Lens combo

Using a 20D and shooting everything including cityscapes, landscapes, nature, motorsports, golf tournaments, and a future Alaskan trip what combo would you use with these lenses in the mix: Canon 10-22, Canon 17-55IS 2.8, Canon 24-105L, Canon 70-300IS, and Canon 100-400L. I've put together several combos but just can't get completely confortable with any one of them.

Sounds like you need a mix of wide and long, with not too much needed in the middle. What's your budget, and what do you have now? 17-55 might not be wide enough for landscapes, but it's my general all-purpose lens - I stitch for really wide landscapes. I can't really advise on long lenses. My general combo is 17-55 + 70-200, but for wide I have a 12-24, but I only use that on holiday.

Canon 10-22/Tokina 12-24 F4 as wide (Tokina is cheaper)
Tamron 28-75 F2.8 (not wide enough as a single lens)
Canon 17-85 may be suggested but I don't find it very sharp or very accurate at focusing.

There's no one lens or even one best combo I don't think.

tim wrote in post #4982600
Sounds like you need a mix of wide and long, with not too much needed in the middle. What's your budget, and what do you have now? 17-55 might not be wide enough for landscapes, but it's my general all-purpose lens - I stitch for really wide landscapes. I can't really advise on long lenses. My general combo is 17-55 + 70-200, but for wide I have a 12-24, but I only use that on holiday.

Canon 10-22/Tokina 12-24 F4 as wide (Tokina is cheaper)
Tamron 28-75 F2.8 (not wide enough as a single lens)
Canon 17-85 may be suggested but I don't find it very sharp or very accurate at focusing.

There's no one lens or even one best combo I don't think.

Tim, right now I have the Canon 18-55 (kit), Canon 17-85IS, Tamron 18-250, and the Canon 70-300IS. I want to sell the kit and the 17-85. I love the thought of using the 24-105 for general purpose but see a lot of frustration in store as it not being wide enough and having to constantly swap lenses. I also see that at times the 17-55 woudn't be long enough! I do know however that I want to get the 10-22 and 100-400L in the near future.

The 17-85 should be the ideal walkaround lens, if you have a good copy i'd keep it.

blackzzz wrote in post #4982575
Using a 20D and shooting everything including cityscapes, landscapes, nature, motorsports, golf tournaments, and a future Alaskan trip what combo would you use with these lenses in the mix: Canon 10-22, Canon 17-55IS 2.8, Canon 24-105L, Canon 70-300IS, and Canon 100-400L. I've put together several combos but just can't get completely confortable with any one of them.

tim wrote in post #4982856
The 17-85 should be the ideal walkaround lens, if you have a good copy i'd keep it.

The word to note is IF. I was seriously interested in this lens a few years back but the reviews from users on Fm and then checking out a wide selection of images from different people didn't convince that it was value for money. I see it as overpriced for build and performance, but others love it.

The 17-55mm IS is a great lens but again build is not great (the key reason along with it being an EFS why I sold mine). Range is pretty good on walkaround. However, if you want superwide then I think the 24-105 IS is a better option and then a Tokina 12-24mm. Owned both and happy with them. Great bang for your buck.

At the longer end then I would prefer the 70-300 IS with a 400mm 5.6 L, rather than the 100-400 IS L. Had two of the latter and neither convinced tho' others insist it is a stunning lens. On a single body then it is probably the best option at the moment with IS. Wait a few months for reviews on the Sigma 120-400 OS HSM and 150-500 OS HSM. They could be better options (or worst - but unless you need a long lens now then i believe sensible to wait). If the reviews are good then I would expect lots of 100-400mm IS l's to appear second hand. After all, 500mm with OS and 4 stops is pretty awesome for wildlife and birding.

So, 17-55 Is and 100-400 IS L with a fast lens in there too like an 85mm 1.8 would be nice.

12-24 Tokina, 24-105 Is L, 70-300mm IS, 400mm L would be nice.

12-24 Tokina, 24-105 Is L, 120-400mm OS HSM is potentially best option for 'everyman', subject to reviews on the latter. As I say, if not urgent you buy then wait for the long ;lens options.

