Clearing up some confusion

higgy1541

higgy1541

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James
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Just want to make things clear for myself. I have been reading alot about certain Canon L series lens on crop body's etc.

I currently run a 500d with a 70-200 f/4 L series lens.

I just want to know what exactly I am meant to be loosing out on,

Thanks

James
 
You're not losing out on anything with that lens.

There are optical advantages in designing shorter focal length lenses for the smaller crop format sensors, Canon EF-S, Nikon DX etc. But these advantages quickly run out after about 50-100mm, which is why all EF-S and DX lenses all start at less than this.

Examples - Canon EF-S 17-55 2.8 with IS for croppers, it's just not possible to make a practical or affordable lens like that for full frame. The closest Canon can get is either the 17-40L 4 or 16-35L 2.8, and neither of them has IS either.
 
I was looking a buying the 17-40 l for my 500d. What would be the disadvantages of that?
 
wouldn't the ef-s 17-55 be better - in terms of range? It's practically an 'L' lens optically by all accounts.
 
There is no disadvantages as such...it depends on what you are happy with buildwise, the maximum aperture, the focal range,if you require IS and of course the cost.

If you wanted an Ultra Wide Angle 10-22, then the 17-40s disadvantage isn't wide enough. If you wanted the 17-55 then the disadvantage is aperture and range. The 17-40 is better built and is weatherproof with a filter on front and ships with a hood and pouch.

Those two lenses are EF-s lenses designed to take advantage of the crop sensor body only whereas the 17-40 is an EF lens which will work on all Canon bodies.
 
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higgy1541 said:
I was looking a buying the 17-40 l for my 500d. What would be the disadvantages of that?
Click to expand...

The disadvantage is the reduced focal length range and aperture compared to EF-S alternatives (not to mention IS) though it works fine on any DSLR.

It's designed as a super-wide on full frame, a job it does brilliantly, but on a crop camera you can't use the extra sensor coverage you've paid for, and you're also losing out of the extra focal length and/or aperture that the designers have been forced to miss out on in order to deliver the bigger sensor coverage.

If the 17-40L didn't have a red ring on it, most crop camera users wouldn't give it a second thought. But of course, it has... :D
 
HoppyUK said:
If the 17-40L didn't have a red ring on it, most crop camera users wouldn't give it a second thought. But of course, it has... :D
Click to expand...

:plusone:

If your only buying for a crop camera then the EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS is a far better choice.
 
I have a 500D and i bought a 17-40mm L at the start of the week (still awaiting delivery).

My main reason for buying it is that I will be going full frame sometime soon (and getting the lenses I want sorted out before I do so i'm ready to go).

I have a 10-22 mm wide angle for my 500D at the moment so im just going to use the 17-40 as a walk about lens until I get the full frame then offload my 500D and 10-22 (although it will be with great pain that I lose my 10-22mm, love that lens).
 
Same here, I have the 70-200F4L and 17-40 F4L on my 500d and they both produce excellent results. I'm not a professional of course, but they work for me:thumbs:
 
boccers_2000 said:
I have a 500D and i bought a 17-40mm L at the start of the week (still awaiting delivery).

My main reason for buying it is that I will be going full frame sometime soon (and getting the lenses I want sorted out before I do so i'm ready to go).

I have a 10-22 mm wide angle for my 500D at the moment so im just going to use the 17-40 as a walk about lens until I get the full frame then offload my 500D and 10-22 (although it will be with great pain that I lose my 10-22mm, love that lens).
Click to expand...

Get the full framer as soon as you can. Until you've got the size of the sensor sorted, your effective focal lengths will be all over the place. 10-22 is a terrific lens, but the good news is the 17-40L is practically identical in every way on full frame, except it has all that extra full frame lovelyness.

Looks like you'll be needing a new walkabout zoom... ;)
 
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