Soon to owner of a 30D...What lenses?

I will soon be the owner of a 30D after using a Digital Rebel. My current lenses are 18 year old Canon EF lenses (first AF lenses Canon made for AF systems) which include an EF 28-70 f3.4/f4.5 II and an EF 70-210 f4, along with an original 50mm f1.8, which I will keep. The other lenses are OK, but I want to upgrade to newer lenses with the newer camera. I have my eye on the Canon 70-200 f4-L USM, which I can get for $550.00, but not sure what to get for wide angle to medium telephoto. The 28mm is not wide enough with the 1.6 crop. I can't spend more than $750.00 for the second lens, so "IS" will not be an option, but good glass is a must. Any suggestions?
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http://www.shado1.shutterchance.com/

17-85IS is available around or below $500. so there is an IS version in that price if you really like IS.

17-40 f/4L $630 is the best canon offering in this range at your price.. the 17-55IS EFS lens is very popular but runs at 1100.

lots of third party options check http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html
for reviews of most of the lenses available.. all tested on Canon 1.6 crop

Sigma 17-70 $350
Sigma 18-50 $450
Tamron 17-50 $450
and a eventually to be released Tokina 16-50 ~$600 supposedly

these seem to be the favorite 3rd party choices of WA zooms among the users here.

If you wait a couple weeks, a new Canon Fall Rebate is expected around October 15. Could lead to a couple hundred dollars savings.. maybe that 17-55 then sneaks into your budget depending on what they offer rebates on.

I am also in the market for this range of zoom and am waiting for the rebates and maybe the tokina before taking any action.

Your choice of EF 70-200 f/4 is excellent. As for wide angle to medium, there are many possiblities. If you want strictly wide angle you have two choices the Canon EF-S 10-22 or the Sigma 10-20. They are both really sharp. The Sigma is slightly inferior to the Canon, but not by very much.

Your other choices could be the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS or EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS. the 17-55 is a much superior lens, but then you pay a steep price for it. The 17-85 is more economical and it has a greater reach.

WildWes said:

If you wait a couple weeks, a new Canon Fall Rebate is expected
around October 15. Could lead to a couple hundred dollars
savings.. maybe that 17-55 then sneaks into your budget depending
on what they offer rebates on.

Click to expand...

Where do we find out about the rebates? Are the rebates on all Canon products or just select lenses? And, are the rebates good no matter where you make the purchase? Thanks,

--
Wilbur

I'm glad you asked that question. I am in a similar situation. I am waiting for possible rebates from Canon. I was considering the 70-200 f/4L USM or the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, which I heard is like a hidden L glass, and the image stabilizer is a plus. As for the wide angle, I'm thinking about the 17-40mm f/4L USM. The 10-22mm would be great to own, but it's more than twice the price!

--
When I ask which Canon lenses are best,
people tell me to 'go to L.'

Rebates are often posted on websites which sell the equipment i.e. Amazon, as well as sites like http://www.techbargains.com . They are mail-in rebates, so you just need to submit your receipt and serial number, etc. I don't know if any rebates will be offered for the lenses, but the cameras usually have them.

I have rented the 70-300 IS before I bought my 70-200 F4 L just to make the decision process easier . It is NOT a hidden L lens . It is dreamy over 150mm ( dreami-er than the L ), has less contrast, colors are not that pleasing and the focus is not as fast. And the build is just cheap . You can punch nails in with the L , it is that solid.

Don't get me wrong though , it is not a bad lens, it is actually surprinsingly good for a consumer lens , but it is not in the same league as the L. The strong point going for it is the image stabilizer , but I went for image quality (iso1600 is awesome on the 30D ) instead of convenience.

Now back to the original question, if I was to buy a wide angle again , I would probably buy the Tamron 18-50 f2.8 again . It will crack your screen open , it is that sharp .

good luck whatever you chose to buy

Binrob said:

I'm glad you asked that question. I am in a similar situation. I
am waiting for possible rebates from Canon. I was considering the
70-200 f/4L USM or the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, which I heard is like
a hidden L glass, and the image stabilizer is a plus. As for the
wide angle, I'm thinking about the 17-40mm f/4L USM. The 10-22mm
would be great to own, but it's more than twice the price!