Thanks for the input guys. After some thought from what both of you said I think I might add the Canon 10-22 and keep my 17-85IS until a better fit comes along. I know using 24mm on the short end just wouldn't be wide enough. Then along with my 70-300IS I might add a 100-400L. I know it's not the best setup but it just seems to make the most sense for now. I also have the Tamron 18-250 which actually doesn't have bad IQ for when I don't want to lug anything extra along.

Where's the light, fast prime?

I like this lens combination picked by "condyk" above:

The Tokina is a nice lens for landscapes in Alaska, or for tight spaces on the street or public areas. Then a lens from 24 (or 35mm) to past 100mm for general use, and a zoom lens for wildlife such as eagles, moose, bears, whales, etc. I have no idea if a fast prime plus an extender would be better than a zoom lens while traveling, but every now and then I see moose and such where a 200 to 400mm prime is perfect. I just bought a EF-200mm f/2.8L, a little short for some wildlife, but perfect for me and the neighborhood moose.

perryge wrote in post #4985089
Where's the light, fast prime?

Perry, now you really want to make my head spin!!

Rafromak wrote in post #4985215
I like this lens combination picked by "condyk" above:

The Tokina is a nice lens for landscapes in Alaska, or for tight spaces on the street or public areas. Then a lens from 24 (or 35mm) to past 100mm for general use, and a zoom lens for wildlife such as eagles, moose, bears, whales, etc. I have no idea if a fast prime plus an extender would be better than a zoom lens while traveling, but every now and then I see moose and such where a 200 to 400mm prime is perfect. I just bought a EF-200mm f/2.8L, a little short for some wildlife, but perfect for me and the neighborhood moose.

Hey Raf, I need to hit you up for some local advice! I lived in Anchorage for 2 years back in the 70's but I know it's changed since then!

blackzzz wrote in post #4985395
Hey Raf, I need to hit you up for some local advice! I lived in Anchorage for 2 years back in the 70's but I know it's changed since then!

I lived in Anchorage back in the early '80s, and have been near Fairbanks after. Are you going to fly to Anchorage, or on a cruise? Yes, Anchorage has changed quite a lot: lots of people, buildings, and such. With that comes crime, too, but after living in the Bronx, NY long ago, I hardly feel unsafe in Anchorage unless I walk into a bad area in town.
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About lenses and Alaska, there is a lot of daylight available during the summer, but it can also be cloudy. Not a bad idea to have a circular polarizer to use with the wide lens. I am not a pro. picture taker, so please take my advise with a grain of salt. I hardly have any photo equipment, as you can see below, and prefer landscapes. For that reason, the Tokina 12-24mm is mounted on the camera 99.9% of the time. Then I use a Tamron 17-50 as a walk around lens, to take pictures that include my wife, friends, our dog, etc., usually without flash. Have taken pictures of moose with the Sigma below, and it has been OK, but now have decided to use a 200mm prime for moose. I will also add a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x extender when needed, since I can't afford a high quality 400-800mm fast telephoto.

This would just depend on the focal range you like to use the most. If I had all of these lenses at my disposal, I would use

10-22 + 24-105
17-55 + 70-300 (although I would prefer 70-200 f/4 IS)

I just upgraded my lenses and went with the second choice after much debate.

When I am running around and shooting several venues in a day:

30D / Tokina 12-24 + Canon 24-105 L IS + Canon 100-400 L IS

or

5D / Canon 17-40L + Canon 24-105 L IS + Canon 100-400 L IS.

so similarity to your 20D in my setup would be the first combo.

If I am limited to the crop body and got lucky to be in Alaska...I would take:

2 lens combo...the Tokina 12-24 + Canon 24-105 with a 1.4 TC

1 lens...the Canon 24-105 with TC for some wild life...hoping there is enough room to use my zoom legs ...backwards.

My 2 lens combo (travel light, cover a lot): ef-s 17-55/2.8 IS, Ef 70-200/4 L IS, 1.4x TC, 25mm ext. tube, monopod.

My combo is the 10-22, 24-105, 70-200f/2.8IS. But since I got my 5D, my 24-105 has been wide enough. But the 10-22 stays on my XTi...