newbie kit guidance

[Mr Bennett]

Hi

My first post!

I was a keen photographer back in the late 80s so know about apertures, focal lengths etc but have lots to learn about what the digital age has to offer (never had IS, autofocus, variable ISO etc!)

I have done a fair bit of research and have a few things on my wish list but can't have it all!

Plan to do quite a lot of wildlife shots including birds and macro work on insects and plants. Also want to take people shots and landscapes so looking for input from the forum re my wish list and alternatives

Here are my thoughts so far, so please give me the benefit of your experiences

The wildlife side of things is pushing me towards a crop option so looking to get a set up based around a Canon 7D

Liking what I have read about the Canon EF 100-400 L as the main wildlife lens and the 100mm 2.8 L macro

Thinking that a teleconverter can wait or may not really be any better than cropping with the 100-400?

Also keen on ultra wide and getting some extreme shots with that so leaning towards the Sigma 8-16 more than the Canon 10-22. Is the Sigma significantly wider than the Canon?

Really struggling to work out what to do between the ultra wide and the 100-400
Originally thought I might go for the Canon 24-105 L and live with the gap
At the wide end even if I went for the 8-16, as I could walk closer in most cases

Then started thinking that a fast midrange zoom would be more practical as a walkabout and portrait option and the Canon 17-55 2.8 or the Sigma 17-50 2.8 get good reviews

Now I would have a gap from 50/55 to 100!

So could I realistically fill that by walking? Do i really need to fill it?I am struggling to find a zoom to fit in here without significant overlap. Any harm in still getting the 24-105 L and have overlap or might a prime 85 be a better option?

If so, narrowed it down to the Canon or the Sigma 85 1.8. Have found mixed reviews on each so let me know your thoughts (is the Sigma worth the extra money and is the Canon as good as some say?)

My big concern is around what I have read about the "Sigma lottery". I read a lot about poor focussing on Sigmas, but do not know if most are fine and you just hear more about the bad ones.
Can the bad ones be fixed by the 7d's micro focus adjust or do they need to go back to the manufacturers?
Would that be more difficult if I got them from a company such as HDEW, Panamoz or Digitalrev who do their own warranties?

So many questions, but my head is spinning with all the choices!

Would really appreciate any thoughts on my shortlist and any alternatives I may have overlooked

Thanks a lot

 

[HoppyUK]

Welcome to TP

Wow, that's quite a list, and looks well thought out, but seriously, don't go and buy it all in one go. It's too much, too many options, too much choice, and too much potential for error. You won't know how one lens relates to another until you have used them all a bit, when it will be too late.

Start with the camera and main lens. That would be 7D and 17-55 2.8 IS IMHO. Very safe choice. Get to know that first, then build a system around it, one step at a time. Don't forget a flash gun, or two.

 

[magicaxeman]

I think your camera choice is pretty sound, and it has one added bonus that can help with errant siggys, micro focus adjust, it lets you fine tune the autofocus to each of your lenses.

A TC would be a no go with the 100-400 as it would push it past F5.6 so it wouldnt auto focus.

There are some area's where you could save money to allow you to expand you initial lens range.. one would be on the macro.. the tamron SP90 F2.8 is under half the price of the canon equivalent, yet is still a very sharp and capable lens

I think if I was in your shoes ( I wish I was lol) my list would probably be.

7D + couple of batteries/cards/bag
Canon 100-400
Canon 24 - 105
Canon or siggy 10-22
Tamron SP 90 macro

That little lot would cover most bets and you could even use a 1.4x tc on the 24-105 if you wanted to extend its range.

 

[Mr Bennett]

Wise words from HoppyUK (Thanks for saving me from myself!!)

I think I was getting overexcited and wanting to get the complete setup from the start

So a basic setup it will be (fairly) for now and I shall get totally familiar with that over the coming months and see what I want to do but can't, and fill those gaps in time

This has the advantage that I can afford to feed my children as well

So Canon 7D as body with the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS (unless someone can convince me that the Sigma 17-50 is a better alternative (absolute quality rather than value)) as the main setup and the only concession will be that I shall definitely start with the 100-400 L too as the bit I am really really looking forward to is the wildlife.

The TC is happily ruled out thanks to incandler

As and when I am ready I shall do new posts for recommendations on the rest of the kit



Just for final peace of mind is the general view that the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS is a better bet than the Canon EF 17-40mm f4L USM on the 7D crop? (I have read that in several places but did fancy the red ring!) - weatherproofing is not too important to me - and how does the absolute quality of the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM compare to the Canon 17-50 2.8 IS (price aside)

Many thanks again to iancandler and HoppyUK and let me know your thoughts on the 17-55 alternatives

 

[HoppyUK]

Wise words from HoppyUK (Thanks for saving me from myself!!)

I think I was getting overexcited and wanting to get the complete setup from the start

So a basic setup it will be (fairly) for now and I shall get totally familiar with that over the coming months and see what I want to do but can't, and fill those gaps in time

This has the advantage that I can afford to feed my children as well

So Canon 7D as body with the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS (unless someone can convince me that the Sigma 17-50 is a better alternative (absolute quality rather than value)) as the main setup and the only concession will be that I shall definitely start with the 100-400 L too as the bit I am really really looking forward to is the wildlife.

The TC is happily ruled out thanks to incandler

As and when I am ready I shall do new posts for recommendations on the rest of the kit



Just for final peace of mind is the general view that the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS is a better bet than the Canon EF 17-40mm f4L USM on the 7D crop? (I have read that in several places but did fancy the red ring!) - weatherproofing is not too important to me - and how does the absolute quality of the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM compare to the Canon 17-50 2.8 IS (price aside)

Many thanks again to iancandler and HoppyUK and let me know your thoughts on the 17-55 alternatives

If cost is not a major consideration, the only alternative to the 17-55 2.8 is the Canon 15-85. It's high quality, and trades focal length range for the low f/number (you can't have everything ). 17-40L is a great super-wide on full frame, but makes very little sense on a cropper.

100-400L is also a fairly safe choice. They hold value well too, as do most high grade lenses.