lens questions

[kathy_owen1]

I have a canon digital rebel and a canon elan. I am wanting a lens

that will be good for portraits and also a good zoom with excellent

quality.

 

Any suggestions?

 

My budget would not be more than 1500.00 for this lens. I REALLY

don't want to spend that much but I realize you have to pay for what

you get.

[John Crowe]

Do you want portraits to be at the long end of the zoom or the short end of the zoom. So would you rather consider the 17-40 or the 70-200. In either case I would add a 50/1.8 for about $75 anyway. Many will say the 24-70 or 28-70 but that is alot of money for a lens that really does not do very much, especially on an x-factor DSLR.

 

 

Of course if it was my money I'd go 50/1.8, 85/1.8 and 200/2.8 all for under your budget. That is a good budget by the way, gives you lots of options. Good luck!

[John Crowe]

Oh, and what lenses do you already have?

[sheldonnalos]

Portrait lens:<P>

50mm f/1.4 - $300 great for digital, good on film<br>

85mm f/1.8 - $300 great on film, little on the long side for digital<P>

Zoom (Which could double as your portrait lens):<P>

70-200mm f/4 L - $550, excellent lens, good value, smaller and lighter<br>

70-200mm f/2.8 L - $1050, excellent lens, faster aperature, larger/heavier<br>

70-200mm f/2.8 L IS - $1600, excellent lens, faster aperature, image stabilization, largest/heaviest.<P>

Personally I think you should get the 50mm f/1.4 and the 70-200mm f/4 L, and then add the 85mm f/1.8 if budget allows. <P>

Hope this helps!<P>

Sheldon<p>

PS. What lens did you end up getting for your Grand Canyon trip?

[mike_p2]

If you're looking for a moderate tele zoom, EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS should fit your requirements.

 

If you can tolerate a lens with f/4 and no IS, a lens that is much smaller, much lighter and much cheaper, you can go for EF 70-200 f/4.0

[terry_smith2]

You didn't say 1500 of what (dollars, euros, pounds...) but have a look at the Tamron 28-105/2.8 zoom. It's a little soft wide open but at 5.6 and 8 it's excellent, very sharp. The AF is slower than average, but for portraits that usually isn't a problem. This is a big lens that takes 82mm filters, so be warned. I use it on my EOS 3, EOS 10, and EOS D30. Just remember that on the digital Rebel it will be a 45-170mm/2.8 or thereabouts. Try it out in a photo shop and see what you think about it.

[John Crowe]

Seems like you have a wide Tamron zoom already and you probably like zooms so I'll refine my answer to 50/1.8 and 70-200 f4 L. Total is about $800 USD. The problem with the f2.8 telephoto zooms is that although they are handholdable they are not something you want to walk around with. It's nice having a monopod to support most of their weight, when possible.

[eoghan]

If budget is an issue then research the tamron 28-75 F2.8 and canon 70-200 F4.

 

Or consider a set of primes. As mentioned, 50 F1.4 and 85 F1.8 would be pretty standard.

[jim_doty]

Kathy:

<p>

It would help if you told us what lenses you already have.

<p>

Two zoom lenses would give you a lot of coverage:

<p>

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS - $420 new

<br>

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L - $580 new

<p>

The 28-135 isn't very wide on a Digital Rebel but still makes a good all purpose lens. The 70-200 f/4 L is an excellent lens. You would have money left over from your 1500 (USD?) budget to go toward a wide angle zoom like the new Tokina 12-24mm lens ($500 new).

<p>

The single focal length lenses already mentioned - 50mm (f/1.4 or f/1.8), 85mm f/1.8 - would serve well as portrait lenses. I would prefer the 85mm for portraits on the Elan and any of them on the Digital Rebel. You would still have money for the Canon 70-200 f/4 L zoom.

<p>

Happy Shooting!

<p>

Jim

[kathy_owen1]

My Lens are"

 

canon 50 f1.8

tamron 17-35

I also have a promaster 70-300 and the image quality is bad. The promaster is the lens that I'm wanting to purchase another to replace it. I have used my promaster lens alot but the longer I have been taking picture the more I can appreciate the better lens.

[kathy_owen1]

picture

 

oops, meant pictures, and it's US dollars.

 

Thanks!

[kevin_harper]

Kathy, you already have the wide angle slot filled with the Tamron, and low light (middle) with the 50 f1.8. Go for something in the 70-200 range. The Canon 70-200mm f4 gives very pleasing results.

[jim_larson1]

Kathy;

 

Yes, take a look at the 70-200/2.8L-IS. It will do what you want. . .but costs the full $1500 budget. Also. . this lens is way big and way heavy. .. you may not want it, even if you CAN afford it.

 

I really like the idea of the 85/1.8 and the 70-200/4L. That will keep you under $1000.

 

The 50/1.8 is a fine portrait lens on the digital rebel, and the 85/1.8 will be a fine portrait lens on the Elan. I have the 50/1.8 for my 10D, and I am considering adding the 85/1.8. I also have the 70-200/4L.

 

You can also add a 1.4TC to give the 70-200 a bit more reach down the road.

[kathy_owen1]

I think the 70-200 f.4 will fit my needs.

 

Thanks again!

[les]

After being through the period of buying "to fill the gaps" myself, I have come to one conclusion: buy the best you can afford and save for what you want/need. Do not hurry, do your research. Good lens is a joy to use all of its (hopefully long) life. Fortunately, and thanks to all kind people in this forum, I haven't made any mistakes myself ;)

 

Paying a lot for a lens only hurts once, so don't let it be the deciding factor. Of course we all have our limit, but try to go for the best and you won't regret.

[s_hassan]

I have the following lenses and I have found them in the following order for the image quality, sharpness contrast color etc (on Elan7 300D and now on RebelXT)

 

70-200/4 Best

 

50/1.4 and 85/1.8 equally good but 70-200 a little better

 

17-40/4L comes the last though I have only had it for few days as I bought it with RebelXT.

 

so go for 70-200/4 wont regret it

[yakim_peled1]

>> I think the 70-200 f.4 will fit my needs.

 

I'd add the 85/1.8 as Jim suggested. While you're at it, add the 50/1.8 as well.

 

Happy shooting,

Yakim.

[tzenyujuei]

do you think there is enough difference between the 85mm and the 50mm to buy both of them?