Entire Kit Stolen, Time to Rebuild

mikeivan wrote in post #3663491
You have probably read all the reviews but I am loving my new 17-55 on my 20D and I do need the IS from time to time. My real reason for posting is to ask how the thieves got your trunk open. I am starting a big driving trip next week and I do tend to leave a lot of gear in my trunk overnight at motels. Out of sight, out of mind is my thought. Also, I thought that trunk latch was pretty stout, nicht wahr? Thanks for any info.

I forgot to lock my car . My girlfriend and I had been working on a home project from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm. At the end of the day we ran to the store for more painting supplies and when I got home I had shopping bags in both hands and forgot to lock the car door. The thief simply opened the door and unlatched the trunk. One of my neighbors deals drugs out of his house so it is not difficult to image what happened to my camera equipment. I had been using my camera and tripod in the yard a few weeks earlier taking pictures of our new kitten and also getting stock photos of burgers on the grill. I am sure everyone on the street knew I had a camera with a fancy white lens. My camera was in the car because the day before we had taken a road trip to the mountains and the next day I was flying out for work (I always bring my camera to work). I didn't want to take the camera inside and then have to take it back out the next day when I left for work.

Thanks for all the advice. I am finally starting to form a vision for my new kit.

I'll start by stating the problems I've had with my old kit (20D, Canon 17-40L, Canon 50mm f/1.8, Sigma 70-200 f2.8, Canon 100-400)

1) No good walk around lens. I had the 17-40 on the camera 90% of the time. I loved the photos the 17-40 produced, but it was not wide enough and it didn't have enough reach.

2) No need for a 70-200. I bought my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 when I was new to DSLR photography. Every forum said buy a 70-200 lens, they're the best. Soon after purchasing the 70-200 I found that I had little use for that focal length. It wasn't long enough for wildlife and was too long on the crop camera for people photography. The 50mm became my primary portrait lens.

3) Poor performance for action shots. I was never happy with the servo focus with my 20D. Using both my 70-200 and 100-400 L I had poor results with action photos. Also, I found that using a higher ISO for faster shutter speeds produced too much noise for my taste (and the istock inspectors).

4) Compromises to build a lens set. For my style of shooting I think the only great walk around lens for a crop camera sensor is the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8. The 17-40 and 16-35 don't go long enough, and the 24-70 and 24-105 aren't wide enough. While the 17-55 has great quality optics, it is not built as tough as a L lens. I beat my equipment. I am afraid that I would destroy an EF-S 17-55 in a matter of months. My previous 17-40 took two nasty falls. once my backpack zipper broke while I was hiking and my 17-40 fell onto a rock, worked perfectly afterwards. Another time it fell out of my pocket and landed on concrete. Once again it worked flawlessly after the fall.

How to solve the problems

1)No good walk around lens. Solution: 5D plus 24-70 L or 30D with 17-55

2) No need for 70-200. Solution: Don't buy a 70-200, spend the money on an ultra wide angle

3) Poor performance with action shots: Solution: wait for the 40D to be released and hope it has better focus and fps, hope there's a 5D mark II with better frame rate


4) Compromises to build a lens set. Solution: plan a full framed lens set using all L products. Buy what I can now and save for the rest later Eventual set 16-25 f2.8 L, 24-70 f.8 L, 100-400 f2.8 L, 85mm prime


I am leaning towards building an all L lens set, but I still haven't decided on a camera body. I can't decide between getting a used 20D or 30D and getting more good lenses now, or buying a new 5D and getting just one or two good lenses and saving for the rest. I am waiting for the week of the 20th before placing any orders. I am hoping canon announces the 40D by then and maybe releases a new lens or two.

Canon marketing is genius. They make it so you can't solve all your camera problems with any one camera (unless it's a one series). If you want to build a set of L lenses you need to go full frame for best fit. If you want a camera for action you need the 30D or new 40D. It's a no win situation...sort of. There is no perfect solution except to fork over big bucks for a one series Canon. Or I guess I could by a 5D for all my normal shooting and also a 30D for action. That would make me a slave to Canon and my credit card bill. The sad thing is I am almost camera crazy enough to go for it

after reading all that, I still say the 5D is your best bet. I guess it comes down to : What do you shoot most? Wide angle stuff or action.

By the way, there's not that much difference between 3 and 5 fps. If it was the Mk III vs the 5D, I could understand your concern.

Personally I'd look at getting a 5D if I had the money but if for some reason I couldn't get it or something I'd look at this package...

Canon EOS 30D Body New - $1000
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM - $650
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - $1100
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM - $400
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM - $300
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM - $1000
Sigma 1.4x T-con - $190
580EX II Speedlite - $400
Tripod & Head - $650 (I wouldn't spend this much on a tripod I'd prefer more lenses but you seem set on it)

$5690.00

Then I'd sell the 30D with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 when I wanted to upgrade.

SuzyView wrote in post #3656202
5D, 24-70, 70-200 (which ever one you like), 50 1.4, 580 EX, tripod, and other accessories. Save a bit for the 100-400L. You'll miss it.

+1

Depending on what you shoot you may not need a 100-400. For me at this point in life I'd never use it.

Halliday wrote in post #3675477
+1

Depending on what you shoot you may not need a 100-400. For me at this point in life I'd never use it.

+2, buy a 2x TC and 70-200 2.8. That'll give you a 140-400 f/5.6. Cheaper than buying both telephotos.

RbnDave wrote in post #3672983
1) No good walk around lens. I had the 17-40 on the camera 90% of the time. I loved the photos the 17-40 produced, but it was not wide enough and it didn't have enough reach.

17mm on a crop isn't wide enough for a walkaround?

If that's the case, then you've really got no choice but to go with a camera with a sensor bigger than that on the 30D. That pretty much eliminates the 40D from the running as well.

Although the capture rate of the 5D is 3fps instead of the 30D's 5, from what I understand its focus capabilities are more solid (particularly in low light), so it may do well for you here. Its high-ISO noise capability should certainly meet your needs better than just about anything else short of a 1Dmk3.

This, combined with item 1, means that a 5D with a 17-40L and 24-105L is probably the closest match to your needs.

24mm on the 5D is equivalent to 15mm on the crop body. That's fairly close to 17mm. And 70mm is equivalent to 44mm on a crop body, which is 10% longer than what you had before.

Sounds like 24-70 doesn't reach enough on either end for you. You'll probably need 2 lenses to cover the range you want. The 17-40L plus the 24-105L might do it.

Oh, well, there you go...problem solved. Buy a 1Dmk3. What do you need lenses for, anyway?

Out of the budget, but my wishlist is

5D
16-35 f/2.8 II
24-70 f/2.8
70-200 f/2.8
580EX
Total is about $8000 but I would gladly work overtime to get those items.