Building a kit (Canon)

Schuette

Schuette

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Ellen
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I'm trying to think about what lenses I eventually want in my kit. This is what I've so far narrowed it down to, was wondering if anyone could look over it and fill in if I've missed any gaps or if any others would be better.

Would like to in the future do portraits for income, not in a position to do so now, but it's a long term goal. Currently have a Canon 60d with an 18-135 kit lens, cheap 50 prime and going to pick up a secondhand 55-200 f.4.5-5.6 later today. But from now on I want to save up and get good quality glass.

Zooms:

Canon 17-40 f.4 L
Canon 24-70 f.2.8 L
Canon 70-300 f.4-5.6 L (undecided on whether this or the 70-200 f.4 L)

Primes:

Canon 35 f.2
Canon 50 f.2.5 Macro
Canon 85 f.1.8

Other:

Canon 1.4x TC
Canon EF25 extension tube
Speedlite 430

TIA!
 
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Looking at your line up I'm guessing you are happy that you will have no range in the wide/ultra wide angles.

The first two zoom lenses are great lenses but they are more aimed at wide and ultra wide for the full frame market. That said they will work fine on your 60D but you will have a minimum effective focal length of around 27mm.

The 70-300 is an OK lens but I feel it will always sit in the shaddow of the 70-200 (in any format).

As for your primes, I have no knowledge of the 35mm. As for the 50, I would change that to the f1.4 version. I would use a 50mm f1.8 before I would use a f2.5 macro.
So far as the 85mm, again it is an ok lens but the 1.2 is better and more desireable.

One thing I have to comment on is, with the inclusion of zoom lenses and a telephoto lens (along with TC) I take it portraiture won't be your only specified area.
To sum it up, if you intend to go full frame at a later date then your lens line up is fine but they are not the creme de la creme for serious portraiture in a commercial sense.
I would think about buy once, buy good rather than risk buying twice, especially if you are serious about this as a means of income.
 
stupar said:
Looking at your line up I'm guessing you are happy that you will have no range in the wide/ultra wide angles.

The first two zoom lenses are great lenses but they are more aimed at wide and ultra wide for the full frame market. That said they will work fine on your 60D but you will have a minimum effective focal length of around 27mm.

The 70-300 is an OK lens but I feel it will always sit in the shaddow of the 70-200 (in any format).

As for your primes, I have no knowledge of the 35mm. As for the 50, I would change that to the f1.4 version. I would use a 50mm f1.8 before I would use a f2.5 macro.
So far as the 85mm, again it is an ok lens but the 1.2 is better and more desireable.

One thing I have to comment on is, with the inclusion of zoom lenses and a telephoto lens (along with TC) I take it portraiture won't be your only specified area.
To sum it up, if you intend to go full frame at a later date then your lens line up is fine but they are not the creme de la creme for serious portraiture in a commercial sense.
I would think about buy once, buy good rather than risk buying twice, especially if you are serious about this as a means of income.
Click to expand...

More desirable maybe, I believe (I own neither lens so take my opinion with a pinch of salt) that the AF performance of the f/1.8 is better than the f/1.2.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.2-L-II-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/85mm-f12.htm

http://www.juzaphoto.com/eng/articles/canon_85mm_f1-2_vs_85mm_f1-8.htm
 
stupar said:
Looking at your line up I'm guessing you are happy that you will have no range in the wide/ultra wide angles.

The first two zoom lenses are great lenses but they are more aimed at wide and ultra wide for the full frame market. That said they will work fine on your 60D but you will have a minimum effective focal length of around 27mm.

The 70-300 is an OK lens but I feel it will always sit in the shaddow of the 70-200 (in any format).

As for your primes, I have no knowledge of the 35mm. As for the 50, I would change that to the f1.4 version. I would use a 50mm f1.8 before I would use a f2.5 macro.
So far as the 85mm, again it is an ok lens but the 1.2 is better and more desireable.

One thing I have to comment on is, with the inclusion of zoom lenses and a telephoto lens (along with TC) I take it portraiture won't be your only specified area.
To sum it up, if you intend to go full frame at a later date then your lens line up is fine but they are not the creme de la creme for serious portraiture in a commercial sense.
I would think about buy once, buy good rather than risk buying twice, especially if you are serious about this as a means of income.
Click to expand...

Could you suggest a wide zoom? I'm finding that area quite difficult.

If I got the 70-200, along with the TC maybe that would fill the long end better.

I didn't even see the 50 1.4! Swap that for that then. Think ill ditch the 35, thinking about it i don't think id use it that much. The 85 1.2 is over five times more expensive than the 1.8, is it really that much better? I could get the 1.8 and upgrade and sell it on later maybe.

So am now thinking...

