neil_v.

I use a Hoya 67mm polarizer on my 17-85 with the EW-73B hood. Sometimes I adjust the filter (awkwardly) by reaching into the hood. Other times I remove the hood just long enough to adjust the filter (or adjust the filter immediately after attaching it, when the hood is off anyway).

 

This is hassle enough that I don't use the polarizer lightly. (no pun)

I initially liked the 50/1.8 II enough on my XT that I bought a 50/1.4 as my walkabout lens. After further experience, I found that a 50mm with 1.6x was usually too long for urban areas and indoors. I'm presently using a 17-85 IS for walkabout. If I go back to a prime, I'd pick a roughly 30mm lens for 1.6x -- perhaps a Canon 28/1.8 or 35/2.

From looking at completed auctions, it appears to me that, even on eBay, where EOS gear tends to sell for irrationally high prices (e.g., used lens selling for more than B&H new), such a 10D bundle would go for less than $750.

 

Without the lenses, I'd say that $500 would be a reasonable price for an excellent 10D body, grip, and basic accessories (batteries, charger, CF) in a private, local sale.

 

You might assess how much the lenses (and backpack?) are worth to you, and make two offers: one without the lenses and backpack, and one with.

I'd do as someone suggested, and use RMA and credit card dispute approaches.

 

You might also have legal grounds to avoid any restocking fee, if the salesperson misrepresented the Sigma lenses (on objective criteria). Given you're potentially out $1000 or more, if all else fails, a letter from a lawyer might be worthwhile. A phone call to the Attorney General in the seller's state might help too.

I'm not very familiar with Sigma lenses, and the ExpressCameras.com site does seem confusing...

 

A Web search suggests that there are several significantly different models of "Sigma 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Macro Super II" available new for Canon EOS, ranging in price from $112 (for the DG) to $199 (for the APO, at B&H).

 

The ExpressCameras.com site lists a couple Sigma 70-300mm lenses (with the "Sigma" name missing in the headings), priced at $599 and $799.

 

"http://www.sigma-photo.com/lenses/lenses_all.asp" lists only two current 70-300mm lenses, with MSRPs of $200 and $300.

 

I also found some $200-$250 Sigma bundles including both 28-70 and 70-300, but no $600 (nor $1200) bundle.

 

Does anyone know which Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lenses ExpressCameras.com could possibly be selling for $600-$800 -- other than the ones everyone else is selling for around a fourth of the price?<div></div>

Does anyone have any thoughts on the feasibility or likelihood of

Canon offering a 24-70 variation/replacement that has IS?

 

I bought an EF-S 17-85 IS to see how I liked IS, with the plan to

trade it in on a 24-70/2.8 after 6-12 months. I'm finding that,

although the 17-85 cannot do sufficiently shallow DOF or

motion-freezing for some of my needs, the IS helps deliver

surprisingly sharp images. I expect I'd miss the IS if I went to a

24-70, plus of course the 24-70 is heavier and has a smaller zoom

range, so that's no longer seeming a very attractive upgrade path.

 

If Canon had a 24-70/2.8 IS in the pipeline, that'd be so very nice.

I appreciate all the comments. The Lowepro SlingShot 100 AW and 200 AW do seem to be winners.

 

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/SlingShot_100_AW.aspx

 

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/SlingShot_200_AW.aspx

 

For something accomodating only one lens, and more compact than the Toploader 65 AW, the Lowepro TLZ 10 and TLZ 20 look interesting.

 

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/designed_digital/Rezo_TLZ_10.aspx

 

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/designed_digital/Rezo_TLZ_20.aspx

 

Searches of the Web and of that online auction site didn't turn up any non-Lowepro bags that interested me.

 

I'm going to find a camera store that stocks some of these, so that I can try them out in person with my lenses.

I'm about 80% happy with my current camera bag for my XT, so before I

invest in add-ons for this bag system, I was wondering if anyone had

closer to a 100% solution...

 

I dabble in "urban" photography. I currently carry my XT with a 17-85

IS (to be upgraded to a 24-70/2.8 or 24-105/4 IS). I also have a

beloved 50/1.4, which does not fit in my bag.

 

My bag is a Lowepro Toploader 65 AW

("http://lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/allWeather/Toploader_65_AW.aspx").

I wear it on a shoulder strap, and normally carry swung around my

back. To remove camera, I swing the bag to my chest, unzip the top,

(optionally) put camera strap around neck, and lift camera out. I can

put the camera back in the bag with neck strap still on it and hold

the lid down for moving quickly. This is all good design, although

I'd prefer a quick-release fastener of some kind for the lid.

