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lens for 5D

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You are walking in circels my friend: :-)
The 350D is too tiny: So you want a heavier camera (5D is 325g heavier).

The 24-105/4L is too heavy: So you want a lighter (and poorer lens). You will save.... 350g.

Don't buy 4 L lenses, one is enough. As a beginner you don't really need the 28-300mm zoom area. In time, with more experience you will learn that you don't really need a big zoom area.

If you only buy the 5D because of the viewfinder you are on the wrong track. My advice is that you buy a Sony Digital Cyber-Shot R1. It has a big zoom area and makes sharp pictures. You will actually get sharper pictures than with a 5D with a Sigma 28-300mm. For the rest of your money you can buy something else. What about lots of Chocolate?
 
Actually I have had two samples of the 24-70L. The new 24-105L is sharper in the corners on videangle (24-28mm).

When photographing landscapes in low light I will get sharper pictures with 24-105L IS because of the combination of monopod and IS. Then I can leave my 7kg Manfrotto tripod a home most of the times, it is too heavy to carry around when walking for many hours in the mountains. See?

When photographing portraits or glamour I normally use the EF 70-200/2,8L IS or EF 50/1,4.

30D and EF-S 17-55/2,8L for professional use with shallow DOF? Forget it. THEN you need a good viewfinder, and 55mm f2,8 on the EF-S 17-55L doesn't give the same narrow DOF as 90mm f2,8 on the EF 70-200L lens.
 
I would like to start with one walkaround lens but would like to buy about 4 lenses within this year. One extreme wide angle zoom for landscapes, one medium telephoto zoom like 70-300 and a macro lens. I am not Canon or "L" snob so any good lens from any manufacturer will be an option for me. Weight is definitely a concern for me as I like hiking and backpacking with my camera equipment.
--
Digitalshooter2
 
It has changed the way I shoot and it makes my 5D feel like the best value combo in photography I ever owned.
Digitalshooter2 said:
I am planning to jump in the digital SLR world with a 5D. I need
to figure out which lens to buy to start with. I mostly take
family pictures, groups, protrates, close up and landscape
pictures. Any suggestions?
--
Digitalshooter2
Click to expand...
 
If... you really want to learn photography... get a 50mm lens - it's called a normal lens for the FF 35mm format. It will force you to learn framing, perspective, etc. And... it's also a top notch lens. It should be labelled "L" - it is that good!

--
John
 
IKE THE 5D IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A LENS IN THE SAME LEAGUE?
Finn said:
That's like buying a Ferrarri without engine..... In other words:
Click to expand...
Like a Ferrarri with a Ford/Dodge/GM engine! It will still run wonderfully but never have the special touch only a genuine engine offers.

Canon 5D and L series lens - a match made in heaven.
 
Could anyone comment on the 24-105 vrs 28-135 option on a 5D? Have asked before and got one reference site . . . http://www.acapixus.dk/photography/24_to_105/24_28.htm

which was close between these two. It's not the $$, but the range that interests me in the issue. Sure would be nice to go to 135mm without a huge penalty in IQ.
Comments anyone??
Jack
http://www.pbase.com/jrs40
Digitalshooter2 said:
I am planning to jump in the digital SLR world with a 5D. I need
to figure out which lens to buy to start with. I mostly take
family pictures, groups, protrates, close up and landscape
pictures. Any suggestions?
--
Digitalshooter2
Click to expand...
 
You will learn a lot from it and it's very fast. Low light is part of the 5D allure and you will blow you mind at the low light shots you can get with this relatively inexpensive lens, even if it's the f/1.4 version which costs more than the legendarily cheap f/1.8. Then go on from there, using this lens as a baseline to learn what else you will need. Many folks with all sorts of lenses of many makers have at least on 50mm in their possession.
 
Start with a 45mm TS-E as a normal lens and for landscapes. The tilt function makes it possible to shoot landscapes with a normal focal length and still get everything in focus.

Add a 16-35L for wide angle.

Add a 70-200 f/2.8 for portraits and most tele applications.

