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2 months with the 40D - what to get now?

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entendu

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Hi all,

Lurker for a while, first post here. The 40D has been my first adventure into photography as a whole. I'm way hooked!

So right now I'm using the 40D, some 3rd party battery that seems fine, a 2gb III card, and one piece of glass: canon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM (no IS). I can borrow a tripod as I need it.

If I was turned loose, I'd spend a ton of money on everything, but I don't have unlimited funds ;) What have you found most useful for walk-around shooting?

Usual use cases: walking around, at a friends' house for a dinner party in low light, nature close-ups, nature HDRs. I was thinking perhaps a 430 ex flash? The 50mm 1.8 seems like a nice lens (I tried it out) but I think I'd prefer a macro.

I'm in NYC for two weeks on business and I'd like to head to B&H or Adorama's store with something in mind! I realize this is a really really broad question, but any ideas are welcome.

Thanks guys, I feel like part of a brand new family since getting my 40D (those of you that ride motorcycles, I liken it to how I felt when I started going cageless ;)

A couple of my favorite shots for you below!



 
Nice pics. If you want better glass, the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS is an excellent choice. Either the 430EX or 580EX (versions I or II) flash would be a good addition. Have you considered a fast prime like the 85mm f1.8?
 
entendu said:
...
Usual use cases: walking around, at a friends' house for a dinner
party in low light, nature close-ups, nature HDRs. I was thinking
perhaps a 430 ex flash? The 50mm 1.8 seems like a nice lens (I tried
it out) but I think I'd prefer a macro.
Click to expand...
Personally, never had much use for flash. I use mine rarely, mostly in harsh sunlight as fill, and when absolutely necessary (and possible) in bounce mode indoors.

In your position I'd put good IS and a fast lens as first priority. Pricey, but the 17-55 f2.8 IS comes to mind.
entendu said:
I'm in NYC for two weeks on business and I'd like to head to B&H or
Adorama's store with something in mind! I realize this is a really
really broad question, but any ideas are welcome.
Click to expand...
If you can only do one, make it B&H. It's a giant toy store for camera buffs. They're open Sundays (never Friday afternoons or Saturdays), but can get very busy then. Weekdays are best.

Have fun with whatever you get.

--
JerryG

See my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/jerryg1
 
40d is a great cam! Congrats!

You need an external flash and the 40d takes advantage of the new 580exII -- you can control this flash from your camera menu...do not look at cheaper models--do get it -- $370 at B&H. and get the Demb flip it from Joe Demb. Now your 24-85 will perform like a champ inside

The next item should be in my opinion the 50 f1.4 for portraits and low light -- it takes incredible portraits at f2 - f2.5. This and the 85 f1.8 are the portrait lenses for the 40d...but the 50 f1.4 has great field of view FOV for the 1.6 crop inside

The other nice portrait zoom lens is the 28-75 2.8 tamy.. make sure you check ff/bf -- focus accuracy wide open on all the lenses you buy--stagger three items on carpet and shoot the center one wide open and look at the pic on the computer zoomed in - B&H will take back

for walkaround I'd then add the 55-250 IS - under $300

for group shots and scapes - I'd add the 18-55IS - $170; the 17-55 IS is nice, but pricey. The tamy 17-50 is the tweener

For macro I'd do the 60 mm f2.8 macro

For fisheye - the tokina 10-17 is incredible.

go the Fred Miranda and read the lens reviews also.

Good luck!
MAC
entendu said:
Hi all,

Lurker for a while, first post here. The 40D has been my first
adventure into photography as a whole. I'm way hooked!

So right now I'm using the 40D, some 3rd party battery that seems
fine, a 2gb III card, and one piece of glass: canon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5
USM (no IS). I can borrow a tripod as I need it.

If I was turned loose, I'd spend a ton of money on everything, but I
don't have unlimited funds ;) What have you found most useful for
walk-around shooting?

Usual use cases: walking around, at a friends' house for a dinner
party in low light, nature close-ups, nature HDRs. I was thinking
perhaps a 430 ex flash? The 50mm 1.8 seems like a nice lens (I tried
it out) but I think I'd prefer a macro.

I'm in NYC for two weeks on business and I'd like to head to B&H or
Adorama's store with something in mind! I realize this is a really
really broad question, but any ideas are welcome.

Thanks guys, I feel like part of a brand new family since getting my
40D (those of you that ride motorcycles, I liken it to how I felt
when I started going cageless ;)

A couple of my favorite shots for you below!





--
Click to expand...
--
MAC
 
+1 on the Demb Flip It on the 580EX II, which is a great combo.
 
with what you have and as you go along doing whatever you do just keep track of the pictures you can't take with your current gear. Each time you run into a "can't get it" shot think about what tool you would need to get that missed shot. Eventually, without seeking advice from others that have no clue what you need, you will "on your own" determine what gear is missing in the bag.

In a couple of months start by purchasing the one tool that keeps coming up as the solution for the majority of those missed shots. Use your newly expanded equipment base and continue to keep track of missed shots. Eventually you will wind up with a good bag of tools that will do 99 percent of what you want without having spent a fortune in gear that is redundant.

