Canon 17-40 L as main lens for 20D?

[krisgel]

Hi.

I am new at this and curently have a 20D with Canon 100mm Macro for my product shots. Now I am looking for a general purpose lens that I will not feel is lacking in quality in a year or so when I have more experience. The reason for going with the 17 -40 instead of a 24 or 28 - x zoom is that i want to be able to take some reasonably wide angle shots.

I'm looking for people's thoughts on whether this lens is a good choice for me.

[cdhender]

I use my 17-40 as a walkaround lense and I love it. Partly because on my 20D the lense becomes a 27-64. That is a good length for general walk around and wide angle IMO.

[rent]

i agree.. my current most frequently used walk around lens is my 16-35 as it allows me to get up close and personal and have reasonably wide angle for scenary subjects. your 17-40 should do equally well in that regard.

-alex

[Lucky Forward]

I considered the 17-40L as my walkaround lens, but decided to get the 17-85 IS. I was used to shooting with the 28-105 on my Elan IIe, and I wanted something with a similar reach. In addition to landscape and nature, I do a lot of family photography, and I wanted a lens that could zoom wide to fit in a table full of people at a birthday party, and then zoom right in for a portrait of the birthday boy or girl with their cake. The 17-85 IS is not an L lens, but many people seem to think it compares fairly well with the 17-40L. Plus, it has the IS which will let you hand-hold at two stops slower shutter speeds.

I've since bought a 100-400L, and I plan to eventually round out my kit with more L glass as money permits, including an L wide-angle lens. But for now the 17-85 is the right starter lens for me.

[michapma]

It sounds kind of contradictory, being new but making prodcut shots, so I'm curious, what kind of product shots?

The choice of lens depends on what you are looking to do. As a newb I should keep my mouth shut, but I should think if you concentrate more on your development as a photographer than on your lens performance, you'll find both the 17-40L and the 17-85 IS adequate even after a few years. If you're predominantly into wide-angle shooting, the 17-40L should be great for you, and you have the 100mm macro for portraits and general use. More than likely, regardless of which lens you get, you'll be wanting to add one or two more within several months.

[krisgel]

I am shooting pics of nutritional supplements for the e-commerce site I am starting. So far they are coming out very good. I did take both b & w photography and color photography in high school ( 11 and 12 years ago), so I'm not a complete new-b

It sounds kind of contradictory, being new but making prodcut shots, so I'm curious, what kind of product shots?

The choice of lens depends on what you are looking to do. As a newb I should keep my mouth shut, but I should think if you concentrate more on your development as a photographer than on your lens performance, you'll find both the 17-40L and the 17-85 IS adequate even after a few years. If you're predominantly into wide-angle shooting, the 17-40L should be great for you, and you have the 100mm macro for portraits and general use. More than likely, regardless of which lens you get, you'll be wanting to add one or two more within several months.

[Lesmac]

Go with 17-40, it was a walkaround lens on my 10D, and still is on 1DS mKII
Les

http://lesmclean.photoblink.com/

[Kennymc]

I've had my 17-40 for quite while now and have no complaints at all with it... I use it on both my 20D & 10D... Recommended general purpose lens with the 1.6 crop factor of the 20D...

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

I use mine as a walk around lens and love it! Sometimes I need a little more on the long end, but I fix that problem by walking closer to the subject. No big deal really. But it looks good, it's light, it's sharp, it's just amazing.

[krisgel]

I use mine as a walk around lens and love it! Sometimes I need a little more on the long end, but I fix that problem by walking closer to the subject. No big deal really. But it looks good, it's light, it's sharp, it's just amazing.

Just wondering: Is your 50mm f1.8 for low light situations?

[Todd Jacobsen]

I don't own the 17-40, but wouldn't think twice about getting the 24-70L.

Then again, I already had the 16-35...