View Full Version : Recommend two lenses for XTi
I'm thinking the Canon 50mm 1.4..
basically I take a lot of portaits and some landscape but I never liked/used telephoto and always had a thing for wide angle or just nice chunks of bokeh
if possible, recommend another lens/flash on top of that just incase like I'm in the city and I see a photo but requires a bit of zoom power!
also I take quite a few night photos but most are long exposures..
I just want maybe one or two lenses preferably under $500 Australian and if possible...FROM WHERE!
downtrodden
02-26-2008, 04:02 AM
Check out the 28-135mm lens.. I think mine is a bad copy, mine goes soft at the long end of the lens, but i played with a friend's copy the other day and it was much sharper at the long end than mine is.I think 135mm is plenty long enough for city work, but you may find it to be not quite wide enough.
Or maybe one of the Sigma or Tamron offerings- they make a couple great lenses in a focal length that seems right for you and which are also F2.8, someone should be around shortly to fill in the blanks on that one!
Btw, i'm going to add you on myspace.
bauerman
02-26-2008, 06:50 AM
I might suggest the Sigma 17-70mm zoom lens. This is a well respected lens with a very useful range and it also has a macro mode for closeup work as well. Remember that your 50mm 1.4 is actually 80mm on your camera, so that pretty long for any sweeping landscapes, but it does make a usable portrait lens.
If its bokeh that you are after I might recommend the Sigma 24-70mm EX or the 24-60mm EX lenses - both have a constant 2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range and that "buttery" bokeh that is so pleasing to the eye.
cost?
that is the single biggest factor
cost?
that is the single biggest factorOh, will you just forget about the cost already! :D
You knew when you got into this: DSLRs are worse than crack! :p
Two lenses? 1) EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS 2) EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
Live a little! :D:D:D
Sorry, I know what an insensitive idiot I'm being, but I can't help it! :)
That's some great art photography! A lot of the zooms are known for being Jack of all, Master of none. I like hearing you're going prime as your main lens.
You'd be happy with a 50 f1.4, but as mentioned, it's really an 80mm on the XTi. The 35 f1.4 is the 50mm version - try $1K US, yikes!
Maybe get the 18-55 IS for going wide or all-round general use and just save for a longer lens for the rare long times you mentioned. For that; I would suggest the Canon 70-200 f4 L. Since you have steady hands, you won't miss doubly expensive the IS and it's IQ is superb.
Get a 430EX flash for parties. I gather that your night photography is mainly timed exposure rather than events. For just general parties etc you could stick to the on-camera pop-up if you're not going for art-quality. Flash is still useful for timed stuff for special effect but given your style it's probably not so critical.
That's some great art photography! A lot of the zooms are known for being Jack of all, Master of none. I like hearing you're going prime as your main lens.
You'd be happy with a 50 f1.4, but as mentioned, it's really an 80mm on the XTi. The 35 f1.4 is the 50mm version - try $1K US, yikes!
Maybe get the 18-55 IS for going wide or all-round general use and just save for a longer lens for the rare long times you mentioned. For that; I would suggest the Canon 70-200 f4 L. Since you have steady hands, you won't miss doubly expensive the IS and it's IQ is superb.
Get a 430EX flash for parties. I gather that your night photography is mainly timed exposure rather than events. For just general parties etc you could stick to the on-camera pop-up if you're not going for art-quality. Flash is still useful for timed stuff for special effect but given your style it's probably not so critical.
I blushed at your comment
50mm 1.4 (I knew about the crop factor, from the photos I've taken with it, its quite the nice little lens)
18-55 IS (new Canon Kit lens? I think)
430EX (most likely, gotta look around for cheapy price)
Sigma 17-70mm zoom lens
Sigma 24-70mm EX or the 24-60mm EX lenses
28-135mm lens
lol JTL I'm only 18 and not made out of the moneys but if I was older and earning more then I'd probably get a more pricey lens
but my life motto is to get the best for you at the cheapest price
like this is going off topic but I've never splurged or bought overpriced stuff
I'm like trying to keep it pretty low like
the body costs 758 or whatever and I want to end up 2-2.5k or below (over the course of this month, the 50mm will be the lens thats always stuck to my camera really)
DonSchap
02-26-2008, 06:51 PM
Well, I have one lens suggest that kind of covers all the bases ... the TAMRON AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD
33596
This little lightweight beauty won't cost you and an arm and a leg, but will deliver the goods. You won't have to worry about a lot of swapping with this lens, either, as it stretches from wide to telephoto in one quick twist.
