Lens for 40D?

[lovegadgets]

I am going to get a 40D very soon and wonder which lens should I go for. My usage covers from landscape to portrait to wildlife and sports.

I don't really want to carry too many lenses and wonder if a walkabout lens like the Sigma 18-200mm DS DC will mate well with the 40D. Are these walkabout lens have too much compromise. How about the Canon 17-85mm IS - is it a good lens?

Please advice

[monkeyleader]

My main walkabout lens is the Canon 24-105L but I'm not sure how good it would be for true landscape stuff. As an about town lens its just perfect. Up until now its been used on my 350D but in abou 5 hours time it will soon get a new buddy - the 40D

Nige

[h4rri]

I think the 'coverall' lenses are a bit of a compromise, they aren't great at all focal lengths / apertures but a good all rounder.

I would say use the kit lense for now, see where you need the extra reach, the wide or long end and go from there. No point rushing out to buy all the kit now until you know what you need and what suits your style.

[richard plumb]

agree with the kit lens comment - except that you don't get the normal kit lens with the 40D, so have a browse on ebay, they should be pretty cheap

that'll should give you about the same quality as a general lens like an 18-200, plus it'll show you if 18mm is wide enough for you. For landscapes, stopped down to f8 or so it'll be nice and sharp anyway, so that should be fine

If you do a lot of portraits, you could consider a 50mm f1.8 which are about £70 and are a bit of a bargain.

wildlife to sports you want a long lens and here the 18-200 will let you down because of the slower aperture on the long end, which makes getting a good shutter speed difficult.


I have a 24-105 for my walkabout, then a sigma 10-20 for wide angle stuff, and a canon 70-300IS for longer stuff. There is a nice bit of overlap on the long end so generally I don't find myself swapping too much - the 24-105 stays on unless I know I'll be shooting long/wide.

[Tobers]

Charles, tell us how much money you want to spend and we'll sort you out.

There's so much choice and spread of prices that a bit of budget guidance is needed.

[lovegadgets]

Since I am a newbie to DSLR and I have been using a Casio EXP700 recently which I think is one of the compact digital you can getbefore moving up the ladder to DSLR. My previous 35mm camera is a Nikon FE2 with a F1.2 Nikkor 50mm and Tamron zoom which I was very happy with before I started digital.

I have been following the recent development of DSLR and think its good time to accquire one now. Can't really affort the full frame 5D so I think the next best thing (cost-wise) will be the 40D (Nikon D300 looks better on paper but can't justify the extra £400-500 for a cropped sensor DSLR).

So here I am, decided to get a 40D. The lens budget at this time is £400-500 (I know you won't get much quality for this price) but if its for a lens designed for the cropped sensor camera then I think its about right. I will upgrade to a full frame one when the price is right but the cropped lens will not be compatible (except for Nikon?).

The idea of getting a kit lens initially seems a good idea but I believe £70 for a 50mm f1.8 (model number please). How about the quality of the kit lens - I think I may came across one which looks and feels a bit on the cheap side (no offeences here).

Please advice.

Regards
Charles

[Tobers]

Are you getting the 40D with the kit lens? If so, it will be fine for the time being I'm sure but what you'll be missing is longer range. Not much point getting the 50mm f1.8 initially as your kit lens will cover that range.

So, I suggest the rather excellent 70-200 F4L at £350. This will partner your kit lens very will indeed. It is a proper L-series white lens with superb build quality.

Your next upgrade step will then probably be to upgrade the kit lens, and all & sundry will recommend the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS which is a tad pricier .

Tobers

[BananaTiger]

Originally Posted by charles.y

Since I am a newbie to DSLR and I have been using a Casio EXP700 recently which I think is one of the compact digital you can getbefore moving up the ladder to DSLR. My previous 35mm camera is a Nikon FE2 with a F1.2 Nikkor 50mm and Tamron zoom which I was very happy with before I started digital.

Can I ask what range the tamron was? Perhaps we can find an equivalent.

[h4rri]

Originally Posted by Tobers

Are you getting the 40D with the kit lens? If so, it will be fine for the time being I'm sure but what you'll be missing is longer range. Not much point getting the 50mm f1.8 initially as your kit lens will cover that range.

So, I suggest the rather excellent 70-200 F4L at £350. This will partner your kit lens very will indeed. It is a proper L-series white lens with superb build quality.

Your next upgrade step will then probably be to upgrade the kit lens, and all & sundry will recommend the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS which is a tad pricier .

Tobers

The 70-200 will also fit the full frame bodies so wouldn't need changing later in the day.

[lovegadgets]

So all the suggests have so far is to for a standard kit lens 50mm f1.8 and then get a 70-200mm f4 L series lens.

Is the kit kens 50mm suitable for landscape (50mm x 1.6 = 80mm already)? I sometimes like to have the wide angle on some landscape works. Are there any kit lens with range 17-50mm?

Am I right that the 70-200mm does not have a image stabilizer? How about the kit lens - what is the quality (OK/useful/average etc)?

How much do I expect to pay for the lens please and model number? Much thanks.

Regards
Charles

[lightpainter]

I thought the lens that comes with the 40D is the Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM which I have found to be a very good all round lens!

[senu]

Originally Posted by lightpainter

I thought the lens that comes with the 40D is the Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM which I have found to be a very good all round lens!

I wasnt sure Canon would put that as standard as they might lose money giving away an IS lens but they obviously do
That you find it great shows how good you are: I think Canon missed an opportunity to make it much better for the price

Saying that I use and like the concept of the 17-85
but
While it is better than the kit lens by no small measure ..it is nowhere as good as the cheaper prime 50mm , or the much costlier 17-55
Im often told the (non IS/USM) Sigma and Tamron equivalents are better optically but I have no personal experience of them
Ive taken some very nice pictures with it and find that its focal range as a walkabout is great but
Of all my (small collection of) lenses it is the least sharp and I wonder if it wont prevent the OP from finding out how good the 40D can be

[homerdog]

It sounds like your total budget for camera and lens is about £1200-£1300. I would suggest the 40D and 17-85IS kit, which costs £949 from Warehouse Express. Add on a 70-300IS for £365 and you've got 17-300 covered in two lenses. This will give the equivalent of 27-480 in 35mm film terms.

All for £1314 - when you take into account the Canon Cashback promotion starting on October 1st, which will save you a further £110, you will have paid a total of only £1204 - bargain!

Have a look at Camera Price Buster for some price comparisons.

[homerdog]

Originally Posted by senu

Im not sure Canon would put that as standard as they might lose money giving away an IS lens

It's part of one of the kits available from Canon. They're not giving it away, but you pay a lot less for it than normal.

Originally Posted by senu

That you find it great shows how good you are

That's very patronising - it's not a great lens, but still good. Post me the best shot you've taken with any of your lenses and I'll show you a better one taken with the 17-85!

[richard plumb]

Originally Posted by homerdog

It sounds like your total budget for camera and lens is about £1200-£1300. I would suggest the 40D and 17-85IS kit, which costs £949 from Warehouse Express. Add on a 70-300IS for £365 and you've got 17-300 covered in two lenses. This will give the equivalent of 27-480 in 35mm film terms.

All for £1314 - when you take into account the Canon Cashback promotion starting on October 1st, which will save you a further £110, you will have paid a total of only £1204 - bargain!

Have a look at Camera Price Buster for some price comparisons.

I'd agree with this, but also suggest you look at alternatives for the short end. The 17-85IS is a good lens, but one of the 17-70 f2.8 lenses might be a better option. There has been good development in that area recently and having a faster short lens might be a good option