Total Revamp of my equipment, help me make a decision

I'm just curious for some POTN wild and crazy input. In May of 2010 I purchased a brand new T1i from B&H. Gripped it, bought a Canon 70-200 2.8L and a 24-70L.

I have a tendency to go big and go fast with my hobbies. Same thing happened when I was into Mustangs and racing.

Well I sold off all my gear. The T1i was too small for my liking and I had too much money invested in the lenses (i've had to recently buy a ring ) so out the door it went.

So..I'm currently going to pick up a used 40D and build into owning multiple L lenses SLOWLY. Right now I need to pick up a lens for around 500. Can be a prime or a zoom. But what do you guys think? Here's some quick things about me:

-I'm a pixel peeper
-Bokeh fanatic
-Shoot a little of everything

If your criteria is a pixel-peepin', bokeh bangin', all-in-one L lens for $500......then good luck searching for something that doesn't exist! We all want to have our cake and eat it too....but this is simply asking for too much.

Even if your budget were 3x or 4x more, that would put you up into 28-300mm L land...but it's not a lens particular known for brilliant bokeh, nor is it brilliantly sharp for pixel peepers.

For $500 and an L lens, your basically looking at a used 70-200mm f/4 (no IS) or a used 17-40mm f/4. I've used both of these on my 40D, and they were sharp enough for me...but I'm not a pixel-peeper!

If you are just doing this as a hobby, is there any reason you need to "go hard and go big" with only L lenses? I have 3 L lenses that I acquired gradually over 2 years....but in many respects my non-L 85mm 1.8 and non-L 10-22mm are just as good, if not better (in certain situations) than my L's.

BeritOlam wrote in post #11034144
If your criteria is a pixel-peepin', bokeh bangin', all-in-one L lens for $500......then good luck searching for something that doesn't exist! We all want to have our cake and eat it too....but this is simply asking for too much.

Even if your budget were 3x or 4x more, that would put you up into 28-300mm L land...but it's not a lens particular known for brilliant bokeh, nor is it brilliantly sharp for pixel peepers.

For $500 and an L lens, your basically looking at a used 70-200mm f/4 (no IS) or a used 17-40mm f/4. That's pretty much it!

If you are just doing this as a hobby, is there any reason you need to "go hard and go big" with only L lenses? I have 3 L lenses that I acquired gradually over 2 years....but in many respects my non-L 85mm 1.8 and non-L 10-22mm are just as good, if not better (in certain situations) than my L's.

I should have made it more clear, I'm not an L guy really. I just happened to own two of them previously. I don't care if its a 50mm 1.4, Sig 30mm, or anything like that.

I'll add one more to the list

-It doesn't have to be an L lens

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11034032
I'm just curious for some POTN wild and crazy input. In May of 2010 I purchased a brand new T1i from B&H. Gripped it, bought a Canon 70-200 2.8L and a 24-70L.

I have a tendency to go big and go fast with my hobbies. Same thing happened when I was into Mustangs and racing.

Well I sold off all my gear. The T1i was too small for my liking and I had too much money invested in the lenses (i've had to recently buy a ring ) so out the door it went.

So..I'm currently going to pick up a used 40D and build into owning multiple L lenses SLOWLY. Right now I need to pick up a lens for around 500. Can be a prime or a zoom. But what do you guys think? Here's some quick things about me:

-I'm a pixel peeper
-Bokeh fanatic
-Shoot a little of everything

Ahhhhahahahahaha, sucker. Sell ring, buy back old camera gear. Find woman who's also into photography....

/thread

kumicho wrote in post #11034223
Ahhhhahahahahaha, sucker. Sell ring, buy back old camera gear. Find woman who's also into photography....

/thread

I'm actually a different kind of guy, I think i'd go crazy if my wife had the same hobby as me. I like to have an "out" when I need to think or get away.

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11034233


I'm actually a different kind of guy, I think i'd go crazy if my wife had the same hobby as me. I like to have an "out" when I need to think or get away.

Ok, look for a woman who likes to be photographed?

As to your original question, not sure... You're probably not going to acquire any L-level lenses for $500, except for maybe a used 70-200mm f4? You could start out with high-quality lenses that you're going to want to keep around after you add to your kit (as opposed to buying something and then replacing whatever it was you bought). Any of the fast primes would do well and come in under your budget if you knew what focal length you wanted to shoot at (28mm 1.8, siggy 30mm 1.4, canon or siggy 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 100mm f2, etc), but I'd highly doubt any of the consumer-grade zooms that you could afford would stay with you after you'd started "amassing your L collection." Primes are usually the level of quality that you keep around for specific uses, even after you've moved on to the Ls.... Just a thought.

kumicho wrote in post #11034354
Ok, look for a woman who likes to be photographed?

As to your original question, not sure... You're probably not going to acquire any L-level lenses for $500, except for maybe a used 70-200mm f4? You could start out with high-quality lenses that you're going to want to keep around after you add to your kit (as opposed to buying something and then replacing whatever it was you bought). Any of the fast primes would do well and come in under your budget if you knew what focal length you wanted to shoot at (28mm 1.8, siggy 30mm 1.4, canon or siggy 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 100mm f2, etc), but I'd highly doubt any of the consumer-grade zooms that you could afford would stay with you after you'd started "amassing your L collection." Primes are usually the level of quality that you keep around for specific uses, even after you've moved on to the Ls.... Just a thought.

Well she does like to be photographed. The only reason i'm turning around and rebuilding my equipment bag is because she said she wants me to not lose the hobby.

I think I totally agree with you about primes. I'd almost like to buy a body, get one nice prime to toy with, and then save for an L collection.


Something like this, 16-35mm L and then primes from there up. Ending with the 135L (my favorite lens) and a 200 2.8L.

All the primes between there would be a 50 1.4, 85 1.8, I'd also like a 10-22 wide angle.

I guess the real issue bothering me right now is, after owning the 70-200L and 24-70L which SINGLE lens out of all of the ones in bold would satisfy me. I'm sure there are many like me on here, I always want the best. Its hard for me to think in terms of buying "one" lens. I want to have a bag full. But thats just not realistic for me right now.

I wonder if I just purchased a 50 1.4 if I'd have fun. I mean, at least I can take pictures.

40D + 18-55 IS and Sigma 30.

If you're going to stay crop, Tokina 11-16, 17-55 IS, Sigma 30, 70-200 Variant.

If you go full frame, the world is your oyster!

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11034505
I wonder if I just purchased a 50 1.4 if I'd have fun. I mean, at least I can take pictures.

Might be a bit too narrow on a crop for "a little of everything." How about Sigma 30mm if you're thinking of getting a prime as your only lens for now.

I do like the idea of a Sig 30mm. I tried some full frame action...just not for me. I like the crop factor.

A. Quit pixel peeping

B. For $500, the 17-55 IS/16-35 is out so ignore those.

C. With just one lens, I wouldn't want a prime. I'd go 17-50 2.8 Tammy, then build around it. Truthfully, they are around $350 used so you could also pick up a 50 1.8 or for a little more 50 1.4 or 30 1.4. However, be careful with the 30 as the 40D doesn't have MA so if the lens is off, it has to go back to Sigma.

I totally agree with having a hobby to yourself as an out. If I had to try and teach my wife photography, I would quit it.

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11034973
I do like the idea of a Sig 30mm. I tried some full frame action...just not for me. I like the crop factor.

Most of the fast primes like the Sig 30mm or Canon's 28mm f/1.8 will compare very well to your previously-owned 24-70mm L.

It's mostly just a matter of what focal length works best for what you want to shoot. As you know 24-70mm covers a fair amount of ground...whether FF or 1.6x. So it's really up to you to work out a focal length and then buy accordingly.

huntersdad wrote in post #11035031
C. .... I'd go 17-50 2.8 Tammy, then build around it. Truthfully, they are around $350 used so you could also pick up a 50 1.8 ....

^This.

18-55 IS
55-250 IS
50 1.8II

Job done. Buy it used and you'll still have a few bucks in your pocket. If you can't get decent photos with that lot and a 40D, find another hobby!

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11034157
I should have made it more clear, I'm not an L guy really. I just happened to own two of them previously. I don't care if its a 50mm 1.4, Sig 30mm, or anything like that.

I'll add one more to the list

-It doesn't have to be an L lens

Id go with the Canon 15-85 or the new Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS, though it will stretch your budget a tidge....

or you know, the holy cheap trio the guy above said