40D lens decision

Ever since my BIL got his 30D a couple of years ago, I have wanted a DSLR. Owning only a P&S, I feel like I've missed just about every bit of action my 3 boys have thrown at me. Our photo albums consist of bday candles after they're blown out, the baseball after the bat has been swung......

So, when I spotted the XSi kit with 2 lenses at Costco for $850, I figured problem solved and bought the camera. Then I made a mistake. I decided to research the camera on the internet. It's been downhill ever since.

I returned the XSi kit because I could purchase the 40D with the 28-135IS lens from B&H for just a bit more money. While I do love the camera, I'm not sure it was the best decision for someone who is a total beginner and after the XSi it seems so big.

You're probably wondering if this is therapy or a lens question? Christmas Eve came and my lens was was not wide enough to get the whole extended family in. I have two in college, so I'm limited on what I can buy. I am going to stick with the 40D kit. Is it a better plan to stay with what I have lens-wise or spend $150 more for the 17-85IS kit with a zoom lens planned for the future.

Why are these camera decisions so hard? I swear I put less thought into accepting a marriage proposal than I have into buying this camera!

Thanks for reading!

Just get the kit lens, 18-55 f3.5-4.5, IS preferable.
--
Jim
http://www.pbase.com/jcassatt

I started DLSR ownership with the Canon Digital Rebel and selected the 28-135IS for my walkaround workhorse lens. As I gained experience with this setup, I felt the selection was a mistake and would have selected a 18-55IS if were out at the time. The 28-135IS is just not wide enough for my typical usage.

This is why you see a lot of 28-135IS lens for sale in the classified ads (Fred Miranda, POTN, and digitalgrin). If I had a full frame lens, the 28-135IS would be great and less costly than the 24-105L.

Since you have the 28-135 IS, I would ask yourself if you see this being your main lens for most of what you shoot?

If yes, get an ultra wide angle lens to complement the 28-135 IS for the times you need to go wider. The Canon 10-22 is nice but there are also third part alternatives like the Sigma 10-20. You will find yourself carrying around two lenses though which might be a hassle.

If no, the 18-55 IS (which you probably got with your original XSi) is a good, cheap lens to get you that extra wideness. It does lack some reach though - I'd probably go for the Canon 18-200 IS if you need more reach. Getting this lens will render your 28-135 IS pretty much obsolete.

the 28-135 IS is a good lens, but as you stated, it isn't the widest thing in the world...

I agree on the 18-55 IS suggestion. I've heard good things about this kit lens. Not the best in the world optically, but it does the job with a decent IQ. The original Kit lens worked well for me for the first 2 or so years I had my camera.

need just a bit more clarification. The 18-55 is better than the 28-135? The kit is $20 more, or the 17-85 kit for $150 more?

Thanks for the replies. I've never posted a question on a forum before. Only this camera could drive me out of years of internet lurkdom.

Jamie

Okay, I hate to even say this, but if I'm even considering the 18-55 kit lens, why did I not stay with the XSi? The 40D is the coolest thing ever but it's kind of big. How is it for real life use?

Jamie

The lens conundrum NEVER goes away unfortunately. I'd go with the 17-85 IS and use the kit lens as a paperweight.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/centavo/
http://www.pbase.com/jpenney
http://www.kingsnake.com/hudspeth

Re> why did I not stay with the XSiWhy? Because you don't know what you are doing, and did research on the interweb, where vast numbers of people who don't know much serve to confuse each other even more.

But, let's assume you're stuck with the 40D.

It's a great camera, and you'll learn to take wonderful pictures.

You should probably have bought the 40D kit with the 17-85mm lens, but that train has left the station, too.

So, invest in the 18-55mm IS lens, as already suggested, and use if for your wider shots. Either find some XSi or XS owner who wants to sell his, or just bite the bullet and buy one in a box.

IF POSSIBLE get the IS model, not a used "old" non-IS version, unless the lens is a real bargain.

The new IS is apparrently much better than the original non-IS 18-55, but I use one of the originals, and it still takes excellent pictures.

The only real advantage of the 40D over an XSi is the ability to take more shots really quickly, but there's no point in buying and selling and trying to save some money,

OVERALL, everything will turn out fine.

BAK

I can still return my camera. So, I'm definitely going to return for the 17-85is. So, BAK you would have stayed with the XSi huh? I have really complicated this entire camera buying process. The irony of my spending hours online to figure out what is the best way to take pictures of my children instead of, say, playing with them is not lost on me LOL.

I have the 40D and some very fine lenses (17-55 f/2.8, 70-300 DO IS, 100-400L, 10-22) but mostly these days I use the 18-200IS I purchased that lens was first released. Also have the 17-85IS (on the 20D) and the 18-200IS give better flexibility and more shots.

--
Phil .. Canon EOS 40D, 20D, G9, SD700IS; Panasonic LX3, TZ5; Fuji F31fd.
http://www.pbase.com/phil_wheeler
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_ox/

If you take the normal zoom for 40D then its around 17-50mm. I suggest you get F2.8 17-50mm zoom. Canon 17-55/2.8IS is the best and I use it all the time. I have also heard good things about the Tamron 17-50/2.8. My standard kit is to couple it with the 70-200/2.8IS. The F4 version is great for outdoors. You can also use the 70-300IS. I strongly recommend IS for the longer lens to eliminate camera shake.

Hereare some 40D with 17-55/2.8IS

Kaiser, outdoors in the shade, Singapore



Indoors Dom, Koln, Germany,



Sandbar in the morning Noosa heads, Australia



--

What camera do I have? I rather you look at my photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinz

If you can still return the 40D, you should think about returning it and b tuyinghe XSi & 2 lens combo kit from Costco.

