Give me your top 5 lenses .....

magpieant

magpieant

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I seriously need to buy a new lens !

I want something to cover between approx. 17-70mm - not a prime though.

I borrowed Marcel's 24-70mm 2.8 L USM lens at the weekend, and I have to say I have fallen in love with it!!! Just a shame about the price :(

What recommendations would people give for lenses in this range ? Give me your top 5 (prices and reasons why you like them would be useful too!!).

Cheers

Anth

PS - forget to add, it's lenses to use on a 40d ;)
 
Well, I bought the 24-105L IS as my main lens, but then I have the 10-22 as well to cover the really wide.

Consistent F4 across the range, IS means I've handheld down to 1/4 and an excellent range. 2/3rds the weight of the 24-70.
 
LOL to above posts ....


I know! lens envy is a terrible thing!!

I'd forgotten about the 24-105 lens - not tried one of those before, but it's an absolutely stunning lens by all accounts.

Anyone got any more suggestions ? I had a Sigma 17-70 on my D80 - which i loved, but would like something a bit faster now with a 2.8 constant ideally (that said, I'd dtill settle for the 24-105).

Anth
 
I'd say the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, and if you need to use the 50-70mm range, move a bit closer! There's a bit of a lack of longer walkabout lenses for crop sensors, the Sigma 17-70 is about the only option, but it'll only be f/2.8 at 17mm, any zooming and it drops off quite sharply.

I suppose the other option would be the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, but it's big, heavy, takes massive filters (82mm maybe?), and has flare issues according to lots of reviews. It's a damn sigh cheaper though, about £375 new I think. But if you got that, then perhaps a 10-20mm for the wider stuff?

Personally, I went for the 17-50 approach, and I've never thought 'Damn, if only this went to 70mm.......'. Got it 2nd hand on here for just over £200!

Just my views though!

Edit: Couldn't think of another 3, sorry!
 
I love the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS. I find this a stonker of a lens, crackingly sharp, great colours and with a constant f2.8. It has certainly helped me out of a few low light situations. I looked long and hard into a walkabout lens, and ended up between the 24-105L and this one. Have never regretted my choice I have to say.

I have however not always found the 17mm wide enough on a crop body, so have just purchased a EF-S 10-22 to run along side it.
 
Some cracking suggestions there, cheers folks.

I already have a Siggy 10-20 so that's no problem for the wider stuff.

It's all good!

Cheers

Anth
 
I know its been discontinued but if you can find one the Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 is a cracking good lens. I've got one and its pin sharp and not too chunky and heavy.

Andy
 
24-105L IS is just a fantastic lens for me, see if Marcel's got one of those you borrow for a day:) you'll soon be popping off to the shops with the credit card

try it (y)
 
Canon 18-55 EFS.. (y)
 
24-105 with a 10-20 Sigma for me on a 40d. Both lenses have good colour and contrast, and are pretty portable. F2.8 would be nice occasionally, but not enough for me to warrant buying one.
 
I use a siggie 24-70 f2.8 on a nikon and its pretty damn good, the only minor niggle is that in really low light it hunts a bit but rarely a problem as by the time the light is that bad, its on the tripod and manual focus has come into play anyway.
 
You say top 5 lenses, however I only own 3 lenses.....

In order of most used;
24-70 F2.8L
70-200 F2.8L IS
300 F4L IS

I really want (again in order of preference);
16-35 F2.8L MKII
17mm TS
300 F2.8L IS
 
17-35 f/2.8 (getting on a bit now, but still a favourite)
28-70 f/2.8 (also...getting on a bit, but still afavourite...)
70-200 VR f/2.8 new-ish...

I have others but barely use them and of these the 28-70 is used sparingly - only for portraits in confined spaces, otherwise it's the 17-35 for 90% of my work and the 70-200 for the remainder...
 
I have the following:

17-40mm F4
70-200mm F4
50mm F1.8
17-55mm (kit lens)

Never use the kit lens, only just got the 50mm, and loving it. Always have the 17-40mm on 1 body, think its only been removed about 5 times.
 