Then, after you've used these three for a while, you'll be in a good position to decide what to buy for your forth lens. ;-)

--
Peter White
 
Yes, you can buy everything you want. Big boy buys expensive toys. But can you use the equipment for what it is, a photographic tool? Obviosly not. :-)
A 5D with a Tamron or Sigma 28-300mm is as stupid as it can be. :-)
 
Unfortunatly I don't have a 24-105mm lens as of yet, but I'm very familar with the 28-135mm. It's a lens that I bought when it first came out and still use it profusely.

The build of the 28-135mm is really poor. The front element telescopes out a fair way and it wobbles like mad, espicially if you put a canon 72mm skylight on the end of it. I've dropped mine onto concrete several times and it's still shooting fine apart froom a few casing scuffs.

I find that the 135mm claim is a little hopefull. In reality at infinity focus, it's nearer 120mm and if you focus anything less than 3 meters, it's nearer 95mm. Often I find that my 100mm USM Macro get's a long reach (assuming that my 100mm macro really is 100mm!) Again, I can't comment on the 24-105mm's reach but I suspect that it behaves in a simular fashion, it's the problem with internal focusing elements, the movement of the focus elements causes a slight focal length change.

The 28mm end suffers from a bit of barrel distortion and the 135mm end is softer than the wide end.
That's the negative out of the way.

It's a delight to use, wide open there's a little softness, but by f8 everything is looking rosy and sharp. In fact it's very surprising how sharp this lens can be, especially if you have a good copy. The AF is fast (but there are faster) and the 2 stop IS is a delight. It's a lot smaller than a 28-70L and a lot lighter, it also covers a braoder focal range. in fact it's on my camera 95% of the time. The lens has really nice colour richness and very good contrast, far better than a lot of Canon mid priced consumer-zooms (remember that this was a very expensive lens when it was launched and is the top of the consumer zoom pile). It's a lens with very defined limitations but those limitations are pretty obvious.

I expect that the 24-105L sorts out a lot of the 28-135mm's deficiencies, like build quality.

Gareth
--
http://www.pbase.com/gazzajagman

'Science is what we dream of, technology is what we are stuck with' Douglas Adams
 
Hi

I have owned a bunch of lenses over the years, and have probably tried at least one copy of practically every non-L Canon lens (except a few of the ultra cheapies) and several L offerings as well. I've also dabbled in Sigma Tokina and Tamron.

Saving for the 24-105L IS would be choice one. I use one on my 5D and would not part with it for anything. The best all-around lens choice - period.

I would stay away from third party lenses, generally, although some of them are quite good. The Tamron 28-75 2.8 for example. I've had some bad experiences with the build quality of third party lenses.

STAY AWAY FROM ULTRA-ZOOMS (28-200, 28-300 etc.). The quality is nowhere near the more tradional zooms. It is silly to spend the bucks for a 5D and hang a junk lens on the front.

A couple of suggestions if you want to save money:

One Lens: 28-135 IS Good all-around lens, stabilized, good range and decent macro focusing ability.

Two lenses:

Canon 24-85 and a used 70-210 ultrasonic (e-bay about $150-$175) which sadly, is not mfg anymore (stay away from the older push-pull).

The 24-85 is a darn good walk around lens and the 70-210 is probably the best non-L zoom Canon ever made. The 70-200 f/4L is a good choice too, although the quality between the two is minimal, the cost difference is huge. A 500D close-up lens on the 70-210 makes a pretty decent close-up combo.

Stay away from 70(75) - 300 zooms (any brand). They are mostly inferior. One exception: the new 70-300 IS is fantastic! Get one if you can.

Good Luck!

--
MrFlash
 
Digitalshooter2 said:
I would like to start with one walk around lens
Click to expand...
24-105/4L IS is a good starter
Digitalshooter2 said:
One extreme wide angle zoom for landscapes,
Click to expand...
My fav is the 20/1.8 prime lens.
Digitalshooter2 said:
one medium telephoto zoom like 70-300
Click to expand...
I get something longer, like the 100-400L IS, if you can cope with the weight, if you shoot wildlife, 400mm is the minimum.
Digitalshooter2 said:
and a macro lens.
Click to expand...
Well, you can add a closeup lens to 100-400L and you have a macro lens. Or the 100mm macro is also very good.
 
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