15k in a small store, they give you a few perks.)

I use my 70-200 the most, and the 50mm the least. I got the 50 for an extreme light solution for a walk-around/party lens. I am thinking on selling this lens and opting for a 24mm as the crop on the 50 is too narrow for party situations, in my opinion. I got the 50 so the built-in flash on the 20D did not cast a shadow with the lens attached. Going light for me is the 20D and 50mm. No other flash or lens.

I think you have the right lenses to cover the range without going into the poorhouse in buying primes. The L glass zoom lenses are very sharp and very high quality. You cannot go wrong.

[mdr]

Don't forget to mention the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM. ;-)
Do you sell mortgages? As I'll need one to buy it!

[Deckyon]

not the 500mm. It's cheap. Try the 1200mm. That needs a mortgage. Just settle for the 600mm and the 2x teleconverter ( ;-) )

[mdr]

I disagree. The 1200 may cost, but it also gives you huge savings. No need to pay for that mebership at the gym for weightlifting anymore.

Anyone come across a s/h 1200?

[michael.luczkow]

as far as the fisheye goes...

15mm canon or the 8mm sigma? anyone have any personal experience with the two?

[michael.luczkow]

damn there's just too many of them.. :-) okay

15mm FE Canon
15mm FE Sigma
8mm FE Sigma

?

[michael.luczkow]

EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM is in my cart right now :-O and I'm thinking about clicking....

[rssfhs]

EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM is in my cart right now :-O and I'm thinking about clicking....

CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, !!!!

[michael.luczkow]

clickedy click click.

I got the EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM and the EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus. For a lens that I'm not going to use that much (although feel I should really have) the 50 f/1.8 gets the job done well enough and is very cheap.