Canon 17-40 L f4 or 70-200 L f4

tolitz · 19th August 2004

Hi pips wanna ask, which one is better to go with my 28-135mm USM IS f3.5-5.6 and 50mm f1.8, im buying one of these lens (mentioned above) in two days for wedding events. please advise!!! thnks

mpenza · 19th August 2004

on a digital body, 17-40L might be a more appropriate choice.

imaginary_number · 19th August 2004

17-40L (on a DSLR with 1.6x FOV) would be more useful for events like weddings.

nickmak · 19th August 2004

17-40L

with the 70-200L it'll be too long for wedding if you use dslr like the 300D. 28-135 will overlap substantially.

Virgo · 19th August 2004

Agree. 17-40 f/4 L should be the ideal lens for wedding photography (main photog). The 70-200 f/4 or f/2.8 will be good if you're the backup.

varf · 19th August 2004

it's tricky to use the 70-200 range (especially with 1.6x crop) in enclosed areas. particularly if there will be other people getting in the way of your shot, which in weddings tends to happen very often.

my vote goes to the 17-40 as well.

ptwong · 19th August 2004

buy the 17-40 and rent a 70-200 f2.8 for candid/portrait shots.

like what virgo said, the 17-40 is pretty ideal for wedding. of course flash also need to have lah

rainman · 19th August 2004

ur 28-135 is good enough for wedding event. For me...I actually use more of the zoom range eg 50mm-70mm.

Take note that 28mm on a digital body might be a little problem for grp shot....

kerpalz · 19th August 2004

my best bet is 17-40 f4... and maybe a 28-135 IS... coz one for main lens... 28-135 is secondary coz u may need to take super close up shots... then u can use a 28-135...

Belle&Sebastain · 19th August 2004

Originally Posted by kerpalz

my best bet is 17-40 f4... and maybe a 28-135 IS... coz one for main lens... 28-135 is secondary coz u may need to take super close up shots... then u can use a 28-135...

yup, need no more than the 28-135 on either the digital or film body for weddings. other may differ in options. spend your money on 17-40, i use that range 95% of the time for weddings

kiwi2 · 19th August 2004

Not sure what body you're using. If you're covering weddings, then I think your 28-135mm should be sufficient. If you're using digital with 1.6x FLM, and are worried about the wide end, then the 17-40 is a better choice. Don't think you'd find relatively much use for the 70-200mm f/4L in wedding.

But if you're considering long term, I find the 28-135 covers too much to justify any additional lens, given you don't need a wider aperture or highest quality images. You're probably going to find less use of other lenses since the 28-135 is an all-round lens that covers a good focal length range. Of course, if you do decide to get L's along the way, the tables might be turned around: you might just be tempted to ditch the 28-135mm most of the time.

perror · 19th August 2004

For my last wedding my mainstay lens was the 28-135 and 17-40 with the 70-200 coming in at third for only 2 sessions..

tolitz · 19th August 2004

Thanks guys for the reply, and one more thing "how can you compare" the 17-40 L f4 to 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 in terms of quality because i've already got a 28-135mm lens OR should i sell my 28-135 to replace it by 17-40 L f4?.. thnks again for you help

Originally Posted by kiwi2

Not sure what body you're using. If you're covering weddings, then I think your 28-135mm should be sufficient. If you're using digital with 1.6x FLM, and are worried about the wide end, then the 17-40 is a better choice. Don't think you'd find relatively much use for the 70-200mm f/4L in wedding.

But if you're considering long term, I find the 28-135 covers too much to justify any additional lens, given you don't need a wider aperture or highest quality images. You're probably going to find less use of other lenses since the 28-135 is an all-round lens that covers a good focal length range. Of course, if you do decide to get L's along the way, the tables might be turned around: you might just be tempted to ditch the 28-135mm most of the time.

ptwong · 19th August 2004

keep the 28-135, i think it makes a good walkaround lense. why we recommend 17-40 is because you need to use for it for the wedding. i only use mine when i'm covering events.

varf · 19th August 2004

Originally Posted by tolitz

Thanks guys for the reply, and one more thing "how can you compare" the 17-40 L f4 to 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 in terms of quality because i've already got a 28-135mm lens OR should i sell my 28-135 to replace it by 17-40 L f4?.. thnks again for you help

i think that really depends on which end of your 28-135mm you use more often - wide or long.

i have the same setup as you do, with the addition of the 17-40L, and i still find myself switching frequently between that and the 28-135 for portraits at the long end. plus the 28-135 is a fantastically convenient mid-range lens for general use.

if it comes down to the number crunch, and you must give one up, i suggest borrowing a 17-40 to get a feel for its range before deciding.

