Buying 20D for profesional work...need advice.

[RAW]

Hi,

I am a G6 user and going toward a higher class. I am not so familiar about which lenses are the best, therefore I am turning to the pros in "my" forum.

One question is if I should wait for the 30D (if most of you think it is close to market) or I just go ahead and use the rebate on the 20D.

The other questions are toward the lenses...

Now, the lenses obviosly are the first part of the camera that gets the information from outside, and therefore I think it is critical to buy good quality lenses in order to get the sharpest images. Here, I need your advice.

I know that the L lenses are the profesional line of canon, and I also know that I could also use other manufacturers lenses like Sigma or Tamron, just to name few.

Now, exept for the body, the first lens that I need to buy is a excelent profesional portraiture Lens. something like a 50mm 1.4...please, sugest something here, every input will be greatly appreciated.

As for flash I have the 420ex, but can I take advantage of it to the fullest ( is 20D a type A or B camera) or do I need to buy the 580ex?

The second lens I need is a great wide angle lens, I think I read somewhere that there is a 10-22mm lens...but again, I have not a good knowledge on this area (lenses) so please share your experiences and your knowledge.

And the third lens I need is a decent telephoto lens like 70-300 for example...please advice.


I won't go for a macro lens although I saw the 60mm macro and portrait lens from Canon but I love to buy the lens that is designed only for one purpose and for what is the best. I also read on a book that you could use rings to make macro shots with your zoom lens, anyone doing this?


So just to make it clear, I need advice on this things:

1. Do I wait for 30D or go for 20D?
2. The best lens for portraits.
3. The best wide angle lens for landscape.
4. The best quality decent zoom lens.


I just landed a job as an asistant in a profesional studio ( www.FadilBerisha.com (http://www.FadilBerisha.com) ), and that's the main reason I buy my camera and my portrait lens, so the more profesional lens the better.


P.S.

I will write a letter to Canon asking about the 30D and see what they say...I will post and update.


My best regards,
Artan


P.S.P.S.

I read somewhere that there are problems with the 20d picture(noise related), is this normal?

[Maxima]

I only advice I can give you is to #2, the 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.8 are great portrait lenses.

[robertwgross]

Good luck with your letter to Canon. I doubt that you will get any real response.

Forget about Type B cameras. The 20D is Type A.

No, there is no real noise problem.

---Bob Gross---

[RAW]

I only advice I can give you is to #2, the 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.8 are great portrait lenses.

I thank you for your reply. The only reason I was thinking of 50mm is because that lens, as far as I know, is the so called normal lens; and over here we are talking also the 1.6x magnifying factor. So would the factor make the 85mm or the 50mm out of the normal range of the lens, meaning the things would apear not as they do to the naked eye.


My regards,
Artan

[RAW]

Good luck with your letter to Canon. I doubt that you will get any real response.

Forget about Type B cameras. The 20D is Type A.

No, there is no real noise problem.

---Bob Gross---


Thank you for your reply. You answered two good questions that I had in my head, and really, it is quite a relief to know that you get your money worth.


Cheers,
Artan

[CyberDyneSystems]

Don't wait for any 30D.. it is a long ways down the road (20D is not even one year old)

Lenses.. take a look at the -=TOP Ten=- Recomended lens thread in our EF lens forum...

Specifically.. for portraits I second the 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8 ... But I very much prefer the 85mm f/1.8 over the 50mm.

Also look closely at the 135mm f/2L and the 85mm f/1.2L ... but they bump up the price bracket considerably.

Wideangle... grab the 17-40mm f/4L zoom
If you doin't need that wide and want to save a little.. the 28mm 1.8 USM prime might be worth a look.

Affordable telephoto zoom.. grab the 70-200mm f/4L ;) Nothing else.

The 420EX may be fine.. 580 is definitely an improvement.. but even with the 420 you get planty of functionality in the ETTL modes... however if you are an advanced flash user that likes manual settings.. then you will need to upgrade.

