 Connie Jeppson |
Purchasing Professional Photo Gear (canon) I respect all of the comments and help that you all offer on this forum. Here is my situation. I have been a photography hobbyist for 15 years (always dressing people up and having them pose for photo shoots. I always thought I would love to be a professional photographer, so for the past year and a half I have been training with my sister-in-law who is a pretty-well known, experienced wedding photographer here in Utah. I have been acting as second photographer at wedding/bridal/engagement shoots, doing some light editing in CS2 and attending classes/seminars with her. I have been using/borrowing all of her camera equipment and feel it is time to purchase my own equipment to continue to enrich my skills this coming year. My goal for 2008 is to shoot some weddings on my own as well as doing some indoor family/children work in the studio I am building in my basement. I would love your opinion on the equipment I am trying to decide on. (Please note that I have not included an extended zoom lens in my choices due to the nature of weddings in Utah. LDS weddings don't allow pictures at the ceremony and these comprise about 80% of the weddings my sister-in law shoots. She has only used her 70-200 twie in 6 years.) Thanks for your help! Camera: Flash: Multi-purpose: Macro: Wide Angle: OR Combo Lowlight/Wide Angle Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L
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Jon Close |
Your list of multi-purpose, wide-angle, and fast lenses are a better fit with the 35mm frame size of an EOS 5D than the smaller APS-sized 30D. For multipurpose zoom, I'd rather choose from EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di II, Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 EX DC, all of which have f/2.8 for more shallower/more dramatic depth of field, and moderate wide-angle for group shots without backing up to Alberquerque. ;-) For longer zoom reach there is the EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS USM and Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro. Macro I'd only consider the EF 50 f/2.5 if you could not budget more than $250. The EF-S 60 f/2.8 USM is a much better lens in virtually all respects (so long as you're getting a 30D or other EF-S body). Otherwise, longer is generally better for macro, any of the 90, 100, 105, 150, 180mm macro lenses from Canon, Tamron and Sigma are very good. Re - Wide Angle, the 16-35L is overkill on a 30D, the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM is a much better choice. As good or better optically, with longer zoom range and IS thrown in at much lower cost. And 20mm or even 16mm are just barely wide angle on that sized camera. Better would be EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM, Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM, Tokina 12-24 f/4 DX. Low light: Both the 50/1.4 and 35/1.4 are good choices. The 50 is a terrific portrait length on the 30D, 35 is a "normal" focal length on that camera, not wide-angle. Other options include EF 28 f/1.8 USM, EF 35 f/2, Sigma 30 f/1.4 EX DC as fast normal lenses, and EF 85 f/1.8 USM for fast tele (tight crop portrait).
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Suzanne Colson |
I believe the 16-35L is overpriced for the extra stop of light you gain. I just purchased the 17-40 f/4.0L and it is one of my most used lenses. The image quality is extremely sharp. I have to 50mm f/1.4 and, for the price, a great performer. If you are able to look at several of your pictures you have taken and see what focal length use tend to use the most.
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Oliver Anderson |
I agree with John and Suzanne 17-40L was my most used lens with my 10D. Drop the Macro, definately buy the 50MM 1.4 (it Rocks) and maybe look at the 24-70 2.8L.
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