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/mariush

I've pretty much made up my mind on the 70-200 L glass, and I've got some good ideas for the wide angle to telephoto...there is just too much to choose from!!! But one question...would it be better to spend money on "L " glass or go for the "IS"? I can see some benefit of IS on the telephoto lenses, but is it really need in wide angle...maybe for low light situatuations?
--
http://www.shado1.shutterchance.com/

Well , the Tamron 17-50 is sharper than the 17-40 L from Canon , but you lose the reliability of L glass and you use the full frame compatibility ( 17=50 tammie is a DI lens for digital crop cameras ). Plus the focus on the L is a legend compared to the noisy Tamron.

I still wouldn't buy the L , I am happy with f2.8 ( rather than f4 ).

If you have the dough , go for the 17-55 IS USM ; THAT is a lens . It will put to shame the 17-40L , 24-105 L and will be as good or better than most of the non-L primes from Canon or third parties.

If I had the money to blow , I would blow it on 17-55 IS .

Chuck_Bobb said:

I've pretty much made up my mind on the 70-200 L glass, and I've
got some good ideas for the wide angle to telephoto...there is just
too much to choose from!!! But one question...would it be better
to spend money on "L " glass or go for the "IS"? I can see some
benefit of IS on the telephoto lenses, but is it really need in
wide angle...maybe for low light situatuations?
--
http://www.shado1.shutterchance.com/

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/mariush

I am not at all familiar with the 70-210 that you own. What shortcomings are you noticing with it? It ought to be something significant if you are going to replace it with one of the same focal range and aperture. My first reaction would be to replace something else first (but then, I haven't been using the 70-210, you have!) I am quite familar with the reputation of the three 70-200mm lenses from Canon.

Chuck_Bobb said:

I will soon be the owner of a 30D after using a Digital Rebel. My
current lenses are 18 year old Canon EF lenses (first AF lenses
Canon made for AF systems) which include an EF 28-70 f3.4/f4.5 II
and an EF 70-210 f4, along with an original 50mm f1.8, which I will
keep. The other lenses are OK, but I want to upgrade to newer
lenses with the newer camera. I have my eye on the Canon 70-200
f4-L USM, which I can get for $550.00, but not sure what to get for
wide angle to medium telephoto. The 28mm is not wide enough with
the 1.6 crop. I can't spend more than $750.00 for the second lens,
so "IS" will not be an option, but good glass is a must. Any
suggestions?
--
http://www.shado1.shutterchance.com/

Click to expand...

--
Jim Rickards

Better yet, before you buy more lenses try shooting the 30D with your current lenses, You may find that your old lenses will do fine for awhile. You may even be happy after you learn the ins and outs of the 30D. Shoot in RAW mode. The new DPP 2.2 software makes even the old lenses look good. PTLens software corrects a lot of problems for $39.00

To save money purchase a copy of the older Photoshop 7.0 which will not do RAW conversions, BUT DPP will.

--
Paul
http://www.pbase.com/sjprg

Binrob said:

Rebates are often posted on websites which sell the equipment i.e.
Amazon, as well as sites like http://www.techbargains.com . They are
mail-in rebates, so you just need to submit your receipt and serial
number, etc. I don't know if any rebates will be offered for the
lenses, but the cameras usually have them.

Click to expand...

I appreciate the info and the website too. I'm looking to get my first DSLR (30D) along with the 17-55 f2.8 IS and possibly the 100mm macro, so I'll wait a couple weeks to see about the rebates. Just trying to make sure I don't miss out if, in fact, they do materialize. Thanks again for you help,

--
Wilbur

--
Wilbur

The only draw back that I find with digital SLR's and multiple lenses is the "dust factor" which is quite visible, specially when you are constantly changing lenses on location. For that reason I decided to spend the extra cash and bought the Canon EF 24-105mm, F4.0 L IS USM Auto Focus Lens. Not only does it have a good wide range but its great for portraiture also. It is a bit heavy at the beginning but you get used to it. I havent had the need to take it off my 20D since I bought it in Feb.