The XSi is a fabulous camera.

The 40D is also fabulous, and has some additional features not found on the XSi. (PC Flash connection, rear command dial, etc.)

If you never need/use the additional features of the 40D, there's no advantage to the extra weight and cost.

If you aren't sure that you need the extra features of the 40D, then you probably don't need them.

The XSi is a great camera. Get it and enjoy.

Indoors, you have two choices; available light and flash. If the "look" of flash is OK for you (and it is for most people), you won't need an expensive lens. I would buy the 18-55 IS f/3.5-5.6 (latest version). It's an inexpensive, plastic lens that has gotten unusually good reviews for image quality. It will do practically anything you'll need indoors with flash. Outdoors, there are tons of choices, limited only by your finances. I use the 28-135mm quite a bit as an all-purpose outdoor lens.

Cost-wise, you should check the total package before making a final decision. The 28-135mm is much more expensive when purchased separately than the 18-55mm, yet each is discounted when purchased in a kit. So, it might be that the total cost of buying the 40D kit and adding the 18-55mm isn't too different than buying the XSi kit and adding the 28-135mm.

Of course, cost isn't the only factor. It might be that the 40D is too large and unweildy to be comfortable. If so, you'll almost certainly use the XSi more, and that would make it the better choice.

Have fun!



--
http://jackandkelly.zenfolio.com/
30D, 40D, 10-22mm, 28-135mm, 50mm/1.8II, 60mm macro
Adapted: Nikkor 50mm/1.4, Kiron 28mm/2.0

If you want to stay with the 40D, return your kit and get the one with the 17-85 IS lens.

If you prefer a smaller camera, there's nothing wrong with the XSi. The twin lens kit with the 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS lenses is great value for the money but if you want a more versatile walk around lens, the 17-85 IS has always been reliable (at least for me).

I have read many reviews and have found that the 17-85 is not as good as the 28-135. Not worth going through all this trouble you're talking about. Consider the Tamron 17-50 2.8 if you want a relatively inexpensive, fast, wide angle lens.

Rather than lenses, which have been thoroughly discussed here, let’s talk about cameras and flashes.

Certainly the Rebel series is perfectly suitable for many people – certainly the XSi, at 12.2 megapixels, is an excellent camera. But for me the most important thing is the ‘feel’. For me, I tried a Rebel series, then tried a 20D, and the xxD series just felt SO much better to my hand. About that time the 30D came out and I bought it.

I originally got the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5 as a relatively good, relatively wide-range lens. Then I started taking pictures of my 2-year-old granddaughter.

Outside was fine, but inside I needed the flash – and the results were pretty poor. After listning to many folks on this and other forums, I got an external flash – the 580 EX, although you may be just as happy with the 430 EX. What an INCREDIBLE difference! The whole secret of good flash photography is – don’t point the flash at the subject! It’s so easy with a recent Canon EOS camera.

Set the camera to Manual, and the flash to E-TTL. Set the shutter to 1/200 or 1/250 (the sync speed changes from one body to another), set the aperture fairly narrow to get a good depth-of-field, say f8. Aim, focus, aim the flash at the ceiling (for the ‘bounce’) and shoot. The camera and flash determine the amount of light needed, and you’ve got a perfect exposure virtually every time. You’ll probably want a fairly fast shutter speed to avoid the effect of any ambient light, but the flash actually is MUCH faster than the shutter speed – you’ll really be freezing the action at thousandths of a second, so even if the kids are moving fast you’ll nail the shot.

Honestly, using a flash indoors, and NEVER aiming at the subject (well, maybe sometimes outdoors for fill, but you’ll get to that later) has made an incredible difference in the quality of my kid-shots (and several adults, also!).

So – get whichever camera feels beat to you, get a lens that goes from fairly wide (17-8 mm) to short or medium telephoto (at least 50, slightly more is better), get an external flash, and you’ll be good to go!

Please note that this stuff can be addictive and quite damaging to your disposable income. I started with a Canon S3IS point-and-shoot. I now have two cameras (the 30D and the 5D Mark II) and 8 lenses, not to mention the tripod, heads, flashes, etc. But as I tell my wife – it’s still cheaper than a Corvette!

--
BJCP National

I really appreciate the advice. So, what I've decided to do at this point. I am returning my 40D 28-135 kit. I'm pretty sure I don't want that lens. Now I just have to decide between the Xsi 2 lens kit and the 40D 17-85. Bottom line, either one should get me improved pictures over my p & s. The size factor is definitely a consideration for me, but neither fits in a purse/pocket so maybe I would get used to the larger size of the 40D. Wanna hear another really silly reason for considering the 40D? It's not the "entry level". My husband jokes that my middle name should be "upgrade".

I love looking at the photo galleries. Such beautiful work and so inspiring to this beginner!

Jamie

Jamison3 said:

Now I just have to decide between the Xsi 2 lens kit and
the 40D 17-85.

Click to expand...

The 2-lens kit you're referring to will be a serious handicap. The second lens will hardly ever be used, and it's much too long. If you've decided against the 28-135mm at this point, the 17-85mm is your next-best solution. Whether you buy the XSi or 40D is secondary. They're both crop bodies, and both will produce image quality limited by the lens itself.

--
http://jackandkelly.zenfolio.com/
30D, 40D, 10-22mm, 28-135mm, 50mm/1.8II, 60mm macro
Adapted: Nikkor 50mm/1.4, Kiron 28mm/2.0

Just a few examples:

















--
http://jackandkelly.zenfolio.com/
30D, 40D, 10-22mm, 28-135mm, 50mm/1.8II, 60mm macro
Adapted: Nikkor 50mm/1.4, Kiron 28mm/2.0