Need help!!!

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kieron
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Hi guys, i'm looking to get my girfriend a birthday/anniversary present and it needs to be a good one because i messed up last year big time. She currently has a canon 1100d body and a 17-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens and a 55-200mm 4.something to 5.6. I've been told that upgrading the lens is the most important aspect.

Heres the question, i've been looking online and it seems that everybody raves about the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens, but it it stupid sticking one of these on her 1100d. Can't afford this lens and a new camera. Should i get her a less good lens and a new camera body as well or just go for the lens?

She mostly takes pictures of horses, so moving animals and she can't use a flash. Most of the time she can get reasonably close but sometimes she's at a distance hence the long lens. Hope someone can help!
 
if she uses the 18-55 lens alot, then something like a 50mm 1.8 would be a good buy, but how much you got to spend? maybe try to find out what type of lens she wants? or where she struggles with current equipment
 
I know this is quite general but she says her current photos are just not particularly sharp. She also has trouble shooting in low light as she can't use a flash. I'm looking to spend £1500 approx.
 
Lens upgrade is usually the way to go, but in this case I would suggest a new camera.

Canon 7d ticks all the boxes and maybe add a fast prime lens, like the Canon 100mm f2.

And your save yourself few quid too.
 
£1500 on an anniversary present?... if shes not happy after that, I'll take you. lol

Is it the 17-55 or 18-55 she has at the moment? Big difference! The reason I ask that is because the 17-55 is the best general zoom you can get for crop sensor so if she's used to that then the 70-200IS 2.8 will be an amazing combo.

I think the two lenses are the best you can get covering that range but the body doesn't match it.

*Just re-read your post. It'll be the 18-55 she's got if its f3.5-5.6.

My advice which would blow her away and be 3 great presents would be:

Canon 60D
17-55mm f2.8
70-200 f4

Brand new from Amazon that's £1800 but if you buy one or both lenses second hand, or if you trade in her exisitng equipment that'd be in budget.

Ive had that combination and the 60D with 17-55 is amazing. The 70-200 f4 is very sharp and all together that's an impressive lineup.

Personally, the 70-200 2.8 IS is wasted on an 1100D. Its very heavy as well. Not a balanced combo and would become difficult for most women to carry for a while (no sexism intended).

On thay note, the 60D may be too bulky so.an alternative is the 600D, 650D or 700D which are all big upgrades on the 1100D but are smaller than the 60D.
 
if it was me i would be looking for a 2nd hand sigma 50-500mm and poss a 2nd hand 7d
 
Thanks for all the help guys. I've decided on to go with your advice phall, but i've looked around and if i get both lenses second had i can probably afford to get her the 7d. Hopefully this will acquire me enough brownie points to get a lads weekend away this year!
 
Have you looked at the 7D thread (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=500327)? I was thinking of getting one until I read that and other threads with similar reports about noise and the care you need to take to avoid it. I would expect a camera like that to perform better and not to have to resort to Lightroom or Elements to fix issues.

I have (had until my wife decided she liked it!) a 60D and I've been really pleased with the results. You might want to stick with that rather than stretch to the 7D.
 
digital said:
Have you looked at the 7D thread (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=500327)? I was thinking of getting one until I read that and other threads with similar reports about noise and the care you need to take to avoid it. I would expect a camera like that to perform better and not to have to resort to Lightroom or Elements to fix issues.

I have (had until my wife decided she liked it!) a 60D and I've been really pleased with the results. You might want to stick with that rather than stretch to the 7D.
Click to expand...

In most cases, complaints about the 7D are generated by user error and not understanding the camera!

One quick question before you opt for the 70-200/4:

Which types of equestrian sport is your girlfriend shooting and how often is it in an indoor arena?
 
DemiLion said:
In most cases, complaints about the 7D are generated by user error and not understanding the camera!
Click to expand...

The noise issue seems to be a "user error" that's also made by several reviewers/bloggers/review sites since this camera was introduced.
 
If she's shooting moving animals without flash then you need to have a lens with a wide aperture (if you're not familer, then thats a lower 'f' number, so in your case f2.8 is better than f4 or f5.6). That pretty much rules out the sigma 50-500mm.

You mention that she can't always get as close as she wants, and you mention a long lens, therefore the first choice should be getting something at least 200mm.

Just buying a lens on its own, then the canon 70-200mm f2.8 mark II is easily the best option in the quality stakes, but there are a few other options available to you.

Canon 70-200mm f2.8 - £958 new. Not quite as good as the above lens, but still and excellent performer and would allow further purchases to make the basis of a good system.

Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 OS - £850 new. Same as the last paragraph.

Getting one of those 2 lenses would allow you to get a camera as well, £585 gets you a 60d to bolt onto the lens.

All these prices are from http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk which are UK stock, but if you don't mind buying grey imports (whole other discussion!) then you will get cheaper prices from places like HDEW cameras. That might even allow you to get a 7d instead of the 60d, or add a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 which is a lot cheaper than the canon version but very close in terms of quality.
 
digital said:
After a lot of reading about this I would substitute 'some' for 'most'.
Click to expand...

Have to agree, I've never had an issue with noise, even at 1600ISO. Just expose the image properly !

And my advice would be to get a 60D and a 17-55 f2.8. If she wants a fast long lens she can sell the other two to fund it.
 
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