New to the forum and I need advice!!!

[T.O.]

Hello to all of you,

My name is Teo and I’m new to the Canon forum.:D

I am actually using Leica cameras, but soon I will buy my first Canon DSRL…actually I’m planning to buy the new D350, together with the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens…

I rekon that more than one people in this forum will have experience with this equipment (and even some sample images).

So could you please please give me your opinion upon the camera, the lens, and both of them together?

Regards
T.O.

[tim]

Welcome to the forum :)

Advice #1: one post is enough, three on the same topic is too many.

It's a great camera, the limitation is usually the photographer. That lens is good value, a little slow (ie F4 isn't as wide as it could be), but should be a good starter lens.

[fortinaa]

Advice #2: Let us know what you currently like to shoot. Do you have any sample galleries of your scanned Leica work?

Info like this will help other members to point out the benefits or shortcomings of the equipment you are choosing. Overall, I would say it's a great starter combination where the shooter is the only limitation.

For samples, visit pbase.com. You can search for images by camera/equipment. In that section, there are also a lot of lenses you can search by. That will give you a chance to see what the camera and lens can do in different hands.

[2goldens]

T.O.

That camera will be a great first DSLR. I have the 300D. But I am an old Nikon man with three Nikons that I very rarely use any more. Like the others have said, the only limitations you will have will be your own.

That camera will do many things and will be a good tool for you to learn with. I am learning a lot from my camera. Now that I have a DSLR I don’t think I will ever go back to my film.

I Love to be able to take my pictures and see them before printing them. It will save you a lot of money that way. I couldn’t tell you how much money that I have spent on photographs that weren’t worth a D_ _ _!

As you get into the different areas of Photoshop or whatever program you purchase you will see how wonderful digital photography is. :) :) :)

[mdr]

Welcome to the forum Teo.

If you're used to the sharpness and quality of Leica optics, then you may be disapointed with the results using the 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM lens. Of course I'm assuming you're a Leica M user.

If you primarily have been shooting with your Leica and lenses ranging from about 28mm to 85mm, and intend to continue your style of photography, then you may want to consider the Canon 17-40mm f4 L and the Canon 50mm f1.8 instead, giving you a similar reach due to the the 1.6x crop factor of the 350D, and better quality optics.

[T.O.]

Thank you all for your comments/suggestions.

Fortinaa, you can see some examples of my work at:

http://www.fotorevista.com.ar/Portfolios/Stamatiadis/index.htm

I will check the pbase.com.

Mdr, yes, I am also thinking the possibility of bying an adaptor and use a Leica lens with my Canon...

By the way, it seems that the lens I'm asking about has a special feature in order to maximize background blur (bokeh) quality...do U know how this works?

OK dudes, hopefully I can soon come back and send my first Canon D350 pics...

thanx and enjoy,
T.O.

[tim]

By the way, it seems that the lens I'm asking about has a special feature in order to maximize background blur (bokeh) quality...do U know how this works?

It's called aperture, perhaps coupled with the number of blades in the lens. It's not a special feature. Where did you read that it's a "special feature"?

[T.O.]

very funny Tim,

in the presentation of the camera in Canon Europe they make special mention to the background blur, arguing that the circular aperture will give a nice bokeh, maybe the word "feature" was not correct but can U tell me if you confirm this for the lens anyway?

and, by the way, did U look at the link with my photos? and if yes, what do you think?

regards,
T.O.

[mdr]

Can't access your site through my works firewall...

[Parson]

Excellent work on your site, TO! I use the 17-85 on my 20D and I think you'll be pleased with the results. For the price I don't think it can be beat. If f4.0 is going to be too slow for you, then the 16-35L or the 24-70L will be the direction you need to go. Both are far more expensive but will give you the added speed necessary for the type work you seem to focus on.

[T.O.]

Parson,

thank you for the comments.

Well, the 24-70L looks just perfect, but rather too expensive...I think I will go for the 17-85 to begin with...and enter the Canon Digital World...
T.O.

[robertwgross]

...and enter the Canon Digital World...

Yes, consider that you are entering a Brave New World (with apologies to Aldous Huxley, who does not post here).

---Bob Gross---

[Andy_T]

Teo,

take a look at the user recommended lens section (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56752). There are rankings from users for all kinds of lenses, start with looking at the 'starter lenses'.

I personally consider the 17-85 too expensive. So I went with the 18-55 kit lens and the Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR DI instead. The Tamron gives you image quality that is comparable to the 24-70/2.8 L for a third of the price. Mind you, the build quality and the AF speed are not the same, but it is definitely better than the 17-85 IS at about $ 350. The main advantage of the 17-85, IMO, is that you don't have to change lenses if you want to use wide angle.

Still, depending on your shooting style and preferred focal length, prime lenses (e.g. the 75$ 50/1.8) might be preferrable. Do not forget that the camera has a 1.6 crop factor, so a 50 mm lens will give you the same field of view as an 80 mm lens at 35 mm film.

Best regards,
Andy

[T.O.]

Thanx a lot to all of you,

your threads are very useful to me...OK, I think I will buy my camera/lens this week...and my final choice will be:

Canon EOS D350

with

Canon EF-S 17-85/4.5

Andy, I also checked the Tamron, but I prefer a Canon lens, don't know why (lack of experience?:o)...

Finally, I will definitely buy the 50mm, so cheap!!!

thanx again, hopefully I will post here my first Canon Digital Shots soon...
T.O.

[T.O.]

By the way,

do you think that this lens would be too heavy for the D350 body?
T.O.

[tim]

No. I've seen pictures of the much larger 70-200 F2.8 IS on a 350D, it looks a little funny but it apparently works fine.

[T.O.]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I just ordered a 350D, the EF-S 17-85 IS and the EF 50 f1.8 II!!!

Thanx to all of you for the advice, this forum has been very useful, I checked hundreds of threads before buying and there are some really interesting inputs here...

So, happy to buy a Canon (I will get it in 15 days, more or less), happy to be in this forum and looking forward to start testing my first DSRL...

thanx again and enjoy,
T.O.

[Dannes]

i have the EF-S 17-85 IS on my 20D all the time.
Excellent lens. You will be happy with it.

Greetings from Holland