I need a lens recommendation for a 20D.

I'm not sure why you were mentioning the 17-85 in your response to me. I wasn't particularly suggesting it. -Bruce

you will see that my response was to the op's response to you, not to you. that's why.

i would have sworn bruce was replying to my reply, but it seems it was directed to the op. how embarassing.

My first purchase was the 20D and the 50mm f/1.4.

I did a lot of reading on this forum before making that choice.

I have purchased three other lenses since then and the 50mm f/1.4 is still my favorite for indoor photography. (Birthdays and holidays)

From what I have read on this forum the 50mm f/1.8 has some focus problems in low light. I haven't experienced this with the 50mm f/1.4. It is a more expensive lens, and I don't have experience with the 50mm f/1.8, but I really like the results I get from the 50mm f/1.4.

The photo below was really pushing the limits of the camera/lens combination. I doubt the f/1.8 would have captured that moment.

20D, 50mm f/1.4 No Flash
Exposure Time 1/125
Aperture f/2.2
ISO 3200
Focal Length 50mm

Here's that review of the 17-85IS
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_1785_456_is/index.htm

Those are some scary test scores, for some reason I am feeling that Nikon does not cripple their introductory lenses as much, even their budget 50mm primes are a little better built. What gives?
The review is in photozone.de

I am having a hard time with the whole lens thing.

My idea is spend no more than 1k on a lens at the moment stretching it, preferably keep the budger around $650-700.

Thanks guys.

ellover009 said:

Did some research on the 17-85IS, it has a lot of distortion, ca
and vignetting

Click to expand...

All of those faults have been exaggerated.

--
Amin

Any photos I post have sRGB embedded and are meant to be viewed in a color profile

aware browser like Safari. Colors and contrast will be washed out in IE, Firefox, or
other unaware browsers.

The Tamron 17-50 f2.8 may well be what you need.

Timo

My first lens... and my favorite! It stays on my 30D 80% of the time - eventhough I now have its 17-50 sibling, the Canon 85 f/1.8 and a the Sigma 100-300 f 4.

Some images taken with the 28-75 (very little PP done using DPP):

ISO 200, 1/1000", F2.8



ISO 800, 1/30", F4



ISO 200, 1/400", F5.6



ISO 400, 1/60", F2.8



--

'A true friend is someone who knows you're a good egg even if you're a little cracked.' - Unknown

Lovely photo. I retouched it a little. Mostly Paint With Light PWL, a little color balance and some levels (only for more white balance help).

I'll give you my answer as a total newbie to dslr's. I got my 30D in December.

I got the 28-135 with the camera...nice lens and i took some decent pictures. I found that most of the pictures I took are inside, family pictures, so low ight and up close. I found the 24 was not wide enough.
I am about to sell it.

I bought a new tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and really like it, but I have found that my hands are not as steady as I thought, so now I wish I had sold the 28-135 first (or not bought it at all), and put the money towards a 17-55mm IS, which would be nice for low light indoor pics.

My original thought was "Walk around lens", then realized as I live in Canada, there's alot of indoor time spent in our long winters, so the 17-50/55 f/2.8 is a better option for me.

I also bought a used 50mm f1.8, but didn't find any real use for it, so it'll be sold. I also bought used, a 10-22mm and a 70-30mm IS, those lenses make me want to go outside and take pictures.

I'm going to Greece and Turkey in the fall, and I'll bring all 3 lenses (10-22, 17-50, 70-300 to see what I use for vactions.

So to answer your question, you need to really think about what pictures you are going to take the most in the near future, then add on to your collection as the need (want?) arises.

I know I've wasted some money on the 28-135, when I sell it, and maybe the Tamron is I go to the canon version, but I've learned what I need to take the type of pictures I frequently take.

Now if they only made a 17-150-ish f2.8 IS lens for a reasonable price with great IQ, all us amateurs wouldn't have to by multiple lenses

I like what you did with the photo. Actually I like the white balance and contrast you were able to achieve better than what I posted.