kerpalz · 19th August 2004

Originally Posted by tolitz

Thanks guys for the reply, and one more thing "how can you compare" the 17-40 L f4 to 28-135 USM IS f3.5-5.6 in terms of quality because i've already got a 28-135mm lens OR should i sell my 28-135 to replace it by 17-40 L f4?.. thnks again for you help

bro... u using DIgital or film.... if film... 28-135... quite okie liao...
if u on digital then a 16-35 or 17-40 is quite enough for ur shoot...
as i say on the previous post... the above 2 can be used as ur main for digital... then a 28-135 as ur secondary len....as for 16-35..(provided u got spare cash to burn then burn lah... i find that 16-35 is a better lens to use than 17-40 becoz of the F-stop...but again.. its the DOUGH... u worry again...i`m more of a ambient light guy.. so that 1 stop means quite a bit for me...) feeling more confused now?? hahaha *evil Grin*

madmacs · 19th August 2004

how about sell 28-135 IS and buy 17-40 f/4L AND 70-200 f/4L?

the 50mm can fill the gap.

nickmak · 19th August 2004

That's what I do... Then you find out about the 24-70L... sigh...

Speakin about it... How abou 24-70L? Its good, its sharp (from the one I tested) but its expensive. So sell your 28-135IS and buy the 24-70L!

Cheers

kerpalz · 19th August 2004

Originally Posted by nickmak

That's what I do... Then you find out about the 24-70L... sigh...

Speakin about it... How abou 24-70L? Its good, its sharp (from the one I tested) but its expensive. So sell your 28-135IS and buy the 24-70L!

Cheers

why not if got money get 28-300 IS L.... more happening!!

covers ur future needs...hahah

espn · 19th August 2004

Frankly, the 17-40L coupled with a 24-70L would give you the best ideal coverage you need for landscape, events and streetshots. The 70-200 I think is not necessary at all.

I still prefer wide, 17-40L

19th August 2004	#1
tolitz Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paya Lebar area Posts: 273	Canon 17-40 L f4 or 70-200 L f4 Hi pips wanna ask, which one is better to go with my 28-135mm USM IS f3.5-5.6 and 50mm f1.8, im buying one of these lens (mentioned above) in two days for wedding events. please advise!!! thnks

19th August 2004	#4
nickmak Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,366	17-40L with the 70-200L it'll be too long for wedding if you use dslr like the 300D. 28-135 will overlap substantially. __________________ *The equipment can only bring you so far - the rest of the photographic journey is done by you.*

19th August 2004	#5
Virgo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: West of Singapore Posts: 4,559	Agree. 17-40 f/4 L should be the ideal lens for wedding photography (main photog). The 70-200 f/4 or f/2.8 will be good if you're the backup. __________________ Kind Regards My Picture Website

19th August 2004	#6
varf Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 710	it's tricky to use the 70-200 range (especially with 1.6x crop) in enclosed areas. particularly if there will be other people getting in the way of your shot, which in weddings tends to happen very often. my vote goes to the 17-40 as well. __________________ eyes \| head \| feet \| flickr

19th August 2004	#8
rainman Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In my own world Posts: 1,112	ur 28-135 is good enough for wedding event. For me...I actually use more of the zoom range eg 50mm-70mm. Take note that 28mm on a digital body might be a little problem for grp shot.... Last edited by rainman; 19th August 2004 at 01:02 PM.

19th August 2004	#2
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	on a digital body, 17-40L might be a more appropriate choice.

19th August 2004	#3
imaginary_number Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,895	17-40L (on a DSLR with 1.6x FOV) would be more useful for events like weddings.

19th August 2004	#7
ptwong Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yishun Posts: 489	buy the 17-40 and rent a 70-200 f2.8 for candid/portrait shots. like what virgo said, the 17-40 is pretty ideal for wedding. of course flash also need to have lah

19th August 2004	#9
kerpalz Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TheDaysMovie.com Posts: 1,887	my best bet is 17-40 f4... and maybe a 28-135 IS... coz one for main lens... 28-135 is secondary coz u may need to take super close up shots... then u can use a 28-135...

19th August 2004	#11
kiwi2 Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,253	Not sure what body you're using. If you're covering weddings, then I think your 28-135mm should be sufficient. If you're using digital with 1.6x FLM, and are worried about the wide end, then the 17-40 is a better choice. Don't think you'd find relatively much use for the 70-200mm f/4L in wedding. But if you're considering long term, I find the 28-135 covers too much to justify any additional lens, given you don't need a wider aperture or highest quality images. You're probably going to find less use of other lenses since the 28-135 is an all-round lens that covers a good focal length range. Of course, if you do decide to get L's along the way, the tables might be turned around: you might just be tempted to ditch the 28-135mm most of the time.

19th August 2004	#12
perror Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 77	For my last wedding my mainstay lens was the 28-135 and 17-40 with the 70-200 coming in at third for only 2 sessions..

19th August 2004	#17
madmacs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,430	how about sell 28-135 IS and buy 17-40 f/4L AND 70-200 f/4L? the 50mm can fill the gap.

19th August 2004	#20
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	Frankly, the 17-40L coupled with a 24-70L would give you the best ideal coverage you need for landscape, events and streetshots. The 70-200 I think is not necessary at all. I still prefer wide, 17-40L