What are the ideal lenses to cover from wide to tele if money is not an issue?

[CS TAN]

Hi guys, I need some advice on the full range of Canon lenses:

A colleague of mine recently asked my advice about getting lenses for his future dSLR system. He has decided on Canon 40D but is not sure what lenses to get. He will be shooting mostly landscape and portrait with occasional indoor family/party shots.

He has reasonably high income and doesn’t mind paying good money for good lenses. Having said that, he also doesn’t want to waste money on something he won’t be using. He is around 55 years old (important factor to consider for the weight of the lenses/IS).

I have done some research over the net and in CS as I am not very familiar with most of the Canon lenses. It seems to me if money is not a big issue, he should be looking for mostly “L” lenses since these are the better quality ones.

Here is the initial list that I’ve come up with:

1) EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5 (16mm-35mm) – I don’t think he will need a fast lens on the wide end of the range [13.6 oz]
2) EF 24-70/2.8L (38mm-112mm) – walk-around lens and fast enough for indoor family/party shots [2.1 lb]
3a) EF 70-200/4.0L IS (112mm-320mm) – weight a lot less than the 2.8L IS counterpart [1.7 lb]
3b) EF 70-200/2.8L IS (112mm-320mm) – seems like a great lens highly recommended by most but it is heavy [3.2 lb]
4) EF 50/1.4 (80mm) – sharp, small, light, inexpensive and fast. [10.2 oz]

For the telephoto lens, I have included IS in both as I don’t think he has steady hands but am wondering should I recommend the lighter lens since the weight difference is almost double.

1+2+3a+4 (S$1,100+2,100+1,800+600) will be around 5.6K
1+2+3b+4 (S$1,100+2,100+2,900+600) will be around 6.7K

Is there any other options or suggestions? BTW, He won’t be considering 3rd party lenses.

Thanks in advance.

[iRaphael]

maybe if he doesn't really have steady hands and the weight is a factor, he could go for the EF-S range?

10-22, 17-55 and 55-250?

these lenses are pretty light compared to the above.

[CS TAN]

Thanks for your suggestion, it does look like another option since both have IS and my colleagues most likely will not be switching to FF camera so EF-S is a very good alternate option.

The EF-S 17-55 seems to be a very good lens. Some say its image quality matches that of the L lenses since it shares the L lenses' UD element. I am not sure about the 55-250, do you have any comments regarding the image quality of this lens?

[Garion]

My choices:

1) EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 (cover the wide range, good for landscapes and travels)
2) EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS (general walkaround lens with great image quality)
3) EF 70-200mm f4L IS (sharp and fairly lightweight L zoom with IS)

[CS TAN]

70-200/4L IS seems to be a good compromise if the weight is an issue as compare to the 2.8L IS

[doodah]

Originally Posted by Garion My choices: 1) EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 (cover the wide range, good for landscapes and travels) 2) EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS (general walkaround lens with great image quality) 3) EF 70-200mm f4L IS (sharp and fairly lightweight L zoom with IS)

I agree with these choices 'cos that's what I am using now.

[CS TAN]

With the experience gain with these lenses, do you feel there is a better choice in any one of the other lenses? i.e. would you make a different decision if you are starting from scratch?

Thanks.

[nams]

Hi Tan,

I think your shortlisted lenses are pretty good choices really. If budget is no issue, I would go for

1) EF-S 10-22 f3.5-4.5 – covers the wide angle
2) EF 24-70 f2.8L or f24-105 f4L IS– great walk-around lens
3) EF 70-200 f4.0L IS – covers the tele end. A lot more portable than the f2.8L
4) EF 35 f1.4 – for those occasional low light interior shots

shd cost $6k upwards if bought new

[ditikolon]

EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM or EF 17-40 f/4L USM for the general purpose lens. EF 16-35 f/2.8L mkII is a great lens too. But significantly more expensive and covers less range though it has a larger aperture than the 17-40. And filter size is bigggg.

EF 70-200 f/4L IS for the telephoto zoom.

EF-S 55-250 IS is a good and sharp lens with a UD element, but since money is not an option 70-200 f/4L IS is still quite a manageable lens for the weight aspect (it's also not much bigger than 55-250 IS anyway, but has great optical quality across the zoom range and has USM.

I feel that he doesn't need to buy the ultra wide angle first. EF-S 10-22 mm can wait till he feels he really wants to shoot the UWA range. My 2 cents!

Actually all the abovementioned lenses should be manageable to 55yo la. Got some uncles past 60 shooting 100-400 But if this is a concern maybe it would be wise to avoid 70-200 f/2.8L, it is quite a bulky (and heavy) thing regardless of age.

