Lens Advise Please !!!!

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ben_wtrs

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Name
Ben
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Hi
I got my Canon 40d about a year ago and am very happy with it.
I have a 18-55 is and a 50mm 1.8.

Now my dilema is i have freed up some cash and cant decide what to do with it.
i am quite happy with the images i am currently getting although i do find the colours a bit flat with the 18-55 (probably operator error!!!!!!)
But sometimes i'am looking for extra reach because my girls hate having me in there face.

Now as much as i would love the 17-55 2.8 i cant afford it.
Been thinking of a second hand 15-85 and still undecided.
i am now looking at the 70-200 f4 non is for the extra reach as i dont have any telephoto currently.

Now my problem is if i go with the 70-200 will this make my kit lens images look reallly poor. i am guessing it will.
how useable will it be on a crop sensor.
i suppose the only saving grace is they should not loose too much money if i go the wrong way.

Really i am looking for some advise because lots of you must have been through these sorts of dilemas (and i suppose it is all part of the fun of the hobby.)

any other suggestions would be great because i really cant make my mind up.
Obviously i am looking for the best i can get for my money but dont know which way to go.

So i think after all that rambling on i am asking "Do i upgrade my kit lens or go for something different?"

Thanks
Ben
 
You have the 18-55 range covered by the kit lens and the 50mm 1.8. You could replace the kit lens with something better but it's not going to help you do anything differently - and I'm assuming that's what you want to do. I'd say get the 70-200 F4, it'll provide you with something new and it's a very capable lens.

Once you have all the bases covered you could start to look at upgrading what you already have?
 
ben_wtrs said:
Hi
I got my Canon 40d about a year ago and am very happy with it.
I have a 18-55 is and a 50mm 1.8.

Now my dilema is i have freed up some cash and cant decide what to do with it.
i am quite happy with the images i am currently getting although i do find the colours a bit flat with the 18-55 (probably operator error!!!!!!)
But sometimes i'am looking for extra reach because my girls hate having me in there face.
Click to expand...

Are you shooting JPEG's or RAW?

If you aren't shooting RAW I think that you should consider doing so to get the best out of your images as "colours a bit flat" sounds to me like you need to boost the contrast and saturation to taste.

Other than that I find f4 zooms dull, in your place I'd go for a 85mm f1.8/1.4 :D or if you must replace the kit lens go for a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 or Sigma 18-50mm f2.8.

Personally I'd go for a longer fast prime and a quality f2.8 standard zoom before a longer f4 every time. Life's too short for boring f4 zooms IMVHO :D
 
the rich colours from a canon f4 L lens will blow your mind after the kit lens.. massive difference
 
If you are not happy with the colours from your kit lens then, as said, you can change the colour settings in the camera if you are shooting Jpg's. An alternative would be editing the images in software afterwards. Adobe Photoshop elements is very good and 'GIMP' is a free bit of software which is similar to the full version of Photoshop although it is a bit clunky to use.

The Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS is a pretty good lens and the Canon 55-250 f4-5.6 II IS is another sharp but cheap lens to consider. The 70-200 will ultimately give better IQ but it is reasonably heavy. Have a look on www.flickr.com at image examples taken with these lenses.
 
AndyWest said:
If you are not happy with the colours from your kit lens then, as said, you can change the colour settings in the camera if you are shooting Jpg's. An alternative would be editing the images in software afterwards. Adobe Photoshop elements is very good and 'GIMP' is a free bit of software which is similar to the full version of Photoshop although it is a bit clunky to use.

The Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS is a pretty good lens and the Canon 55-250 f4-5.6 II IS is another sharp but cheap lens to consider. The 70-200 will ultimately give better IQ but it is reasonably heavy. Have a look on www.flickr.com at image examples taken with these lenses.
Click to expand...

boosting contrast and clarity up will help, but to be fair the sliders will have to go right a long way till they match the output from 24-70mm L for example. It's just the way different glass renders the image
 
I had a 70-200 f4 L non IS and used it on a 550D, a 7D and a 5D2 and got some great 'very sharp' photos from it. If shooting Jpegs adjust the Picture Style in the camera menus and boost the colouring for desired results, if shooting raw you can adjust it in PP after. The colour rendering of the 70-200 is excellent and you will see a marked difference in shot quality between that and your kit lens. I had the 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS and while the 55-250 is IMO better than the 18-55 for IQ it's still nowhere as good as the 70-200 f4 L.
 
