Which Canon lens?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Hi All,

I have shortlisted a couple of lenses I wish to purchase over the next couple of months and I am a little stuck on some areas.

I have a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 already which is great. I am looking to get a macro, a nifty fifty and a zoom lens.

With the nifty fifty I am torn between the 1.4 and the 1.8. The 1.8 is a lot cheaper so I mght just opt for that and put my money towards another lens.

I am not 100% sure about the zoom either. I would like the 70-200mm F4.0L USM but then there's also the IS version, which is a lot more expensive. Is the IS really important?

Thanks

brinty

Jakob Early Bamboo wrote: »

Hi All,

I have shortlisted a couple of lenses I wish to purchase over the next couple of months and I am a little stuck on some areas.

I have a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 already which is great. I am looking to get a macro, a nifty fifty and a zoom lens.

With the nifty fifty I am torn between the 1.4 and the 1.8. The 1.8 is a lot cheaper so I mght just opt for that and put my money towards another lens.

I am not 100% sure about the zoom either. I would like the 70-200mm F4.0L USM but then there's also the IS version, which is a lot more expensive. Is the IS really important?

Thanks

Hi there,

I'm kinda in the same situation re Canon. I've heard the 70-200mm IS is worth it if your into your photography and its superior in terms of build quality. If your an amateur the non IS is fine. Personally i couldn't justify spending double at least on the IS version as i'm not that deep into it.

Nifty fifties are great little lenses. Again it depends on what you want to use it for. Go for the 1.8 for now and test drive in the lower ranges. if ye feel ye want more, sell it/trade it and then buy the 1.4

Sheeps

I was in the same boat as you there a while back with regards to a 50mm prime. I had a look at a friend's f1.8 and I liked shooting with it, however the thing that got me was the build quality of the f1.4 which I now own and love. They're both great lenses. If you can justify spending a little extra on the f1.4 go for it, but if not you're still getting a great lens with the f1.8 for a bargain price.


Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 probably next on the list.

P.S I can't stress enough how much I love my 50mm f1.4!!

Pete67

I don't think the build quality, or the optical quality of the 70-200 f4L IS is any better than the non-IS version - the IS (Image Stabilisation) enables you to use a slower shutter speed than you could get away with without IS, without seeing the effects of camera shake. If the subject is moving you will still see movement in the image at low shutter speeds, but at least the background will be sharper than would otherwise be the case.

Image Stabilisation is useful if you are shooting in low light or indoors, but the non-IS lens is a very good lens indeed.

flyingsnail

When I was choosing the between the 50 1.4 and the 1.8 I found it a really hard choice but eventually settled on the 1.8 for cost reasons, though I still longed for the 1.4. When I got it I was convinced I would use it a lot more than I do, especially after getting over playing with my new toy. One of the best points of the 1.8 is the cost, if you get the 1.8 and decide you really love working with the 50mm you can always sell on the 1.8 at a minimum loss and then buy the 1.4

When using my 70-200 F4 it tends to be more with moving subjects and freezing the action is important so in this case I don’t really miss the IS, there have been a few times where having the IS would have been great but I overcome this by using a mono pod where possible.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Thanks for the replies all, it's really helped me decide which lens to get.

I think I will go with the 50mm F1.8 and the Non IS 70-200mm. I won't be getting a zoom for a while yet so I could change for something completely different, the 300mm fixed for example. The pictures from Keps in the random photo thread have got me pondering some more on that :P

brinty

Jakob Early Bamboo wrote: »

Thanks for the replies all, it's really helped me decide which lens to get.

I think I will go with the 50mm F1.8 and the Non IS 70-200mm. I won't be getting a zoom for a while yet so I could change for something completely different, the 300mm fixed for example. The pictures from Keps in the random photo thread have got me pondering some more on that :P

Good luck IamXavier
think Conns have the nifty fifty available for €125 brand new
you might be able to pick up a 70-200 in there too second hand
i got my 40d second hand of them and wanted a 70-200 but couldn't afford it at the time
if ye get a few things the might do ye a wee deal

flyingsnail

Good luck with what ever you get and dont forget the most important thing, have fun with them

PS
Amazon have the 50 1.8 for about €95 including delivery,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00005K47X/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

brinty

flyingsnail wrote: »

Good luck with what ever you get and dont forget the most important thing, have fun with them

PS
Amazon have the 50 1.8 for about €95 including delivery,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00005K47X/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do watch out on this for import and excise taxes. I got caught on this on a Sony nifty fifty and the import and excise brought the costs to almost the same price as the lens would've cost from a walk in store. My lens came from oz i think (could've been Hong Kong though) so depending on where its shipped from ye might get lucky

Edit : Sorry just saw its a UK seller, should be ok with it on duty and excise

Happy shooting

inkedpt

Hi Iamxavier!

As you may have read this saturday some of us are going for a ZooWalk. I'm planning going and I've the 70-200 f/4 IS and the 50mm f/1.8 so if you're free come along and you can test them both.

OldGoat

inkedpt wrote: »

Hi Iamxavier!

As you may have read this saturday some of us are going for a ZooWalk. I'm planning going and I've the 70-200 f/4 IS and the 50mm f/1.8 so if you're free come along and you can test them both.

...and I'll have a 50mm f/1.4 with me if ye want to try it for comparison.

brinty

OldGoat wrote: »

...and I'll have a 50mm f/1.4 with me if ye want to try it for comparison.

Oh is that a look at me, i've a 1.4 lens or what...I'm only joking

Could i ask lads are you members of a Canon club or something. I'd be interested in joining to try and improve my photography and as you're saying to Iamxavier try out some new lens/equipment etc. I'm kinda only shooting on my own so have no basis of how good (doubtful) or bad (probable) i am and how i need to go about improving.

OldGoat

The glass is nice but wait till you see the crappy body I have it attached too.

Not a canon club at all. The photowalks are just for anyone who wants to turn up. It's just a nice day out and the chance to put some faces to the names you see here on Boards. Come along. There is a thread in the Events forum. Link.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Oh thanks for the offer, I would love to try out that lens

Unfortunately I am booked up on Saturday though (off playing paintball )

Hopefully there will be another walk not too far away.

I bought the 50mm 1.8 today, hope to have it by next weekend so will get out and check it out. I am sure I will be very happy with it

The 100mm F2.8L macro will be next. Hopefully by the end of May