Oh, and don't forget to get a flash!

[CS TAN]

Originally Posted by nams Hi Tan, I think your shortlisted lenses are pretty good choices really. If budget is no issue, I would go for 1) EF-S 10-22 f3.5-4.5 – covers the wide angle 2) EF 24-70 f2.8L or f24-105 f4L IS– great walk-around lens 3) EF 70-200 f4.0L IS – covers the tele end. A lot more portable than the f2.8L 4) EF 35 f1.4 – for those occasional low light interior shots shd cost $6k upwards if bought new

Thanks for your input. My thoughts on my original shortlist was that since money is not a big issue for him, I would try to get the higher end products but not in the expense of a really heavy lens since if he is not going to use it becos of the weight, it really defeats the purpose of owning one.

On item 4), any reason why you would prefer the 35mm over the 55mm?

[CS TAN]

Originally Posted by ditikolon I feel that he doesn't need to buy the ultra wide angle first. EF-S 10-22 mm can wait till he feels he really wants to shoot the UWA range. My 2 cents!

I always thought the 10-22 mm is a very good lens to bring on an oversea trip. Usually people will take a lot of landscape shots and this is a great lens to have since you don't want to carry too many lenses with you on a trip. It will be a good companion lens together with a EF-S 17-55 mm F2.8 IS on an overseas trip.

[ditikolon]

Originally Posted by CS TAN I always thought the 10-22 mm is a very good lens to bring on an oversea trip. Usually people will take a lot of landscape shots and this is a great lens to have since you don't want to carry too many lenses with you on a trip. It will be a good companion lens together with a EF-S 17-55 mm F2.8 IS on an overseas trip.

Yup, it definitely is a good lens when paired up with what you said, EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS although on a trip I'd rather pack the very light ol' 18-55 with a 55-250 IS, or just bring one WA prime along to save weight. Hehe. I don't shoot the wide angle range often back in SG so my 2 cents of advice would be to hold back on this lens until he feels he needs it. 17 on a crop body is usally wide enough for most settings, though distortion at 17mm should be less pronounced on 10-22!

I'm just curious... he planning to get the lenses and body all at one shot? That'd be a massive amount of toys to handle at one go. Hahaha.

[CS TAN]

Well, he has the money to do everything in one shot but I will definitely advice him to get the lenses in different phases. Most likely, it will be a walkaround lens to start with the 40D body and then add the tele or WA lens later depending on his priority.

[Fragnatic]

Originally Posted by ditikolon I'm just curious... he planning to get the lenses and body all at one shot? That'd be a massive amount of toys to handle at one go. Hahaha.

yalo.. so many lenses and stuff to try out.

if he's gd at handling dSLRs and stuff, mayb can.
else get some to try out 1st.

[dirtdynamics]

No budget ...erm..... so so nice to be able to consider that

My 2cents

10-22 (for wide landscape)
+
50 1.2L for indoors potraits
+
70-200 F4 IS

---------------------------------------------

If he dun mind the weight and will upgrade the body in the near future

16-35 MK II
+
85 L
+
70-200 F4 IS

[CS TAN]

He is one of those old timers who use to play with film SLRs. I think he had a Canon A1 or AE1 (can't remember) with lots of FD lenses and now he is trying to pick up the digital photography as he get closer to his retirement. He is planning to go on vacation in Europe as soon as the weather allows which can be some time in May/June. That is why he is eager to get his gears in and get familiar with them before the trip.

[flipfreak]

i would think getting the EFS 17-55 is not a wise move unless the person has been using APS-C cameras and full frame and is certain abt not changing cameras. i have seen a little too many examples of ppl getting the 40D and switching to the 5D within 6mths.

i would think the EF 17-40 as a first lens for a canon user is a good move.

but of cos since u mentioned your friend is well off, that may not be an issue.

[CS TAN]

That is a very valid concern. I guess I will have to explain the difference between EF and EF-S lenses to him clearly and let him make up his own mind. However, without the APS-C and full frame experience, I doubt he will be able to make a knowledgeable decision.

The safest way will be getting only EF lenses but the wide end is limited.

[CYRN]

$$ no issue, then get a 1D/5D wif 24-105/f4 L IS for general shoting.

17-40/f4 L for WA and 70-200/f4 L IS for tele... Canon /f4 trinity.

And get a 50/1.4 for low light shoot.

edit* btw if he's going for holiday in europe.. also get some extra storage and cf and batts. dun forget charger.

[CS TAN]

I think my colleague pretty much decided on 40D already. Let him find out whether he will move to x1.3 or FF later. Perhaps, I can get a cheap 2nd hand 40D from him with all the lenses I can borrow.