Help...my hubby is driving me insane about his next lens purchase!

So my hubby (he's somewhere on these forums) got a Canon Xti for his first SLR camera. He got the stock lens with it and also got a 430 ex flash. I can't remember what he was blathering about but also got another crappy canon portrait lens I believe (waste of $$$ but it's what he loves to do).

He wants a lens that is very sharp, able to be a walkaround lens I believe. I don't think he needs too much zoom but a wide-angle might be nice. I'm fine with him getting an L lens if that'll make him happy. I kind of owe him because I convinced him that I need a 24" imac to "edit his photos". (it's sooooo pretty)

When we were at Henry's ("the" camera shop in toronto) the salesman showed us a 17-40 L lens from canon which looked good. I have no idea why the hubby isn't fully convinced but can you guys please suggest a good lens because I want him to hurry up and just buy one so I'll stop hearing about all this 1.6x something stuff. Detailed reviews of lens are appreciated.

Oh and I'll be sure to post up pics of me and my hot 20-23 year old girlfriends from a birthday party at a club next weekend if that'll help. I'm letting the hubby bring along his camera so if you can also suggest a good club lens that's not too pricey feel free.


Thanks in advance (for saving my sanity)

Cheers!

Get him the 24-105 f/4L and the 50mm 1.4 for parties. Can't go wrong.

The EF 35mm f/1.4L would be a wonderful lens on the XTi for taking pictures at parties. It'll allow for natural light shots if you like. And it will also be excellent for group shots. It's one of Canon's best and I bet it would make you and your girlfriend's look extra hot. This lens will be faster and have better image quality than just about any zoom of comparable focal length.

Here's a review:

http://www.breitbart.c​om …2006/12/07/D8LS​49T00.html

Good luck. Your husband is a lucky man. Oh, and welcome to POTN.

Also, possibly 16-35 or 10-22 if you're looking for WA. Not sure if you're looking to replace the "crappy portrait" lens or make an addition to his collection. Neither of the ones I mentioned would make very good portrait lenses.

Since you're in the GTA, try also:

adencamera.com
hitcamera.ca

Oh, and hook me up w/ your "hot 20-23-yr-old friends" I'm in the GTA also

Club and all around lens the "L" 28-70mm f/2.8L...All the Pros shooting concert venues indoors use it exclusively...It's an all around great lens...weather and dust sealed too...

The 4.0 lens is not as fast and would not be good indoors without a flash...Anything slower than 2.8 is just not suitable for indoor shots...

The fixed prime lenses are magical indoors...like 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8...they are somewhat narrow in field of view so the 35mm 1.4 as a prime is also a great fast choice...But just one lens that covers all of these parameters pretty closely is the 28-70mm 2.8L...

I suggest, save, save, save and buy once...

Well if he is just looking for an improved walk around lens the Canon 17-55mm 2.8 IS EF-S would be my first choice, similar range to his current lens but sharper, with a larger max aperture, faster focusing, and image stabilizers. The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 lens is a less expensive alternative to the Canon, but gives up the image stabilization.

formula4speed wrote in post #2367172
Well if he is just looking for an improved walk around lens the Canon 17-55mm 2.8 IS EF-S would be my first choice, similar range to his current lens but sharper, with a larger max aperture, faster focusing, and image stabilizers. The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 lens is a less expensive alternative to the Canon, but gives up the image stabilization.

That's what I would say.

For "club" lens, you should get Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, because in a club setting, you need:

1. Wide angle. 24mm is not wide enough.
2. For low light setting, you need long exposure --> IS function comes in VERY helpful.
3. You can also consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. It is not wide, but useful in cases where you do not need wide angle.

I have a few words for you "get used to it!" My poor husband hears nothing but camera and lens crap from me. 1.6x included. Trying to find the ideal lens etc... But he pays me back with his "boring" talk as well.

But it sounds like he might be too worried the 17-40 might be too slow. For the club/party thing I agree with the others on the 50 1.4, the 35 f/2 is good too if you want to go cheaper. For faster zooms the 24-70 might be a good choice but it's expensive and heavy to lug around all night.