 

The main drawbacks to the Toploader 65 AW for me are: (1) It's bigger

than necessary to protect my XT and lens, and protrudes approx. 9

inches from back, which can be awkward and conspicuous; (2) It

accomodates XT, one lens, filters, recharger, extra cards, granola

bars... but not a second lens.

 

(The bag system does have available add-on lens cases that can attach

to the outside of the bag, increasing the size and awkwardness.)

 

I think that there's a size/capacity tradeoff here, and the Toploader

65 AW isn't quite hitting the sweet spot for a small DSLR body like

the XT. I'd like a bag that either was smaller or accomodated at

least one small prime in addition to the main zoom.

 

Recommendations or ideas?

Does anyone know Canon's position on copying hunks of Canon firmware from, say, a 30D to a 20D?

 

Let's say that Canon invents a better algorithm for some camera operation, and they are able to implement the invention in firmware. Canon then sells this firmware on new camera models, with the new invention being a significant part of the intrinsic value of the camera.

 

If it is technically possible to make this new invention available as an upgrade for older camera hardware, should Canon make such an upgrade available, and how much should Canon charge?

 

My own suspicion is that Canon would rather people not upgrade firmware, both because it's a support headache and it costs sales of the newer camera. I also believe Canon is not obligated to make new firmware available for old cameras (except to fix clear defects), and that consumers copying the firmware themselves are often crossing a copyright line.

Just Monday, I received shipment of a Canon SD450 "holdout gun" (and actually used that term the other day to characterize it).

 

In addition to the SD450's use as a ubiquitous carry camera, I also expect to use it for wide-angle shots when I have my XT with me, since the XT almost always has the 50/1.4 on it.

 

In limited playing with the SD450 thus far, the only imperfections I've noticed are: (1) some pieces, such as the door over the USB port, seem of surprisingly poor/cheap design; (2) it's heavier than you'd think, and it definitely needs a bulk-adding case to protect the LCD and automatic lens cover, and even a slim case makes for significantly bulkier carry; (3) surprisingly grainy images daylight-lit indoors, at all ISOs; (4) at the long end, indoors, I've not yet gotten an image that wasn't very blurry.

 

These are preliminary impressions after only a couple hours, I expect to figure out flash-less exposures eventually, and there are many good things immediately obvious about this camera. But I must say that the out-of-box experience was disappointing, compared to my 50/1.4 or even my old PowerShot S10.

Thanks to everyone for the excellent advice! I expect to reread this discussion thread several times over the next few months.

 

Lens-wise, sounds like I'll first be trying my 50/1.4 and renting an 85/1.2 (or 85/1.8), and go from there based on the results.

 

I'll also be shopping for a monopod.

Rental is a great idea -- for few-and-far-between and for evaluating before purchase.

 

Looks like I can rent a 70-200/2.8 from a reputable local shop (E.P. Levine in Boston, MA) for $30, for example. Or 85/1.2 for $25. http://www.cameras.com/Merchant2/rental/rental_prices.pdf

 

Although there's always the risk I'll fall in love with a lens that I can't afford to own. :)

<p>I need lens suggestions. I'll be shooting dance performances

(actually, dress- and tech- rehearsals) for a local dance company.<p>

 

<p>I'll be using a 350D, and currently have a 50mm/1.4 and the 17-55

kit lens. I can't use flash, but there will be some stage lighting.

Occasionally the dancers will move fast. I haven't get tested or

measured, but I assume a fast lens is important. I have a cheap

aluminum tripod that I will sometimes use, but other times I will want

or have to go handheld. The 50mm sometimes won't be long enough, and

I'd like the ability to zoom in for closeups or to track a dancer

around the stage.</p>

 

<p>A 70-200mm/2.8L IS seems almost-ideal to me, but I can't

cost-justify it for unpaid hobby/volunteer work right now. (I say

"almost-ideal" because the photographer is supposed to be invisible at

a dance performance, and white is .) My budget is around $500 for a

lens that's great for this application and also generally useful.</p>

 

<p>I'm currently looking at:</p>

 

<ul>

<li>Canon 75-300mm/4-5.6 IS

<li>Canon 70-200mm/4L

<li>Canon 85mm/1.8 (no zoom, but it and 50mm might get me by)

</ul>

 

<p>Comments and suggestions appreciated.</p>