[RAW]

Don't wait for any 30D.. it is a long ways down the road (20D is not even one year old)

Lenses.. take a look at the -=TOP Ten=- Recomended lens thread in our EF lens forum...

Specifically.. for portraits I second the 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8 ... But I very much prefer the 85mm f/1.8 over the 50mm.

Also look closely at the 135mm f/2L and the 85mm f/1.2L ... but they bump up the price bracket considerably.

Wideangle... grab the 17-40mm f/4L zoom
If you doin't need that wide and want to save a little.. the 28mm 1.8 USM prime might be worth a look.

Affordable telephoto zoom.. grab the 70-200mm f/4L ;) Nothing else.

The 420EX may be fine.. 580 is definitely an improvement.. but even with the 420 you get planty of functionality in the ETTL modes... however if you are an advanced flash user that likes manual settings.. then you will need to upgrade.


I thank you for your thorough reply. I might wanna add here that my budget is this $3000-$5000, but add there two 20D bodies, portrait lens, wideangle and telezoom.

[CyberDyneSystems]

20D X2 = $2,458.00 (after rebate)
85mm f/1.8 = $340.00
17-40mm f/4L = $680.00
EF 70-200mm f/4L = $579.00

Total 4,057.00

You'll need some memory cards and spare batteries with that left over $900.00 :)

P.S. the 17-40mm will also function nicely as a second portrait lens for closer work... (if your using a pair of 20Ds in the studio.. )

...the 10-22mm on the other hand not so usefull for that application. I find the 17mm end to be plenty wide enough on the 20D..

[Mohawk]

Are you looking to purchase two 20D bodies? Save your money and get one 1DMKII or find a clean used 1DsMKII. If I was in a studio situation, I would look more towards a 1.3 or full frame body. As far as a portrait lens, the Canon 50mm f1.4 is a great little lens on a 1.6 body. But, the Canon 85mm 1.2L is the ultimate portrait lens, ecspecially on the 1Ds or 1DMKII. I think I blew your budget though.

Mike

[I Simonius]

Hi,
snip
So just to make it clear, I need advice on this things:

1. Do I wait for 30D or go for 20D?
2. The best lens for portraits.
3. The best wide angle lens for landscape.
4. The best quality decent zoom lens.


I just landed a job as an asistant in a profesional studio ( www.FadilBerisha.com (http://www.FadilBerisha.com) ), and that's the main reason I buy my camera and my portrait lens, so the more profesional lens the better.
snip

Exactly what CyberDyne said re: lenses, but why two bodies if you're an assistant, won't there be others you could use if one died? Use the money on lenses

There will always be a new camera coming out, but it will probably be 6 months at the very least before you actually get one. The next one will probably be announced 7 days after Nikon announce their next greatest upgrade as Canon love stealing Nikons thunder, so wait until you hear of a Nikon upgrade then expect a Canon one. Even so it is ages until they arrive in the shops.

[nigelch]

But, the Canon 85mm 1.2L is the ultimate portrait lens, Mike
Don't reckon MOST of my clients would be that impressed if I shot all their portraits at f1.2. Mind you, depends on the effect you want, but it is a bit extreme for portrait use.
N

[GyRob]

unless its a large studio the 85mm on the 20d will not give you full lenth shots,even the 50mm will need lots of room as it will = 85.the 17to40 is a handy and good lens to have for studio work but something around a 24to70 may be better all round .
Rob

[RichardtheSane]

Are you looking to purchase two 20D bodies? Save your money and get one 1DMKII or find a clean used 1DsMKII.

Mike

For professional work that would be an unwise decision.

If you are working professionally then you need to have backup equipment that will allow you to complete a job. Say you had just driven with your clien 80 miles to the location. You get there and your shutter fails?

You then get your second body out and start shooting with that... or you look unprofessional ans tell your cliend that we'll have to go again next week...

Makes perfect sense!