If you want to learn more about what "L" series lenses read:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-L-Lens-Series.aspx

I have the 10-22mm on my 30d and I think it's excellent. With the 1.6x cropping factor you start at 16mm and go to 35mm. I, personally, find wider angle lenses really add to the magic of a shot. I wouldn't settle for less than 24mm. 17mm lenses only start you at 27mm. Big deal.

Other than the lenses are old, and the zoom on the 70-210 is worn out (won't stay in place when the lens is near vertcal) these lenses just does not seem to be as sharp as even the newer consumer lenses. I've been testing these lenses for a while with my 300D, and although I can force the pic's to look sharper with the DPP program, It still not good enough. I do have PS CS2, Photo Studio, and the DPP programs, so I'm ok with them. Being they are 18 years old and a little worn, it's just time to upgrade. If you goto my photoblog the pic's on there where sharpened as much as I can without getting to many artifacts.
--
http://www.shado1.shutterchance.com/

Using his 28mm lens becomes a 45mm on a 1.6 body - I agree that's not wide.

I went with an ultra-wide, 12mm, but still find I use my 17mm much, much more often. I may even sell the ultra-wide.

To me, a 17-40 or 17-55 is a better choice for one's only wide lens than a 10-20.

Keep checking the Canon website..
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PromotionsAct

Last year's rebates increased as you bought more items..
ie 70-200/4 - $25

if you added another lens with say a $15 rebate they both doubled to 50 and 30.. if you added a third eligible item, say a camera body with a 75 rebate, they all tripled to 75 - 45 - 225.. adds up quick.

The last year there was a selection of 25 lenses that were "qualifying" for a rebate. As well as printers, flashes(didnt multiply), camera bodies(20d started at 100 rebate could triple to a 300)

So last year a 20d with 17-40/4L and 70-200/4L went from 1100 + 630 + 550 = 2280. Take off triple rebates -300 -75 -75 = total rebates of 450 for $1830 for the lot after rebate, that savings of $450, would do well to get a tripod, monopod and 430EX flash (or a 85/1.8 for portraits), and have enough leftover for a nice bottle of scotch.

Pretty much just 3 criteria, buy from a Canon authorized dealer during the rebate period (with receipts & UPC codes), make sure its USA version (not grey market), fill out your paperwork...

Question now is how much will the rebates be, double triple or single... rumors floating that this year is double instead of triple, but we'll see.. with all the new Nikon and Pentax stuff, they may want to go triple.

Just keep checking Canon.

Chuck,

Pablo is 100% correct about the dust issue with the sensor, especially if you shoot in windy conditions such as the Atlantic coast. While I change lenses from time to time, I am extremely pleased with the weather and dust resistance of the 17-40L and 24-105L because I never have dust issues with either no matter how many Raw+Jpeg pictures I take. I solved the lens change issue by doing this in a LowePro AW camera bag under the included weather cover. Once in a while I have a dust issue with the 70-200/4L but will not give it up for anything other than a 70-200/4 L IS (providing image quality of new model is equal or better). Why? This lens takes excellent images in the worst conditions -- when the sky is overcast with rain beyond the gazebo I'm under and the picture is magazine ready at ISO1250, I have an A++ lens -- and camera as well.

Howard
(email me if you want to see the image)
============================

Pablo Ducoing said:

The only draw back that I find with digital SLR's and multiple
lenses is the "dust factor" which is quite visible, specially when
you are constantly changing lenses on location. For that reason I
decided to spend the extra cash and bought the Canon EF 24-105mm,
F4.0 L IS USM Auto Focus Lens. Not only does it have a good wide
range but its great for portraiture also. It is a bit heavy at the
beginning but you get used to it. I havent had the need to take it
off my 20D since I bought it in Feb.

If you want to learn more about what "L" series lenses read:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-L-Lens-Series.aspx

Click to expand...