The 17-40 is a nice lens, but the 17-55 f/2.8 is nicer (and more money). I would normally suggest the 24-105 but since you mention he'd prefer wider angles, the 17-55 is the way to go. In Toronto, go to Vistek on Queen Street...the prices are similar to Henry's and the sales staff are top notch.

riskytrader wrote in post #2367099
So my hubby (he's somewhere on these forums) got a Canon Xti for his first SLR camera. He got the stock lens with it and also got a 430 ex flash. I can't remember what he was blathering about but also got another crappy canon portrait lens I believe (waste of $$$ but it's what he loves to do).

He wants a lens that is very sharp, able to be a walkaround lens I believe. I don't think he needs too much zoom but a wide-angle might be nice. I'm fine with him getting an L lens if that'll make him happy. I kind of owe him because I convinced him that I need a 24" imac to "edit his photos". (it's sooooo pretty)

When we were at Henry's ("the" camera shop in toronto) the salesman showed us a 17-40 L lens from canon which looked good. I have no idea why the hubby isn't fully convinced but can you guys please suggest a good lens because I want him to hurry up and just buy one so I'll stop hearing about all this 1.6x something stuff. Detailed reviews of lens are appreciated.

Oh and I'll be sure to post up pics of me and my hot 20-23 year old girlfriends from a birthday party at a club next weekend if that'll help. I'm letting the hubby bring along his camera so if you can also suggest a good club lens that's not too pricey feel free.


Thanks in advance (for saving my sanity)

Cheers!

There are two good choices to solve the dilemma...the 17-40 L is an outstanding lens and will work fine on an XTi. The other option is the 17-55 f/2.8 IS...which is also an outstanding lens....with a bit more range and a larger aperture. Can't go wrong with either lens.

Why don't you tell him to log on and ask the questions about what to get? He can also clarify what "crappy canon portrait lens" he already has and what he really wants in a lens.

All this "I dunno what he has or what he wants but can you suggest something already even though I have no idea what would be right for him" stuff is nonsense.

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2367243
Why don't you tell him to log on and ask the questions about what to get? He can also clarify what "crappy canon portrait lens" he already has and what he really wants in a lens.

All this "I dunno what he has or what he wants but can you suggest something already even though I have no idea what would be right for him" stuff is nonsense.

Ouch...you're not exactly a nice guy are you?! Ahh well, to each their own!

He is on this site however like the double edged sword the internet is no matter how many reviews you read there are opinions out there that contradict everything which make you second guess your decision. It's like the ongoing sigma vs canon L debate in an earlier thread. I'm sure he'll feel more confident about his decision if I was on board as a lot of ppl are when it comes to purchases.

By the way, he also as an EF 50 mm f/1.8 II lens...well, that's what it says on the box I found.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I also agree that the 17-55 f/2.8 is a much better walk around lens than the 17-40 for his XTi.

Tell your husband to get off the internet and get a life. "L" is just a Canon marketing gimmick that he has bought into, probably from internet apostles, without considering whether it is better for his needs.

Notice that the above recommendations are 'all over the map'?!?!?! That is because every person perceives a different Field of View need vs. shooting distance to the subject! Even for a 'sharp walkaround' lens.

One person will think that you need a 'wide normal' 'medium telephoto'; for a camera like the XT, that translates to a 24mm-105mm lens. Another person will think that you need a 'wide angle' to 'medium telephoto'; that translates to a 17mm-85mm lens. The lens that came with the camera (18-55mm) would be considered a 'wide angle to short telephoto' and for applications will fit the 'walkaround lens' . So choice of lens focal length will be dependent largely about what he feels he needs for the types of shooting situations he likes to shoot in!

If you simply want a 'sharper walkaround'...Sharper lenses than what he has would be Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (US$450 mail order NYC pricing) or Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 (US$1000). One that is not so wide yet is longer, and certainly is sharper, would be Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (US$350) or Canon 24mm-70mm f/2.8 (US$1100). Or Canon 24-105mm f/4 (US$1000)