[RAW]

20D X2 = $2,458.00 (after rebate)
85mm f/1.8 = $340.00
17-40mm f/4L = $680.00
EF 70-200mm f/4L = $579.00

Total 4,057.00

You'll need some memory cards and spare batteries with that left over $900.00 :)

P.S. the 17-40mm will also function nicely as a second portrait lens for closer work... (if your using a pair of 20Ds in the studio.. )

...the 10-22mm on the other hand not so usefull for that application. I find the 17mm end to be plenty wide enough on the 20D..

Thank you for the wise advice, but I think I will make only one change to the list. Take out 80mm f/1.8 and get the 50mm 1.4 or 1.8, i will test them in the store and check the results.

I have one 1gb and one 512mb CF cards, so maybe one extra will do the work. And extra batteries I think is the wise thing to do.


Thank you,
Artan

[RAW]

For professional work that would be an unwise decision.

If you are working professionally then you need to have backup equipment that will allow you to complete a job. Say you had just driven with your clien 80 miles to the location. You get there and your shutter fails?

You then get your second body out and start shooting with that... or you look unprofessional ans tell your cliend that we'll have to go again next week...

Makes perfect sense!

I do agree with you, and also I think having two bodies you can keep diferent lenses on both so that way you are ready faster and you are more profesional (instead of changing lenses, when you can just change bodies and shoot.).

My regards,
Artan

[RAW]

unless its a large studio the 85mm on the 20d will not give you full lenth shots,even the 50mm will need lots of room as it will = 85.the 17to40 is a handy and good lens to have for studio work but something around a 24to70 may be better all round .
Rob

Having the magnification factor in mind, you make me think that this idea is good. The studio is a decent size, so testing the lenses in the store I think will be a good thing...I'll go at B&H in NY.

Thank you for your reply.

Regards,
Artan.

[chtgrubbs]

Is your new boss expecting you to own your own equipment so you can shoot for him? Usually if you are hired as an assistant you will have access to the studios equipment. This would give you a chance to use gear and learn what will work for you before investing your own hard earned dollars in equipment.

[I Simonius]

Is your new boss expecting you to own your own equipment so you can shoot for him? Usually if you are hired as an assistant you will have access to the studios equipment. This would give you a chance to use gear and learn what will work for you before investing your own hard earned dollars in equipment.

That's what I thought a little unusual... :confused:

[xuxu1]

Is your new boss expecting you to own your own equipment so you can shoot for him? Usually if you are hired as an assistant you will have access to the studios equipment. This would give you a chance to use gear and learn what will work for you before investing your own hard earned dollars in equipment.
Well his boss must be a good businessman. His employees (assistants) doing the work and buying the equipment. All there is left for him.... collecting the money. :p :evil:

Worst case: Assistant having to pay his boss to be able to work for him. :shock:

ED

[RAW]

Is your new boss expecting you to own your own equipment so you can shoot for him? Usually if you are hired as an assistant you will have access to the studios equipment. This would give you a chance to use gear and learn what will work for you before investing your own hard earned dollars in equipment.

I am using his equipment but that way I don't get to build my portofolio. I am buying my own gear because he will allow me to keep my shots and use them for my own benefit.

Regards,
Artan

[RAW]

Well his boss must be a good businessman. His employees (assistants) doing the work and buying the equipment. All there is left for him.... collecting the money. :p :evil:

Worst case: Assistant having to pay his boss to be able to work for him. :shock:

ED

By the way he is a Nikon guy and I am a Canon fan....there is one difference. The other thing as I said before I get to keep my shots with my gear and build my portofolio, and the third thing is that I work there for free and I don't pay to get my experience in a studio.

My regards,
artan

[I Simonius]

I am using his equipment but that way I don't get to build my portofolio. I am buying my own gear because he will allow me to keep my shots and use them for my own benefit.

Regards,
Artan

AHA! The force is strong in this one! ;) ;) ;)