Lens Selection

Rod Boughton

Rod Boughton

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Rod
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Hi everyone, i have decided to get some decent lens's, but i haven't got a bottomless pit of cash, so will be looking for probably second hand/used lenses.

I currently use a Canon 600D with a 1.6x crop sensor, and i have been using the Sigma 18-250mm as a general purpose lens, BUT, i am not always happy with the image quality and now want to buy some lens's (over a period of time) that will give me much better image quality and better sharpness.

I have listed below a set of lens's that i think will suit my needs perfectly (but i may be wrong). Do you experts out there believe i would be making the right choice, and more importantly will the image quality be far superior to the current Sigma that i use. Don't forget though i haven't just won the lottery!

The choices are :

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
or
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Thanking you in advance for your expert opinions.

Rod
 
Ah yes sorry forgot to mention that, I shoot a variety of subjects such as (in order of preference) landscapes/seascapes, closeups but not really macro, urban exploration, wildlife when possible, people but only as character studies and not very often.

I hope that helps.
 
Personally I would buy the 10-22mm and 24-105mm to get a good general range that covers the majority of subjects you want to capture and then add a long prime/zoom when you can afford to. I use the 10-22mm on a 600d and its a cracking lens, never used a 24-105mm but from all accounts its a good solid, sharp all-rounder.
 
You need 2 lenses from your list, EF24-105 and EF100-400, about wider angle lens you can always buy that later and they are cheaper, so start with wide-mid to long lenses, 24-105 will cover a lot of applications, and then 100-400 is for wildlife and some sports with enough lights, 10-22 is better for landscape/seascape and/or urban, but 24-105L will be just fine and later you may upgrade your camera to a full frame then that 10-22 will not work and you will replace it, buy as future-proof.
 
Hi Rod

If the 70-300 you're thinking of is the non L I'd go for the 100-400L. I've got a 70-300 is usm non L and it tends to be a bit soft over 210mm and needs stopping down to F8 to get really good results. It's a very good lens between 70 and 200mm.

I have a 24-105 F4 l but I use that on a 5D3, on my 60D I much prefer a EFs 17-55 F2.8 IS on a crop sensor. I found the 24-105 a bit long on a crop, but if you do go with the 10-22mm I suppose you'll have the wide end covered anyway.

Although I really like the 24-105 it is a tad disappointing for portraiture, I tend to use my 70-200 F2.8 L rather than the 24-105 if I can.

I always found my 50mm a bit too long on a crop but if you really need F1.8 then this is the cheapest way of getting it, I use it more now I have FF.

Hope that helps
 
D4rr3n said:
Hi Rod

If the 70-300 you're thinking of is the non L I'd go for the 100-400L. I've got a 70-300 is usm non L and it tends to be a bit soft over 210mm and needs stopping down to F8 to get really good results. It's a very good lens between 70 and 200mm.

I have a 24-105 F4 l but I use that on a 5D3, on my 60D I much prefer a EFs 17-55 F2.8 IS on a crop sensor. I found the 24-105 a bit long on a crop, but if you do go with the 10-22mm I suppose you'll have the wide end covered anyway.

Although I really like the 24-105 it is a tad disappointing for portraiture, I tend to use my 70-200 F2.8 L rather than the 24-105 if I can.

I always found my 50mm a bit too long on a crop but if you really need F1.8 then this is the cheapest way of getting it, I use it more now I have FF.

Hope that helps
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The problem is, when he may upgrade his camera, lenses can stay much longer in bag collection, but cameras don't, so i was thinking he may get a full frame camera such as 5D2/5D3 or even the cheapest one 6D then most lenses which are mid long will be just fine such as 24-105, this lens became my most used lens for landscapes with my 1Ds3 and 1DX cameras.
 
The 24-105L is pretty much my everyday lens, and covers most eventualities.

Great lens, love it!!

Dave
 
24-105 does not have enough at the wide end imho on crop - I'd recomend the 10-22.
 
