Fast zooms for family shots

FreakAccidentBoy

FreakAccidentBoy

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Jason
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Ok, I'm very new here and thought I'd sieve your collective knowledge base for a bit of information. I've done a quick search but not found the exact facts I'm after. If they do exist, then please excuse the faux pas of repetition.

What I'm really after is some input on what sort of lenses people here use for indoor family type candid shots. I have a little girl who is nearly 2 and seriously needs someone to invent baby valium....and like all parents she seems to be the subject of most of my shots. I love using primes but would like the convenience of a fast zoom as a more general piece of kit.

Currently I have a canon 40D with a nifty fifty and a 28-135. I'm not sure I could stretch to L series lenses but wondered what people here use in terms of fast zooms for these kinds of shots. Do you stick with the 17-50, 24-70 or 70-200 range and are any of the 3rd party lenses in these ranges worth their salt (I've heard good things about the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 non VC, but opinions seem to differ on some of the others).

In the end I'll probabl;y be looking at secondhand, budget maybe up to £500 if I can stretch things.

sorry for the rambling post, happy to be here
J
 
Hi Jason,

I have found my 50mm 1.8 to be great indoors.

However, I have just bought a Canon 17-55 2.8 and find this excellent. I was torn between this or the non VC Tamron that you mentioned. I decided to go for this, as it has IS, plus if I bought the Tamron, I would probably exchange it in the future for the Canon anyway. On top of that, I got a good price on an excellent 17-55 with a 12 month warranty.
 
Yep, I have heard very good things about this lens. Seems to be usually above the top end of my budget unfortunately, even second hand.

Due to moving house recently and a car that has decided that moving is just for the common people and not something that should be done in polite society, my spending limit is pretty firm.

You have no idea how much I wish it wasn't
 
I picked mine up for £500, and one sold on here recently for £520.

I am sure you could find one for £500.

But then it comes down to, how much of £500 are you comfortable spending? If you would rather spend less, then go for the Tamron.
 
That's a very good price. Maybe I should start looking right away.

I know what you mean about being comfortable with how much you are spending. I always find it really easy to go over the top when buying presents for loved ones, but get really guilty when spending money on myself.

So with the 17-55, do you feel at all limited at the top end of the zoom range. I don't tend to do landscapes etc so wasn't sure if I should be looking at something with more reach for extra versatility (those odd trips to the zoo and so forth)
 
I'm in a similar situation to you and have been using my 28mm 1.8 which is grabbing some lovely shots but I too feel the need for some scope to adjust the shot without having to move myself all the time. I'm eyeing up the 16-35mm though, pricey at pretty much 1k but a friend has this and raves about it. Fortunately getting a chance to borrow it for a while first...

That actually may be something you want to try, hiring a lens for a week from somewhere like http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/ to decide on what would suit you best.

S/H prices of fast Canon zoom seem rather high IMO, only a small saving off new so that may well dictate your decision.

3rd party lenses are OK but rarely a substitute for the Canon version, though appreciate their price does make them seem a good option.
 
Hmmm, hadn't even thought of hiring a lens....good suggestion.

There are a lot of canon users at work here (I work in visual effects so we also need stills cameras when we go out on set, ours are canon so I guess that influences us). Maybe I'll ask around and see who might be willing to lend me some lenses
 
I got the 17-55 that sold for £520

It's lush!

:thumbs:

Wait out for one to turn up on the forum, it's worth it
 
Oh dear, looks like I might be spending all my budget then.

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned anything with a longer reach though
 
Mad Badger said:
I got the 17-55 that sold for £520

It's lush!

:thumbs:

Wait out for one to turn up on the forum, it's worth it
Click to expand...
Glad you like it, mate. :) It's a magical lens and well worth waiting for over the Tamron simply because the af is so much faster and more accurate. IS is a bonus too.
 
FreakAccidentBoy said:
Oh dear, looks like I might be spending all my budget then.

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned anything with a longer reach though
Click to expand...

That is what I was looking for mate. I found myself on a couple of occasions in Paris wishing that I had longer than the 17-55. Mainly for candid shots, so that I wasn't in peoples faces. Everything else I could just foot zoom.

However, I have settled on saving for a 70-200 for when/if I need to go longer.

If it were me, I'd get the 17-55 and then save for a zoom lens.
 
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