 chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny  Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Canon Kit Lens? I've read more than a few posts here that say when shopping for a Canon dSLR (ie, 30D shopping here) skip the 17-85 kit lens, get the body, and buy a better lens separately... that the 17-85 kit lens isn't worth anything to speak of. However, I've also seen a kit offered with an EFS 17-85 with I.S. Obviously it raises the kit price... but does the fact that Canon built IS into that particular lens make it any better quality/build than the "cheap" 17-85 people often recommend against?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jane M |
Chris, here's the best web page I've found for Canon lenses. I wasn't aware of that lens, seeing as I do portraits I'd find the minimum aperture of that lens too restrictive, harder to get blurred background. Now, the 17-55 IS lens... :-)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jane M |
I was joking about the 17-55 as it is twice the price but an option I'd consider instead of the 30D/17-85 is the XT/17-55 combination. Both cameras have the same basic sensors so with the much better lens you'd get better images out of the XT combo, just that the ergonomics wouldn'tr be as good and maybe AF not as good. Camera bodies lose value and are superseded (at the moment) quickly, so my philosophy is to put money into the lenses rather than bodies for now.
|
|
|
|
||
|
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Ah yes, I think I had a typo in the original question... kit lens 18-55 is the one most people tend to downplay, I believe... the other kit I saw was the 17-85 IS. Sorry!
|
|
|
|
||
|
anonymous |
You know what, I have heard about "kit lenses" being crap, not worth the money, but it depends on your budget. Check out my photos, all the photos in my webgallery have been taken with a "kit" lens. Check out - Christening Keepsake especially, you can't tell me that it isn't a perfectly sharp, exposed photo! oh, and yeah, on a kit lens too! Buy what you can afford I say.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jane M |
Chris - I meant the XT/17-55 IS (a $1000 lens) might be a good alternative to the 30D/17-85 IS at a similar price yet providing better image quality. Too many similarly named lenses in this range!! :-)
|
|
|
|
||
|
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Natalie, you make a strong case! That is a lovely photo, and the rest of your gallery is pretty impressive, too! Thanks for sharing that visual rebuttal :) Jane, you're so right about the many lenses in the range. Gets very hard to track and evaluate! I'm going to print out Canon's huge pdf on their entire lens range, just to have a good reference ;)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Craig m. Zacarelli |
I dont know, I have seen tests and the 17-85 IS compared to the 17-40L 9which I own) are awefully close in color, sharpness and clarity. while the 17-40L isnt the best in the L line, dont discount the 17-85IS just because its on the cheaper side.. used correctly, its a winner. and as for not getting the 30D and going for the XT just to get the 17-55IS with it isnt worth the $$$ saved.. the bodies are two different to be ignored. id get the 30D with the IS lens and save for a better one..its the middle road, great body and decent lens.. as opposed to great lens, ok body. But, everyone's needs are different. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jane M |
I'm curious Craig why you think the 30D is substantially better than the XT? To me it mostly seems a matter of ergonomics which for me trying to expose correctly and focus on quickly moving kids holds some weight, but looking at Christopher's gallery he seems to take shots where he has plenty of time to focus and expose correctly. The scariest thing for me is how quickly the camera bodies drop in value whereas the lenses seem to maintain their value much more.
|
|
|
|
||
|
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Thanks, folks for chiming in... Jane, Thanks for that great link, by the way! I guess my thinking is that the longer-rated shutter mechanism, bigger LCD for review, and spot meter function tipped me over the 20D (which had itself already tipped me over the Rebel XT.) The 30D is as much as I want to spend on a body now, and I want to get a well-reviewed body that I feel I'd be satisfied using for several years to come---the only future upgrade I see happening would be to a full-frame sensor... all the while building a lens collection until that time comes! Craig, I was originally confused---the 17-85IS is one I would consider up front... it was the 18-55 (non-IS) kit lens I've heard so many dismissals of (Natalie... you said your images were taken with a kit lens---which one?)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Natalie J. Manuel |
You should consider buying the 30D with the Sigma 17-70. It's a very good lens for the price. Sharp, good colour, and focuses very quickly. No IS and no fixed aperture are weaknesses but it is a LOT better than the 18-55 kit lens. Nat
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jane M |
Chris, I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you get and can't wait to see what you produce with the improved camera! Are you aware that the EF-S mount lenses you were mentioning can't be used on a full-frame camera? If you are building a lens collection and might go full frame in the future bear that in mind.
|
|
|
|
||
|
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Thanks for checking, Jane. Yes, that is the biggest single drawback to that nice IS lens--the EFS mount. But, if I rationalize with myself, I doubt I would see a full-frame upgrade for SEVERAL years... so I could perhaps justify an EFS lens of that quality, for the years I used the 30D. (And who knows whether I'd get rid of the 30D in the event of an upgrade.) Regardless, I'll probably keep EFS lenses to a minimum. Thanks, Natalie... I haven't yet begun to contemplate other vendors' lenses! But I know the Sigmas and Tamrons have huge devoted follwings here on BP! So many choices... ;) sometimes makes the very-limited world of my Sony (ie, no lenses!) quite comforting!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Craig m. Zacarelli |
jane.. The reason I think its better besides the obvious(ergnomics) which isnt that important to me, It just has lots of features over the XT that I find very usefull.. the higher frame per second rate, larger buffer, picture styles, easier to "get around" menues, extra scroll wheel on the back makes it easier and faster to do things like manually set aperture in manual mode.. its just all the little things, bigger lcd screen, bigger, brighter VF, more focus points..blahh blahh blahh.. thats why I said everybodys needs are different.Plus the higher ISO's are great, as is the spot metering plus so much more I cant think of right now. Dont get me wrong, the XT is a nice camera also and great to own, I just wanted something new to be honest and I feel I was getting a bit frustrated with the xt.. but, slap a grip on that baby and its definetly good to go! I here ya on the dropping prices, I had mine for a year and sold it for $300.00 less than I paid for it and I had to pull teeth just to do that!
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||