I am, at last, happy with the lenses I now have. I use, pretty much in equal measure:

Sigma 24-70mm (if any of these are used more it's this one)
Nikon 35mm f2
Tokina 12-24mm f4
 
neil_g said:
you forgot the sigma 18-50 f2.8 constant
Click to expand...

If you can put up with daft way it focuses with the noisy/slow motor and rotating of the end of the barrel. I used it inside once, then decided id get rid, I dont see its appeal.

The 24-105 ive used a few times is a lovely bit of glass if you want this sort of range.
 
order of most used


70-200 F2.8L IS
24-70 F2.8L
17-40 F4L

newest addition is 400mm f/5.6 :)

drew
 
My new 70-200L f4 is my best lens to date and I love it.
My Tamro 28-75 F2.8 serves me well too, All I want now is the
24-105L f4 and I will be very happy for a good while.

Of course if I can add a camera like The EOS 5d MkII to my kit along with my 50D I will then truly be in heaven
 
I used to have six lenses and usually wasn't carrying the one I wanted to use, so honed my collection to just two.

I now take both lenses and use whichever is most appropriate.

Having a specialist lens is obviously a must if you intend to focus on a particular hobby such as bird spotting or panoramic landscapes, but my interest just lies in general portraiture.

My two lenses are 24-70L and 135L. I was happy with them on a crop body, but they are sublime on a full frame 5d.

If I still had a crop body, I would love to try the 17-55IS. Probably more suitable than the 24-70 in terms of focal length.

Graham
 
fastworldimages said:
If you can put up with daft way it focuses with the noisy/slow motor and rotating of the end of the barrel. I used it inside once, then decided id get rid, I dont see its appeal.

.
Click to expand...

This

I used mine once then sold it. IMO the most unpleaseant lens in this range (OK, there is the original 18-55 but that is also very cheap)
 
Nikkor 16-85mm VR
Tokina 12-24mm
Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro
Nikkor 50mm 1.8
... still thinking about the fifth :)
 
AF 50mm f1.8 (because I don't have the 1.4 yet)
AFS 105 f2.8 (lovely glass)
AFS 18-200 vr (what a range)
AFS 18-55 vr (on my D1x for a kit lens it is great)
AF 50mm f1.8 (I have two :) )
 
On a cropped-sensor camera the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 would be my choice, fantastic value for money. On full-frame, it would then be the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8.
 
400MM f/2.8 L IS USM

135MM f/2.8 L

70-200MM f/2.8 L IS USM

24-70MM f/2.8 L IS USM

50MM f/1.8
 
Yv said:
I use a siggie 24-70 f2.8 on a nikon and its pretty damn good, the only minor niggle is that in really low light it hunts a bit but rarely a problem as by the time the light is that bad, its on the tripod and manual focus has come into play anyway.
Click to expand...

Another vote for the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8. Again, I use a Nikon but the extra 400 on the model number seems to make a difference - it'll focus fast and without hunting in low light on the D700. Cost me £234.88 in Jessops sale, just before all the massive price rises. To cover the wider end I use a Sigma 12-24 V-E-R-Y wide on FF! 70-200 is covered by another Sigma f/2.8, not sure exactly which model but it's HSM. Relatively slow to focus but doesn't hunt. These 3 are the lenses I woiuld keep if I absolutely HAD to only have 3.
 
swag72 said:
I love the EF-S 17-55 F2.8 IS. I find this a stonker of a lens, crackingly sharp, great colours and with a constant f2.8. It has certainly helped me out of a few low light situations. I looked long and hard into a walkabout lens, and ended up between the 24-105L and this one. Have never regretted my choice I have to say.

I have however not always found the 17mm wide enough on a crop body, so have just purchased a EF-S 10-22 to run along side it.
Click to expand...

^^^ listen to Sara :) That's why Canon made the 17-55 2.8 (24-105L is perfect for full frame).

Canon's Holy Trinity for crop cameras is that lens, plus 10-22 and 70-200 4 IS. I have those, plus a 100-400. I sold four others to rationalise down to just them, plus a set of tubes for close up, and I can't think of anything missing.
 
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