You could call this the P&S lens for the DSLR. Use the prime (50mm f/1.4) for the low-light & detail work.
hmmm Don good choice.
ok I am now looking up aussie sydney shops, if someone can find a shop similiar to D-D then that would be sweet
Honest Gaza
02-27-2008, 01:59 AM
Turn....if you eventually decide on a Sigma Lens, contact CR Kennedy (official Australian distributor of Sigma lenses) and they will match the D-D-Photographic advertised price....which will then give you full Aussie warranty.
You can confirm this fact on the CR Kennedy Website.
bauerman
02-27-2008, 07:07 AM
Sigma also makes a 18-125mm or 18-200mm lens that has that nice, broad focal range a well. Look into those too if you think you want to try to get an "all in one lens" solution.
Sigma also makes a 18-125mm or 18-200mm lens that has that nice, broad focal range a well. Look into those too if you think you want to try to get an "all in one lens" solution.
Turn - nobody's mentioned that there is a quality-hit when you go big-zoom. Part of that quality means not having f2.8 at the length you want, part means if you do use f2.8 (or whatever your wide-opened minimum), your stuff will be blurry or colors will bleed etc. However; in good shooting conditions, they're all pretty equal to the casual viewer.
Since you're not a pro-shooter, a consumer lens should be just fine. If you can live without an extreme zoom range, you might be happier living with a higher Image Quality but smaller zoom range.
Turn - nobody's mentioned that there is a quality-hit when you go big-zoom. Part of that quality means not having f2.8 at the length you want, part means if you do use f2.8 (or whatever your wide-opened minimum), your stuff will be blurry or colors will bleed etc. However; in good shooting conditions, they're all pretty equal to the casual viewer.
Since you're not a pro-shooter, a consumer lens should be just fine. If you can live without an extreme zoom range, you might be happier living with a higher Image Quality but smaller zoom range.
I never said I wanted Extreme zoom
I just want a decent zoom for scenarios where i need it, its not compulsory but something I'd like to have instead of being limited to only my 50mm and thinking dammit! if only I could get a bit closer.
the Tamron lens that Don pointed out is looking more appealing but again that is for the later months as I'll probably live off the 50mm for a good while (if you look at all my photos, you will see that I mainly don't use zoom and if I do its to create bokeh)
downtrodden
02-27-2008, 04:26 PM
Turn, you'll love not having to zoom to create bokeh and background blur, it's great :D
Turn, you'll love not having to zoom to create bokeh and background blur, it's great :D
that I'll be extremely thankful for
never the less and completely hypothetical
what other prime lenses would you suggest other than the 50mm.
downtrodden
02-27-2008, 05:37 PM
I'm going to look into a 35mm prime, being as so far most of my people shots have been done right around 30-38mm on my 28-135mm. 50mm after the crop, 80mm is too long for my taste and in a lot of my shooting situations, i don't have enough room to shoot that long- but that's purely a preferance thing...
A prime that is generally very well loved is the 85mm F1.2 but it's spendy...If i had a full frame and a little more working room, i would have to spring for one...
hmm I see
well the Tamron 18-250 seems to have my zoom covered.
curse the crop factor!
hmm
its just that I want two things
sharp quick bokeh small lens
and a good wide angle (maybe borderline ultra) to telephoto
that would be all bases covered
DonSchap
02-27-2008, 07:08 PM
Take a look at the Canon EF 35mm f/2 ... after the crop factor you have effectively a 56mm shot ... which just about perfect. f/2 kicks out bokeh ... and the price should be around $235 (USD)
I have one, here (not in use), but since your in Australia ... sorry. Check it out, if you can.
drama
02-27-2008, 10:10 PM
I would reccomend starting with a single lens & then building up your collection as per your needs
A 17 50 f2.8 Tamron or a Sigma 18 50 f2.8 Ex DC Macro, would make a great walk around on a crop, at the wide end it is wider than the S3 at the long end nice enough for portraits, nice bokeh too
Paired later with an 85 1.8, could be the ticket for you
bauerman
02-28-2008, 06:10 AM
If you are willing to give up a bit on the wide end, probably the best deal on a Canon compatible lens out there right now (that could be used as a walk around) is the Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX sold right now by Cameta Camera through Amazon. This is a high quality, constant f2.8 aperture lens with great reviews everywhere you go and I was able to pick one up for $189.00 through Amazon. (The price has since nudged up a bit to $219.00, but still a tremendous deal.)
This lens would limit you a bit on the wide end, but for the price compared to what you are going to pay for the other options being mentioned at the 17 or 18mm range....this may be something to look into.
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