Back when I used a 400D, I was in the same situation as you - Camera, 18-55mm kit lens and a 50mm f1.8. I got myself the 70-200 f4L first, then later upgraded to a 7D and a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. That last upgrade was over 18 months ago, i'm very happy with my kit!

The 70-200mm will really make your camera sing, and yes, images from the 18-55mm will be naff in comparison. Don't worry though, because your next step could be saving for the Canon 17-55, or maybe a Tamron 17-50 if you don't want to wait as long!
 
Buying new lenses, expensive ones too, before looking at camera settings and how images are processed borders on madness IMVHO as you (OP) may still not be happy and may still find your images "a bit flat."

Also, if not already doing so you should IMVHO be shooting RAW and processing for best effect.
 
woof woof said:
Buying new lenses, expensive ones too, before looking at camera settings and how images are processed borders on madness IMVHO as you (OP) may still not be happy and may still find your images "a bit flat."

Also, if not already doing so you should IMVHO be shooting RAW and processing for best effect.
Click to expand...

I echoe this very loudly.

Have a longer lens, I agree with covering a wide range also having a low light lens...

However...

Assuming two photographers have the same skill, the better image will be the one that's processed better.

Perhaps get yourself in the processing forum and challenge yourself a bit in that department :)

As long as colour is in an image you can amplify it. Same as contrast etc. I'd be looking to improve processing skills along with (should you decide to get) a new lens.
 
Hi

Thanks for the input so far it has been very useful and has all been taken on board.

I have shot in raw from when I got the camera and always processed my images in dpp or cs5. But i am finding I am always having to push the saturation and contrast bars quite a way to the right to achieve what I am after. Now whether again that is down to my exposures or not I'm not to sure.
Here is a link to my Flickr account have a look and judge for yourselves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58887225@N06/
Now I am still learning the art of processing and don't claim to be a master so go easy on me!!!!
I was looking earlier at the 40d group on Flickr and see a lot of them are using the 17-40 l how does that rate as a lens because that also may be an option secondhand
Thanks
Ben
 
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ben_wtrs said:
Hi

Thanks for the input so far it has been very useful and has all been taken on board.

I have shot in raw from when I got the camera and always processed my images in dpp or cs5. But i am finding I am always having to push the saturation and contrast bars quite a way to the right to achieve what I am after. Now whether again that is down to my exposures or not I'm not to sure.
Here is a link to%2
Click to expand...

Can you give an example of a shot and what you would like done? Perhaps that could help????
 
Ben,

I don't think a new lens is your answer yet.
By a new lens when you feel restricted and want more from you. Buy a new body when YOU can't get anymore out of yourself (conditions etc).

Looking at your shots I think you should keep posting for critique and developed your skills in both areas inclduing the shooting and PP.

I doubt a lens is the answer ATM.

By all means buy another if you want but I think the potential for great shots is there but it looks like you're doing a lot of "experimenting"...I could be wrong?
 
Now don't get me wrong but surely "experimenting" is what it is all about?
And I am under no illusion that buying a new lens is going to turn me into some sort of photography genius. I know I have a lot to learn still both in shooting and pp but I can't see having some extra reach hurting and the way I am looking at it I might as well get the best glass I can afford.
 
ben_wtrs said:
Now don't get me wrong but surely "experimenting" is what it is all about?
And I am under no illusion that buying a new lens is going to turn me into some sort of photography genius. I know I have a lot to learn still both in shooting and pp but I can't see having some extra reach hurting and the way I am looking at it I might as well get the best glass I can afford.
Click to expand...

Didn't mean to offend you, just trying to direct you to where I think you will improve most...

Apologies any offence has been taken, that wasn't my intention.
 
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