Lens for my 7D Mark II - specifically for hikes (mountain ranges / forest)

Mathiau wrote in post #18683097
Awesome info and feed back, nice to see options for a wide range of lenses and not just 1 or 2.

Also the note about the 7Dm2 and weather sealing, that was actually one reason i got it over the 70D myself, cause i know i can be rough on cameras and i would be taken it all over the place.

Just for my own sanity listing out the lenses suggested as per a Canadian site here in Calgary - let me know if i am off a model or F stop model. Seems like a bunch are on sale. the 70-200 is the cheapest I have ever seen it, i guess cause it is not the more expensive ISM II model.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens - $379.99
https://www.vistek.ca …efs-1018mm-f4556-stm-lens

Sigma ART 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Lens for Canon - $1,029.99
https://www.vistek.ca …f18-dc-hsm-lens-for-canon

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake lens - $289.99
https://www.vistek.ca …40mm-f28-stm-pancake-lens

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens - $699.99
https://www.vistek.ca …l-usm-telephoto-zoom-lens

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM - $339.99
https://www.vistek.ca …anon-efs-1855mm-f3556-stm

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens - $359.99
https://www.vistek.ca …efs-55250mm-f456-stm-lens

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens - $169.99
https://www.vistek.ca …non-efs-24mm-f28-stm-lens

If you're willing to buy used and have access to a good market, you can save a lot on those lenses. Aside from the POtN classifieds, is there something like Craigslist in Calgary, or is that just a US thing? I've had good luck buying and selling with that in my area (Washington DC). As long as I don't need something in a hurry, it's worked out well for me, and has the advantage that you can actually see and try the gear before you buy it.

Mike

mcoren wrote in post #18683360
If you're willing to buy used and have access to a good market, you can save a lot on those lenses. Aside from the POtN classifieds, is there something like Craigslist in Calgary, or is that just a US thing? I've had good luck buying and selling with that in my area (Washington DC). As long as I don't need something in a hurry, it's worked out well for me, and has the advantage that you can actually see and try the gear before you buy it.

Mike

Buying used vs new is a whole separate issue to lens choice. Used prices run around 70-90% of new prices, and occasionally even 100% or higher. So you save only a little and get no warranty, and in many cases no recourse if there is something wrong with the item or if you change your mind.

Archibald wrote in post #18683411
Buying used vs new is a whole separate issue to lens choice. Used prices run around 70-90% of new prices, and occasionally even 100% or higher. So you save only a little and get no warranty, and in many cases no recourse if there is something wrong with the item or if you change your mind.

I agree that it's definitely a separate issue. I only brought it up because the OP indicated that his budget is limited.

Buying used is definitely more risky, and it's not for everyone. If there's a problem with what you buy that's not immediately apparent, you have no recourse, as you say. If you change your mind, however, you may be able to turn around and sell it for most or all of what you paid for it.

On the other hand, my experience appears to be different from yours with regard to price. I own four of the lenses on the OP's list in post #14 (all of the STMs except the 40) and I purchased three of those used, and for those three I paid in total less than half of the US list prices. One could argue that the consumer STM lenses don't hold their value, but I also purchased my 7D2 and 70-300L used for close to 50% less than US list prices. Conversely, when I sold my 70-200 f/4L IS last year, which I had bought new just two years before, I was only able to get around 60% of what I had paid for it. So somebody else got the good deal.

Buying used from a reputable camera store is one way to mitigate the risks. They usually provide a store warranty, but you give up some of the price savings.

It's just a question of how comfortable you are with the risk.