Please be my brain

I am looking to purchase a Canon 30D for my daughters to use along with a EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and ONE of the two following lenses...

Either a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM OR a EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

I am aware that the EF-S lens will not move up to a 5D or greater.

The setup is for a college class.

Just so you know, I am leaning towards the L glass simply because if I need to sell, I expect the L glass to retain it's value better.

Neither would be a bad choice, but the 17-55 will likely be more useful for general photography IMO.

EF-S lenses seem to hold their value quite well. Especially that one. If you're worried about resale value buy it used.

My vote is for the 24-70L....no gap in focal length and same aperture.

My experience has been that 24mm is not wide enough on a crop body, hence I would recommend the 17-55. If you go with the 24-70 (or 24-105), keep the kit lens to use when you need the wider lens.

I love my 5D, but I took out my 20D yesterday for soccer shots, used with my 70-200 2.8 IS. The 24-70 hardly ever leaves my 5D because I shoot events and that combo, like Jared (thekid24) said, works perfectly with the 70-200 because they are compliments. You get 24-200 with 2 lenses (on a cropped camera its more like 35mm to 320mm). If you get the 30D, the 24-70 and 70-200, you're talking around $3K. You must love your daughters. And the reason I went with EF and not EF-S, is just that I use my 5D the most.

SuzyView wrote in post #3895258
If you get the 30D, the 24-70 and 70-200, you're talking around $3K. You must love your daughters.

Well, yes. But I feel it is better to learn with great glass and an adequate SLR than adequate glass and a great SLR. And besides the camera body will depreciate, the glass, not so much.

I have been lucky, I only buy what I need and keep it all. But if I ever give up this hobby of mine, it would be easy to sell everything. But I think I'm so attached to the gear, it's really fun right now. Your daughters will have a lot to work with having the 30D.

SuzyView wrote in post #3895560
I have been lucky, I only buy what I need and keep it all. But if I ever give up this hobby of mine, it would be easy to sell everything. But I think I'm so attached to the gear, it's really fun right now. Your daughters will have a lot to work with having the 30D.

i got dibs on the 70-200 2.8 IS

I finally got a 50 1.4 from Ronald after he put a couple already on the selling block. I PM'ed him just in time and got his last one (I think). So, when I sell, just keep your eyes open, but don't count on it. The 70-200 2.8 IS does not lose its value at all. I've seen some on ebay about $10 more than what I can get it at B&H. Glass does keep its value, unless Canon comes out with the 70-200 2.8 IS II, which would probably weigh a ton.

Damn, wish my dad got me a new camera for uni!

I have a 30D, 70-200 f/2.8L IS, and the 24-70 f/2.8L as you are suggesting. While I am very happy with it and will not be getting rid of the 24-70 now, I do somewhat regret not getting the 17-55 instead. I have read so many positive comments here, it's supposed to be sharp, lighter (the 24-70 is nicknamed "Brick") for your daughters, and has IS on top of being f/2.8. As for the comments about a gap 55-70. So what? How many occasions are you going to need a shot in that 15mm range where you can't take a few steps forward or backward to get the same coverage. If you had primes you'd probably have 50 and 85 anyway.

As I said, I am happy with the 24-70, but if I had my time again I think I would get the 17-55.

I'd pick up the 24-70 even though it weighs more. Shots I've been looking at with this lens are stunning. And then maybe in the near future add the 10-22 which would be a nice compliment and lots of fun. I guess I'm biased towards the 24-70 because someday I'd like to have a 5D and a crop body for the longer shots. I'm wondering why go with the 30D when the 40D was just released? Granted you could probably pick up a used 30D in great shape for a bargain right now. The 40D sounds very good though.

Thank you one and all.

I'll be going forward with the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM.

Kuma,

I am going with the 30D precisely because I expect to pay far far far less than $1,200 for it and because the step up from the 30D is, IMO, the 5D, not the 40D. The kids will have a handful mastering the 30D. By the time they get that nailed I expect Canon will have a replacement to the 5D in the market whereupon I'll get a 5D.

I never live on the bleeding edge. Been there, done that.

why not get the 20d its almost as good as the 30d and even cheaper

kahren wrote in post #3911566
why not get the 20d its almost as good as the 30d and even cheaper

Good thought, I'll look into it. However, I would prefer not to buy used.