Lenses - building from the ground up...

skeg · Post by **skeg** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:45 pm

hey,

as a new Canonist - I slowly start to build up my lens collection (will be a long process, I guess...), I have some eye for what I need, but any advice/experience is welcomed from your side...
I bought a 50mm 1.4 as a first step, and decided to go with Nikon manual lenses for film, and Canon L for photo/video.
I have a sweet deal on the 24-105, will check it out tomorrow, but I'm thinking about a 16-35 2.8 or a 17-40 4, a 70-200 4 (cheap/small and excellent optics-my fav zoom range), later the 70-200 2.8 IS...

My most used Nikkors on travel were a 80-200 2.8, fix 20mm2.8, and 16mm fisheye 2.8.

Rich Knoles · Post by **Rich Knoles** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:55 pm

I have the 16-35 f2.8 and the 70-200 f4 on the recommendation of the board. I'm amazed at the 70-200. Very sharp. Very light. well priced. Fits in the new Ortlieb bags. Not sure the 2.8 will. The 16-35 f2.8 is very nice, but heavy. Peter Morse and some others recommended the 17-40 f4. Walking around glass.

Morsie · Post by **Morsie** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:38 am

The 70-200 f4 is an incredible lens for the money - and for the fact that its so light. I'll be getting the IS version next as mine has just about reached its used by date.
The 17-40 sits on my 5D in an underwater housing, great piece of kit, so useful.
The other lens that I think any serious fly fishing photog should carry is a macro of some sort. I have an old 50mm f2.5. Incredibly sharp but slow focusing, it grinds away like its got sand in it but its just an old lens. There's a 60 macro that in this country is around $600, I'll probably replace the 50. The 100 is also a great macro and there's a newish IS version of that. I'm just looking for pure practicality because after all I have to carry it around on my back.

Shot with the 50 macro.

And the 17-40 in its housing - water clarity was an issue unfortunately - strong winds.

Morsie

Morsie · Post by **Morsie** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:52 am

I think the 24-105 is the ultimate walk around lens but not on a smaller sensor camera, only with a full sized sensor.

Morsie

skeg · Post by **skeg** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:54 am

Thanks Mo'&Ri',

I'm "lensing up" my 5D

skeg · Post by **skeg** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:44 pm

Morsie,

could you just talk about a bit what kind of UW-housing do U use for yer 5D?

thanks.

Morsie · Post by **Morsie** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:45 am

One of these Peter, just don't go deep.

http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod7701.htm

Morsie

Allows shots like this too. This is what I really bought it for - foul weather shots as well as underwater stuff.

skeg · Post by **skeg** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:27 am

Thanks Morsie,

I've seen these housings, somehow these plastic bags always make me cringe...no big loss in image quality?

Morsie · Post by **Morsie** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:47 am

There is a better one, made in Germany I believe, with a much higher quality glass but I was quoted something like $500 for it. This one does the job. I really take my time to seal it properly.

Morsie

Janesch · Post by **Janesch** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:08 pm

Ah, macro and fish eye on my list for now, but maybe i need full frame first

Will talk about when i decide and collect some money...
Just little thought about 16-35 2.8.
Few weeks ago, friend ask me to shoot his gig in local club. Light was total crap (red, worst light possible), i wanted to shoot whole crowd no flash. On my 17-40 wide open at f4 i was thinking "Man it would be nice to have 16-35 now"

So i stick to 50 mm 1.4 most of the night. With better body then 400D i`m sure i would overcome that problem.

Cheers, Janko

skeg · Post by **skeg** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:08 pm

I've got a 24-105...testing phase.
I already feel that I'll need something at the wider end and a 70-200, but for now, it looks like probably the best "jack of all trades"-lens.

Janesch · Post by **Janesch** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:15 pm

That`s really good one and only to walk around lens :;):

Crackaig · Post by **Crackaig** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:51 pm

Recently invested in a Sigma 18-250 OS. Its not as fast as some of the lenses you are talking about here, but covers the range well. I've been very impressed so far.

Cheers,
C.

skeg · Post by **skeg** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:33 pm

just a li'le update:

...after a few months of chewing my next step - reading tests, talking to my pro friends, and trying to stay sound (never succeed), I've got today a non IS- 70-200 f2.8 L...
I tried a friend's IS II, and it's really a wonderglass, but I'll go for a 16-35 2.8 as a next move...
I'm doomed.
Anyway, the 24 - 105 is really a nice glass, only remarks, that I would like to have sometimes more on the wide end, and it hunts quite lot in an environment with less light (on a 5D)
I just shot a few pics with the 70-200, and the autofocus is really fast and exact, and the sharpness and colour rendering really superb.

a few misty shots with the 24-105(sorry-no fish):

Janesch · Post by **Janesch** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:36 am

Congrats Peter :;): I know youl`ll enjoy them a lot in future.

The Archived Board

The Archived Board

Lenses - building from the ground up...

Lenses - building from the ground up...

Who is online