I think my photo is more representative of what the light in the room was like. It was taken at night. Most of the light in the room came from an incandescent ceiling light in the center of the room, behind my grand daughter. There was a small halogen reading lamp off to the left of the photo and some light coming in from the dining room on the right side of the photo. But not very much. My photo actually makes the room look brighter than it was.

i've kept my 20d, even after getting the 5d, because there are some things that are just perfect on it.

the 60mm f/2.8 macro is a fantastic lens
the 17-55 f/2.8 IS is a great zoom

if you're strapped for cash, you want the tamron 17-50 f/2.8.

the 10-22 is also a really great lens.

i'm repeating for emphasis

The 20D body is a good performer. It is not the best, but it is very capable.

Any lens you purchase now can out live your camera body. I would not compromise on price when choosing a lens.

I can't tell you which lens to choose right now.

I purchased my camera and one lens in the dead of winter, so I chose the 50mm f/1.4 for indoor use. I had already decided to purchase the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS for outdoor use in spring and summer, but my main subject was sports. If I knew I was going to be shooting flowers or landscapes I might have selected a different lens.

One bit of advise: Don't try to cover too much territory with one lens. Think about what you want to do most with your camera and get a very good lens for that purpose. Plan on spending more for other lenses in the future.

Photography is not a hobby. It is an addiction.

Just kidding.

I have no experience with lenses other than Canon.

I chose the Canon brand of lens because I trust their reputation and I am willing to pay a bit more for that.

I also am willing to pay a bit more for equipment, buying from a trusted vendor, like B&H.

I know I could save some money, and may even get better quality trying other lenses and other vendors, but I don't have time to deal with the uncertainty.

I am getting old and the time I have remaining is getting more valuable.

Does anyone know of a reliable source with lens review? I am feeling that choosing is harder than what it seems, like the poster above I would prefer if the lens was Canon branded, nothing personal but it would be nice. There is too many variables when it comes to the lens. I want to start at a good lens, I would go with a 50mm 1.4 but it's $300, that would be fine but then it would be taking $$ away from the all work lens. One lens I do know I want is the 70-200 L F4 IS, but that's for the future if I ever need to go that far. What would be nice if they made a 17-85 IS and they modified it to 2.8 and add better optics, maybe even add a L badge but that's not happening, the L lenses with the red line look sweet. Thanks guys, keep adding more comments, I want to make the decision fast so I can have my camera operational soon.

http://the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-17-55mm-f-2.8-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

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

--



Your 4 'Cees' for photography: Crisp, Clean, Composed and Colourful
http://www.tigadee.fotopic.net

After using both lens for a while, the 17-85is wins easily on the Performance, while Tamron wins easily with the IQ. However, beware that Tamron is NOT AS GOOD AS everyone claim it to be; likewise, the 17-85is isn't as BAD AS everyone claim it to be. My main issue with Tamron is low light AF-focusing speed:

1. AF hunts in low light (up to 2 minutes), where as my 17-85is can nail the AF in only seconds
2. 17-85is has the speedy USM, the Tamron does not
3. 17-85is has (IS)
4. 17-85is has better range.

Where 17-85is fail is the F/5.6 @85mm - doesn't give me enough BOKEH. I got tire of constantly switching between Canon 50mm f/1.8 + 17-85is, and bought the Tamron. However, I really wish Tamron update this lens with an USM motor, and extend the range to 17-70mm.
-----
FANBOY(i)sm is a NEUROSIS, Get Help!

Hey ellover009,

I have a 10D and 30D, so I'm in the same boat as you are

If you can wait a bit untill my lens shipment arrives this week, I will try to post some samples with the 30D and

Sigma 10-20mm f4-5,6
Tamron 17-50mm f2,8
Sigma 18-125 f3,5-5,6
Canon 24-105 f4 L
Canon 50mm f1,8
Sigma 70-300mm APO

I was very close to buying the Canon 17-55mm f2,8 IS, but went for the 24-105L instead and picked up a Tamron 17-50mm 2,8. The test results were often in favor of the Tamron compared to the Canon 17-55mm(especially due to the price but also equal in sharpnes)

I have a feeling, that the "L" talk is a bit overrated here for most of us hobby photographers who do not print pictures to the size of billboards.

Maybe I am wrong, but I will do a comparison for cropped and 100% images and will try to find out, how much more a price multiplyer of 4 really adds in picture quality for a hobby photographer.

Cheers,
Smatty

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