If you check my equipment list you will find I don't have a lot of gear. If you check my Pbase galleries you will find a reasonably broad spectrum of pictures.

Regards,

Joe Kurkjian

Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jkurkjia



SEARCHING FOR A BETTER SELF PORTRAIT
 
Lots of good ideas in here.

I've enjoyed shooting the two holidays we've had, along with two more parties. I think I've clicked off somewhere around 2k shots -- an average weekend for many of you, but a lot for a noob like me! :)

As far as missing shots go, so far I've categorized them thussly:

-Missed because of lighting -- too dark for 3.5, or flash looks bad (inside, close to walls, usually people here. Objects I try to just bracket and fix in PP)

-Missed because they're too close. People again -- you know the shots: candid, you're standing there and the someone does something you want to shoot but by the time you walk back far enough to get AF lock it's over.

I'm really really a fan of doing everything I can to go flashless, but I don't know if that's the right thing to do. I spent the first month or so in awe of just how dark things could get before truly needing a flash -- wow Canon's high ISO performance is insane! I like that shots seem to look more natural that way, and I really hate how people always turn and try to pose when they see the preflash going off. Animals hate it too, but that's not a high priority for me. If it sounds like I'm doing it wrong here, please correct me.

In return, a couple more of my favorites :)



 
Can't go wrong with a 17-55 2.8 IS and a 580exII. I've got both with my 40D and now rarely change lenses.... I do however use a full studio lighting rig for portrait work.
--
One shot at a time.
 
That's key - we can recommend a great $1200 lens when your upper limit is $600.

As for the ideal walk-around lens, Canon doesn't have one. The 17-55 is a great lens, but it's a little short on the long end. The 17-85 has a great range, but is a little slow and not as sharp as the better lenses. The 24-105 is a great lens, but a little long at the wide end.

I love my 17-55 and because it is f2.8 and has IS, it will let you shoot in much lower light without a flash. I was reasonably happy with my 17-85, but wanted something better in low light. Since getting the 17-55, I haven't used the 50mm f1.8.

My current standard combination (the one normally in the camera bag) is a 10-22, 17-55, and 70-200. The latter are both f2.8 IS lenses. I'll also throw in a 580EX if I think it's needed, with one or more light modifyers (Omnibounce or one of the Gary Fong devices I own - but I find the built-in white reflector works pretty well).
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

 
My advice is look for some fast glass. A 17-55 F2.8 IS will increase your opportunities and cover the wide end that you are missing at the moment. With f2.8, IS and the 40D ISO capability I think you could get away without flash on most occasions.
 
If you can spend the money, get the 580EXII and demb flip it first, and the 17-55 f2.8 IS second. The flash can be pointed at side walls and the shots look flashless. The 17 -55 IS is pricey, but you'll get more flashless shots with it. So with flash, and without flash, with this setup, and techniques, your shots will look flashless - but you need $1300 for both.
entendu said:
Lots of good ideas in here.

I've enjoyed shooting the two holidays we've had, along with two more
parties. I think I've clicked off somewhere around 2k shots -- an
average weekend for many of you, but a lot for a noob like me! :)

As far as missing shots go, so far I've categorized them thussly:

-Missed because of lighting -- too dark for 3.5, or flash looks bad
(inside, close to walls, usually people here. Objects I try to just
bracket and fix in PP)

-Missed because they're too close. People again -- you know the
shots: candid, you're standing there and the someone does something
you want to shoot but by the time you walk back far enough to get AF
lock it's over.

I'm really really a fan of doing everything I can to go flashless,
but I don't know if that's the right thing to do. I spent the first
month or so in awe of just how dark things could get before truly
needing a flash -- wow Canon's high ISO performance is insane! I like
that shots seem to look more natural that way, and I really hate
how people always turn and try to pose when they see the preflash
going off. Animals hate it too, but that's not a high priority for
me. If it sounds like I'm doing it wrong here, please correct me.

In return, a couple more of my favorites :)





--
Click to expand...
--
MAC
 
I haven't read through all of this thread so not sure if these have already been mentioned but these are three of my favourite new accessories for my 40D...

1) Battery Grip (BG-E2N or BG-E2)

I couldn't use my 40D without it now, just feels so comfortable and extra shutter for portrait mode comes in very handy. They are a matter of preference, but I really like them!. Go to a store and try it out and see what you think. Also the BG-E2 grip designed for the 20D/30D is older but looks exactly the same (literally EXACTLY!). This can be bought second hand off eBay for half the price of the BG-E2N. You can put that extra battery to use.

2) 50mm 1.8 II

I am not a rich guy, quite the opposite actually!. I saved and bought this lens and I really like it, my first prime lens and I want more!. If you can afford it by all means go for the 1.4 but for the price (£70!) you can't go wrong.

3) Giottos Rocket Blower

only £8, looks cool, keeps your sensor clean!.

--
http://www.ianfisher.info

 
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