New landscape/General purpose lenses

[Amp34]

I want to get one or two new lenses in the next month or so to go with my 400D. I am eering on the landscape/general purpose side of photography as a decent zoom to replace or compliment my 75-300 IS is too expensive at the moment.

Ideally I want the Canon 24-70 2.8L but that is out of my price range, but the Sigma version isn't. The other option is the 17-70 Sigma, more length but AF-S and not f/2.8 throughout the range. This lens will be used to replace my kit lens.

The other lens I was thinking of getting was a Sigma 10-20 or possibly the Tokina 12-24.

I'm not sure at the moment if I can afford two lenses and although I want a replacement for the kit lens I don't think the lens would be wide enough for decent landscapes. The other issue with the Sigma 24-70 is that it has an 82mm thread which I understand could cause issues with a Cokin P filter system, not to mention expensive CPR's?

So:
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 or
Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5
and/or
Sigma 10-20
Tokina 12-24 f/4

[RobbieW]

I have the Sigma 17-70mm and wouldn't be without it. There are quite a few people on here who also swear by it.

[Wile E. coyote]

I have the sigma 17-70mm and its a cracking lens, I went for this one because of the 17mm wide end rather than the constant 2.8 and missing out of it doesn't bother me.

[SimonTALM]

The other issue with the Sigma 24-70 is that it has an 82mm thread which I understand could cause issues with a Cokin P filter system, not to mention expensive CPR's?


Sounds like a good reason to dump that French bobbins and invest in to the Lee Filters system. IMHO there is no point buying a decent lens to spoil it with poor quality filers. Not only will the Lee System fit their filters are far better quality. Remember the main things you'll use in landscapes other than a CPR are NDs and ND grads; the Lee NDs are are true neutral density where as Cokin sell you a Grey filter claiming it has ND effect (true it cuts the light down but at what cost. I used to have huge problems with a magenta cast on my skys when I used the Cokin Grey Grads which stopped when I tried the Lees.

[Amp34]

I have the sigma 17-70mm and its a cracking lens, I went for this one because of the 17mm wide end rather than the constant 2.8 and missing out of it doesn't bother me.

I think the constant 2.8 is probably going to be more use to me than the extra 7mm at the wide end, especially if I get a 10-20 as well. I'm hoping to do a few indoor competition so a fast lens will really benefit there I think.

I don't actually have any filters at the moment but want to get a few when I get a new lens to take advantage of the quality. The Lee filters seem a lot more epensive than the Cokin P's but to be honest I don't have the foggiest in regard to what to get and quality wise. I know a lot of people use the Cokin P's and like them so I went for them. Any help on choosing filters would be appreciated too, I want to do a bit of longer exposure as well as general landscape, so a soft ND grad and a standard Grad filter?

Has anyone used the Cokin P system with a 24-70?

Thanks:)

[simonkit]

I'm another big fan of the Sigma 17-70, replaced my kit lens with one & the difference in contrast/sharpness is massive !!

simon

[Ally]

I have the sigma 24-70 f2.8. Sounds perfect for what your looking at, great sharpness and detail. Petemac also had one for a while? :thinking: