Lens Advice.

SealBeard

SealBeard

Messages
2,070
Name
Rob
Edit My Images
No
Hello everyone - and yes, I'm afraid its another one of those threads, I apologize - but please bare with me :)

Here is my issue - I do 90% portraiture, I do the bulk of my work with a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS for head/shoulder shots, and If I have space half body shots. For anything wider I have to resort to a 50mm f/1.8 or 17-85mm f/4-5.6.

I'm going to sell the 50mm to a friend because if I'm honest I don't use it nearly enough, and I generally hate it (also on a 1.6 sensor I feel its not wide enough).

The kit lens is pretty horrible, its soft, no good in low-light (which I need) and the 85mm is wasted since I already have it covered. I'm also going to sell this once I can replace it.

So here is my predicament, what are my options for wider constant aperture lens'. I have considered the sigma 30mm 1.4 prime, but its a DC lens and would be no good for when I upgrade from x1.6 to full-frame down the line. Same goes for the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II (which I found very attractive from reviews) and needless to say the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM :(

I cant stretch to more L glass, so I feel like I'm running out of options now :bang:

Can anyone offer some advice, I would appreciate a lot :bonk:
 
but its a DC lens and would be no good for when I upgrade from x1.6 to full-frame down the line
Click to expand...

Why do people think like this? Take the opportunities when they come along - grab life by the balls. you might get run over by a bus in a week's time.
 
bomberman said:
Why do people think like this? Take the opportunities when they come along - grab life by the balls. you might get run over by a bus in a week's time.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking like this because come 3 months time, I may be upgrading to a 5D Mk II which would better suit my needs (if I can avoid the buses until then).
Therefore I don't see the point in spending maybe £400 on something that's going to unusable after that. Being a student and not having a regular income, I'm trying to plan ahead.

:)
 
If your going full frame Maybe you should hang on to the 50mm as it will be wider with the 5DII anyway.

You may not even need any lenses as the 70-200mm will cover a different length also. 1.6 crop it's 112-320mm.
 
How about a Canon 100mm USM f/2.8 macro

Very nice for portraits and cheaper than the L lenses
 
thank you all for your good advice,

I was, and maybe still am tempted by the sigma 30 1.4... I feel for the money I have available, its probably going to be wise to maybe go with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II, I think for the money its a pretty good lens from what I have read, and will cover most of the range the 70-200 will not.

After selling my 50mm and kit lens it should more than cover the Tamron with more to spare :)

Even though it wont work when I do upgrade to FF, neither will the lens I have now, so I'm not really losing anything. I can always buy another 2nd hand 50mm down the line and it wont set me back to much if I feel I want another :)

thanks again for your info! :thumbs:
 
If you really want full frame, then get it now because it's confusing your choices. A used 5D is about £800 isn't it? With the focal length effect it will sort out all your lens problems and you should have everything nicely covered with the 50 and 70-200. You could then sell everything else to raise the cash. Sure, that kind of changes everything, but that's what full frame does - it changes everything.

If you want to continue the fudge of trying to run two compromised systems at once (the one you've got, and the one you might get sometime in the future) get an EF 28 1.8.

A third option is to embrace crop format properly and get the 17-55 2.8. That's what I'd do. In fact, that's what I have done ;)
 
The OP meant a 5D mk II, as I imagine they can't be selling for £800 used.
 
mumrar said:
The OP meant a 5D mk II, as I imagine they can't be selling for £800 used.
Click to expand...

I suggested a used 5D because the OP said 'upgrade to full frame' and it's the format issue that is driving the dilemma on focal lengths.

If there's a big difference between the 5D and the 5DMkII in this respect, then it suggests to me that maybe the bigger format is not perhaps the primary lure and that another format might be a good alternative. Either way, it concentrates the mind, and that is what I think the OP needs to consider.
 
cheers for all the suggestions peeps,

I'v been in bed with the flu I'm afraid so I'v only just checked the thread for the first time in a few days. I have decided to keep things simple for my sanity sake and embrace the crop :D 15-50mm 2.8 is on its way as we speak (or at least I hope it is)
 
Rob_Ashton said:
cheers for all the suggestions peeps,

I'v been in bed with the flu I'm afraid so I'v only just checked the thread for the first time in a few days. I have decided to keep things simple for my sanity sake and embrace the crop :D 15-50mm 2.8 is on its way as we speak (or at least I hope it is)
Click to expand...

You mean 17-55 2.8? I don't think you'll regret it, nor the crop format. Crop cameras are getting better all the time, and that lens is really good.

If you do want to change, it will sell quickly for a good price :thumbs:
 
HoppyUK said:
You mean 17-55 2.8? I don't think you'll regret it, nor the crop format. Crop cameras are getting better all the time, and that lens is really good.

If you do want to change, it will sell quickly for a good price :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Ah yes your right - my brains not working today, to many Beachams flu pills lol :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top