By the way, Sigma just announced their new coming lens, 24-105 OS, so maybe this will be much equivalent to Canon ones quality, and maybe it will be cheaper than the Canon one, so get 100-400 to cover that long end, then wait a bit for this 24-105, and later you can buy something wider, Samyang/Rokinon 14mm both have good reputations, i am planning to buy that 14mm for ultra wide.

You see, you can have many options as lenses, just decide wisely, some lenses may not work later when bodies upgraded, and those are EF-s lenses such as Canon 10-22/Sigma 10-20 and Canon 17-55, buying it and selling it later is not a good idea in my mind, i regret that i bought few EF-s lenses before regardless of their great quality.
 
Professional said:
The problem is, when he may upgrade his camera, lenses can stay much longer in bag collection, but cameras don't, so i was thinking he may get a full frame camera such as 5D2/5D3 or even the cheapest one 6D then most lenses which are mid long will be just fine such as 24-105, this lens became my most used lens for landscapes with my 1Ds3 and 1DX cameras.
Click to expand...

Hi Tareq

If the 24-105 works for the OP on a crop then I wouldn't disagree with you. personally I don't like the 24-105 on a crop - but I know many do.

I believe that you should buy lenses that suit the camera you have.
 
D4rr3n said:
Hi Tareq

If the 24-105 works for the OP on a crop then I wouldn't disagree with you. personally I don't like the 24-105 on a crop - but I know many do.

I believe that you should buy lenses that suit the camera you have.
Click to expand...

Let him decide, and hope he will not do same mistake as i did.
 
1) First, decide what format you want to use. You currently use crop-format with the 600D, and there is no obvious reason for you to change to full-frame (most folks never do) but it's mentioned above. If you buy lenses now with half an eye-on full-frame, your outfit will be compromised and won't work as well as it should. Also, if you do go full-frame, your lenses will behave quite differently so will likely need changing anyway, so don't worry about it and get the right gear for now. Quality kit always sells easily for good prices.

2) Get one good lens, the one you're going to use most - most likely standard range zoom. Quality options include Canon 17-55 2.8, or 15-85. Don't buy anything else yet.

3) Use that for a bit, then build your system one lens at a time. For the big expensive stuff, suggest get to try/hire first. Eg, there's a huge difference between the quite compact 70-300 IS you've mentioned, and in the same breath the thumping great 100-400L. Other options include 70-200L 2.8 with an extender, and 70-300L is also a nice compromise.

4) Don't forget a decent flash gun :)
 
Last edited:
HoppyUK said:
1) First, decide what format you want to use. You currently use crop-format with the 600D, and there is no obvious reason for you to change to full-frame (most folks never do) but it's mentioned above. If you buy lenses now with half an eye-on full-frame, your outfit will be compromised and won't work as well as it should. Also, if you do go full-frame, your lenses will behave quite differently so will likely need changing anyway, so don't worry about it and get the right gear for now. Quality kit always sells easily for good prices.

2) Get one good lens, the one you're going to use most - most likely standard range zoom. Quality options include Canon 17-55 2.8, or 15-85. Don't buy anything else yet.

3) Use that for a bit, then build your system one lens at a time. For the big expensive stuff, suggest get to try/hire first. Eg, there's a huge difference between the quite compact 70-300 IS you've mentioned, and in the same breath the thumping great 100-400L. Other options include 70-200L 2.8 with an extender, and 70-300L is also a nice compromise.

4) Don't forget a decent flash gun :)
Click to expand...

This is the only advice you need. Especially the first point.
 
Which do you think is the best out of the 17-55 and the 15-85. ?
 
Bobby uk said:
Which do you think is the best out of the 17-55 and the 15-85. ?
Click to expand...

If best means cheapest, then 17-85. If you mean sharpest, then 15-85. The extra 2mm at the wide end also makes a useful difference.
 
StewartR said:
Shame that the 17-85 isn't one of the lenses he's interested in. :razz:
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Haha :lol: I should read more carefully :D

17-55 and 15-85 are closely matched for sharpness, both excellent. 17-55 runs f/2.8 throughout, compared to the 15-85's f/3.5-5.6 but usefully more focal length range. Neither is best, or worst.
 
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