switching from EOS-55 to EOS-20D

[psyp3]

Hello,

I am having a EOS-55 (35mm film) with 3 lenses: 1) 28-105, 2)100-300 and 3) 17-40 - all Canon lenses, the last one is my latest (purchased before my recent trip to Egypt) - I love this combination.

I am planning to move to 20D and with the conversion factor (1.6), I find my lenses will become 27-64, 45-168 and 160-480. This means I will loose the wide-angle power that I have with 17-40.

I find in Japan (where I live), there is option of buying 20D body alone, with EFS18-55 or with EFS17-85 - prices increasing in the same order.

I am thinking of buying the 2nd option (with EFS18-55) and having a set of that lens with my existing 28-105 and 100-300, getting an overall range of 17-85, 45-168 and 160-480.

Alternatively, the 3rd option gives me 18-55, 45-168 and 160-480 with the higher price of buying the camera with 17-85.

I am confused and need some suggestion so that I can get the coverage that I am getting now with my existing set wit EOS-55.

With the lenses I have, do you feel buying the 'body alone' will be ok?

You guys helped me a lot for selecting the 17-40 earlier; I need your help again for much higher investment.

Cheers,

Poolak

[George Riehm]

Hello,

I am having a EOS-55 (35mm film) with 3 lenses: 1) 28-105, 2)100-300 and 3) 17-40 - all Canon lenses, the last one is my latest (purchased before my recent trip to Egypt) - I love this combination.

I am planning to move to 20D and with the conversion factor (1.6), I find my lenses will become 27-64, 45-168 and 160-480. This means I will loose the wide-angle power that I have with 17-40.

I find in Japan (where I live), there is option of buying 20D body alone, with EFS18-55 or with EFS17-85 - prices increasing in the same order.

I am thinking of buying the 2nd option (with EFS18-55) and having a set of that lens with my existing 28-105 and 100-300, getting an overall range of 17-85, 45-168 and 160-480.

Alternatively, the 3rd option gives me 18-55, 45-168 and 160-480 with the higher price of buying the camera with 17-85.

I am confused and need some suggestion so that I can get the coverage that I am getting now with my existing set wit EOS-55.

With the lenses I have, do you feel buying the 'body alone' will be ok?

You guys helped me a lot for selecting the 17-40 earlier; I need your help again for much higher investment.

Cheers,

Poolak

The lenses you have will generally serve you well and cover the normal wide angle to long tele range pretty well. If you want to have a super wide angle in your collection try a Sigma 12-24. At $650 it's not exactly cheap, but it will get you back to that sub-20mm wide angle range.

Since you already have a 17-40 I'm not sure what you gain with the 17-85. If the idea is to have a good, general purpose, walk-around lens then you might want to take a look at the Sigma 18-200. At $400 it would save you a lot of lens changing, but would defeat your original plan of saving money by using the existing lenses you have.

[eagle17]

Well I guess this looks like a harmless enough thread to mark a return to this board.


psyp3: I think you are a little confused as to the ef-s 18-55 and 17-85 lenses. they are marked the same as your existing lenses, so the 18-55mm that comes with the 20D is really a 29-88mm lens.

The 17-40 lens that you have is a great lens to use with the 20D and I would recomend you get the 20D body only.

also I agree with george on the 12-24mm from sigma or the 10-22 from canon with the edge going to the canon because of the ability to use filters with it. they will both give you steller performance however you will need to stop them down to get the edges as sharp as the center.

John Crawford

[psyp3]

Hi,

This is a question to George.

George, do you mean Sigma 28-200? They don't have 18-200 (as I see the catalog in Japan). How about 28-300 from Sigma?

I also find Tamron has Di series lens (Af 28-300) - how it that?

In fact, I have never used any lens other than from Canon, bit nervous, in auto-mode, do these non-Canon lens move automatically as the EF series lenses do?

Best regards,

Poolak

[TheObiJuan]

It's a Sigma 18-200 alright. It is new though.

here is a review.
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2005/04/07/1335.html

[Rex914]

I would second George's recommendation. If you want ultra-wide zooms ever again, you will need to buy some offering from either Sigma or Canon. Canon does the popular 10-22 while Sigma has the 12-24 and the 15-30. These are all quite pricey lenses and are also slower than the 17-40 you currently have. Do you research carefully before purchasing any of them.