First lens for a 10d?

[cowman345]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to Canon's newer cameras (I have an old AT-1) and am not to familiar with the EF lenses.

I'm planning on getting a 10D as soon as possible, and was wondering what others reccommend for a nice quality, versitile lens?

-dave-

[Dans_D60]

It definitely depends on your style of shooting. I found the 28-70 2.8 L on my 10D 70%-80% of the time. Remember, the 10D will “multiply” or crop the focal length and the 28-70 becomes a 44-112. Because my primary interests are portraits and people, the 28-70 fits perfectly. The glass is sharp and construction is, of course, L quality. I hear the replacement 24-70 2.8 L is even better. Since I live near the beach in southern California, I do like shooting surfing events and the 100-400 4.5 L IS and the 70-200 2.8 L certainly do the job. I must have a prime so the 50 1.4 is fantastic and a reasonably priced lens. I don’t shoot a great deal of landscapes or other wide angle requirements so I purchased a “non Canon” lens for those needs. It’s a Sigma 15-30 EX and to my surprise this lens is quite good. Not L quality but still a good price/performance lens. I’m sure others will respond with their favorites and I know there are good lenses to be had without going to the expense of L glass. Have fun with your new 10D!
Dan
http://www.pettusphoto.com

[HoodedOne]

It depends on what you want to do with it.
The 50/1.8 is a very nice inexpensive lens, that makes tack sharp images. On the 10D this lens will act as a 80/1.8, but it´s not as versitile as a zoom lens.
If you want a lens that act as a standard zoom lens (28-70), you´ll need a super wide angle zoom like the Sigma 15-30. But I think it´s better to wait with these lenses, because I believe prices on these lenses will drop, when the price of full frame DSLR cameras starts to drop.
But it´s totally up to you. The 50/1.8, or if you want a USM lens the 50/1.4 are lenses that you will never regret buying.

cheers, HoodedOne

[brunz]

I like the 20-35 USM 3.5-4.5 as a normal lens. The 28-135 usm IS lens is sharp but does not focus well in low light in my opinion. If you can pick up a 35-135 USM which is no longer made, it is a rather nice lens. I mention all non-L lenses since many people can't afford L lenses after a big purchase ...Good Luck and stay with Canon brand lenses. I've never had any problems with them as I have had with independents...good luck

[TweetyRN]

I have been using a Canon 135 F2 L lens on my 10D and one couldn't ask for sharper images. I have also been able to use the 1.4X and 2X teleconverters with this lens and have achieved razor-sharp results. I've also added extension tubes and have done close-ups of the most magnificent flowers at a recent indoor flower show.IMO ....this lens is very versatile and well worth every penny!!!!
P/S.....I am a newbie and myself as well as others have been shocked with the outstanding pics that I have taken.
The rest of the lenses I want will come when the bank account is replenished.....but for now I am totally enthralled with the 135 F2!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[levine2]

I purchased a used 29 - 80 mm lens which has served its purpose. I am planning on upgrading to a 28 - 70 mm though. Depends on what you plan on shooting.

[lluscombe]

For a first lens, you might consider the 24-85. It is inexpensive, reasonably sharp (very sharp for 4x6 and 5x7, I have used it for very good 8x10). It has the USM motor for silent and fast focussing. It is light, and, importantly, gives a wider angle than the 28-xx zooms (which don't work for me). 28mm=44.8mm (close to normal), but 24m=38.4mm (still somewhat wide). From there I am purchasing an L series telephoto, a 100mm macro, and couple of primes for lanscape (not sure which ones, but probably 50mm 1.4 and 20mm).

For sure the 24-70 2.8L lens would be a great choice, but is more than some of us wish to pay for a lens, not to speak about size and weight. The quality is great, but a few primes can cost less and be equal or better in quality.

Hope that helps.

Dan: How does the Sigma 15-30 work with the 10D? I was about to order a Sigma macro, and found out that it would not be compatible with the electronics, that it would have to be upgraded by Sigma.

[Yavor75]

Greetings-
I wasn't going to jump in here...but I couldn't resist!
I was a D60 owner and am a 10D owner. Being that the average person is on a budget of some sort..I'll consider this in my suggestions.
First lens...?
50mm F1.8 Canon
It's $65 new and makes really sharp photos. The 1.4 just isn't worth the extra $275 bucks.
Next?:
28-135 IS Canon. This lens is a perfect workhorse lens which can be had for about $350 on Ebay. It has very good numbers (optical quality MTF numbers) and an ultrasonic motor. It''s specs actually beat some of the "L" glass zooms. It also focuses well on the 10D
With this combo, you can shoot at 800asa, IS on, and make beautiful natural light shots hand-held at 1/30th sec.
Third?:
Sigma 20mm DG. This puppy is about $250 on Ebay...focuses really well on the 10D and produces superior color compared to the Canon lenses. Sharpness is excellent.
Past this....I like the 100mm macro Canon and the 17-35 Sigma. Got unlimited $$$? Buy all "L" lenses!