WA zoom
24-70
70-200
50 1.4
85 1.8

What are the best lenses for portraiture? I haven't done much recently due to health issues but when I did bits and bobs before I would use a 24-70 2.8 which was ok for groups but not great for head shots.
 
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Schuette said:
Could you suggest a wide zoom? I'm finding that area quite difficult.

If I got the 70-200, along with the TC maybe that would fill the long end better.

I didn't even see the 50 1.4! Swap that for that then. Think ill ditch the 35, thinking about it i don't think id use it that much. The 85 1.2 is over five times more expensive than the 1.8, is it really that much better? I could get the 1.8 and upgrade and sell it on later maybe.

So am now thinking...

WA zoom
24-70
70-200
50 1.4
85 1.8

What are the best lenses for portraiture? I haven't done much recently due to health issues but when I did bits and bobs before I would use a 24-70 2.8 which was ok for groups but not great for head shots.
Click to expand...

Depends wether you want wide angle or ultra wide angle.
For the former I would suggest the17-55mm or the 17-85mm, the latter, the 10-22mm.

IMHO the best lenses for portraiture are primes but a good solid zoom can do just as good a job.
 
Just a quick word on the 50mm f2.5.

I've read that it's Canon's sharpest 50mm (and indeed one of their sharpest lenses) and although not a true macro it's a very nice lens and I for one would rather have one (and I do have one) than some £80 chunk of plastic :) assuming that nothing wider than f2.5 is needed of course.

Or how about the Siggy 50mm f1.4 (I have one of these too) as a nice modern fast 50mm, generally thought to be better than the Canon 50mm f1.4.
 
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If you are sticking with a crop body, my list would be looking like this:

Zooms:

Sigma 10-20 F3.5
Canon 17-55 F2.8
Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS

Primes:

Sigma 50 F1.4
Sigma 85 F1.4
Canon 100 macro IF or non

Other:

Canon 1.4x TC
Speedlite 580
Speedlite 430

And to finish off a 7D body....

If you are wanting a full frame body the list would be diffrent
 
I've looked at the sigma, looks nice, got good reviews. As an additional portrait prime, would the 135 2 compliment the 85 nicely? Would I be better off with that than the 100? So I'd have those three primes (50, 85 and 135) for portrait, and the three zooms for more general photography.
 
tris101 said:
If you are sticking with a crop body, my list would be looking like this:

Zooms:

Sigma 10-20 F3.5
Canon 17-55 F2.8
Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS

Primes:

Sigma 50 F1.4
Sigma 85 F1.4
Canon 100 macro IF or non

Other:

Canon 1.4x TC
Speedlite 580
Speedlite 430

And to finish off a 7D body....

If you are wanting a full frame body the list would be diffrent
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think I'm (probably wrongly) trying to cross both, in that I want the lenses to be investments (obviously!) and in the future I may be looking at full frame.
 
Schuette said:
Thanks, I think I'm (probably wrongly) trying to cross both, in that I want the lenses to be investments (obviously!) and in the future I may be looking at full frame.
Click to expand...

Full frame:

Sell the sigma 10-20 and get Canon 17-40 f.4 L

&

Sell the canon 17-55 and get a Canon 24-70 f2.8 L

The others would still be great, with full frame a longer prime might also be usefull.
 
tris101 said:
Full frame:

Sell the sigma 10-20 and get Canon 17-40 f.4 L

&

Sell the canon 17-55 and get a Canon 24-70 f2.8 L

The others would still be great, with full frame a longer prime might also be usefull.
Click to expand...

:D I feel all proud of myself cos that's what I was thinking too.

Are the Sigma tc's as good as the Canon ones?

Sorry for all the questions, you're all being so great, it's really helping me.
 
Going back to your initial post, I can recommend the canon 35mm f/2. It's a stunning lens and very nice on a crop.

Also, the canon 85mm f/1.8 is possibly one of canons best and sharpest lenses. It's so good I'm not sure it's worth paying more for the f/1.2?
 
stupar said:
....The 70-300 is an OK lens but I feel it will always sit in the shaddow of the 70-200 (in any format)....
Click to expand...

Actually the 70-300 L is an excellent lens (I own one so I know what I'm talking about) and doesn't "sit" in the 70-200's shadow because it isn't a 70-200 lens. :nono:
 
tris101 said:
Full frame:

Sell the sigma 10-20 and get Canon 17-40 f.4 L

&

Sell the canon 17-55 and get a Canon 24-70 f2.8 L

The others would still be great, with full frame a longer prime might also be usefull.
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree with that. I had a sigma 10-20 and great though it is its not a good fit on full or close to full frame. Vignettes heavily.

Just bought a canon L 17-40 and its wonderful! So the siggy will be sold.
 
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