So..go have fun!

Bob

PS: want to do yourself a favor? Shoot about 2/3rds a stop under and bump it up in Photoshop.

[kendersplace]

Firstly, please disregard any suggestions to get "L" lenses. I can't count the number of times I hear someone who is very new to a modern SLR or D-SRL and all the "gurus" try to tell them they can't get a sharp image with anything less than an L lense. Unless you rely on photography to pay your mortgage, "L" lenses are overkill.

That said....

I use the Canon USM 24-85 for most shooting. It is priced right, and is every bit capable of producing exceptional images. Canon has included the 24-85 on the camera in nearly every picture they have published of it.... hint hint. With the conversion multiplier this results in a 38-136 zoom - just right for 90% of the shooting most people will do with the camera.

If you only choose one lense, I would recomend this one.

[scotgasch]

My studio just bought a 28-105 and a 85 to use on a 1ds and 10d. Both of these lenses are tack sharp and worthy of portraiture and commercial work.

[MrChevy]

We have the D60 and 10D both, we use the 28-105 Canon (a lens we have had since 1992) and it shoots sharp pictures. We also have the 28-235IS lens, it is a good lens too in our (the wife and I) opinion. Either one would make a nice first lens. We also have a 50/1.8 Canon that shoots good pics.
Wide angle we use a Sigma 17-35 and a Canon 16-35L. Also we really like the pictures the 100 2.8 Canon macro lens takes, we would also like to have the 180 macro but it isn't in the budget yet. ( well, it would be nice to have ALL the lenses :) )
I would try for the 28-235IS as a first lens I think.

Happy Shooting,

Ken

[CyberDyneSystems]

kendersplace wrote:
Firstly, please disregard any suggestions to get "L" lenses. I can't count the number of times I hear someone who is very new to a modern SLR or D-SRL and all the "gurus" try to tell them they can't get a sharp image with anything less than an L lense.

This makes sense!

"L" lenses are great to dream of but the idea of one as a "First" lens is a little ,.. well odd. They are exactly the opposite of a first lens. They are in fact the last lenses you should ever need to buy.

I for one wanted as broad a range as possible since I will be using only the one lens for a while so a 28-80 zoom I did not feel was enough. I just switched to the 10d as my first D-SLR from an Olympus 2100 Ultra Zoom which has a lens equivilent of 38mm - 380mm built in.

I like to photograph wildlife/birds so I want a long lens and have gotten quite used to the Olympuses 380mm. In fact one of the resons I went with an SLR was so I could eventually mount the LOOOOOONG lenses :)

So my first lens is the Sigma 28mm-200mm Zoom. I love it. On the 10D that equals a 320mm max Zoom. Not too bad for starters? I agreee that it would have been nice to have a wider low end like 24mm, Tokina makes a 24mm-200mm but I'm not at all sure of Tokina lenses.

Mind you I am sure the Canon lenses are superior to the Sigma,. but for a "First" lens I think the Sigma was an excellent choice. It is small too,. so it is not like the Bazookas (or is that Canons) that a real LONG lens is like to carry, but it will let you reach out for that shot when the need arises.

Obviously what you intend to do with it plays a large part. If you are doing landscape or portrate work primarily,. this type of lens may not be the best for either. You may want a wider lens, but It gives a very broad range of focal lengths for only about $200.00

[Jeppe]

Ummm.. You will get the most out of your 10D with high quality lenses. Not L neccesarely, but Canons B-line (those above the consumer-line). Buying a 10D for 1500$ and then putting on a superzoom (eg. 28-200/300) is like buying a brand new computer, but keeping your old 8 GB HD from 1995...

A good first lens for the 10D would more likely be a 17-40 or Canon EF 24-85/28-135, or a sigma 15-30/17-35. But thats my opinion..

[mwind13]

My first EOS lense was the 28-200. It is a good all-around lense. There are better lenses, but this gives a lot of diversity.

(I did, eventually, replace that lense with the L series. But we're talking budget, right? )

Anyway, this is my 2 cents.