eric_lawson1

I have a 24-105L and love it. I bought a 17-55EFS for low light, inside stuff and hated it. It was pretty soft from 40-55, sent it to Canon to calibrate and it came back not much better. Instead of hassling that again I sent it back to B&H for a 24-70L. I really didn't like the build quality compared to my 24-105L as it wasn't even 75% in my opinion, and the focus ring always bothers me on these EFS zooms because it's right where I hold the lens with my left hand. On an L lens its the zoom ring there and if I move it from 24 to 26 I couldn't care less. On the other hand if I move the focus while holding it there it makes a big difference at larger apertures. One more thing, I really cant see much of a difference with IS on shots less than about 40mm. Even on my 24-105L it just doesn't seem to matter much real world until after that.

I have the 100-400L and it is a great lens. Fast focus, awesome IQ, sharp... Havent seen any dust yet.

I had one and it worked but was a little cheap compared to the real thing (Canon). Not as well made and a little flunky when used in portrait mode. You get what you pay for and in this case I'm a lot happier with the real Canon stuff for the extra 50 or 60 bucks.

I used to have this printer and it started doing that within the first 6 months of normal printing. Overall that printer was a real pain for me. Now I have a Pro-9000 and havent had any problems.

I have a 24-105L. I just bought a 17-55 and it was pretty soft from 40-55 so I sent it in to canon to be calibrated. Came back better but not great and my 24-105L wipes the floor with it. It really didn't compare in build quality either so back it went to B&H. They are sending me a 24-70L in it's place.

Some may find "The battery grip is an over priced accessory", I find it an invaluable tool and would buy one if it was half again the cost, but don't tell Canon. My "L's" are overpriced accessories but you couldn't rip them from my cold dead fingers!

Another thought just occurred to me, I never use a neck strap so my wrist has gotten fairly strong over time. When I go out on any regular old walk around shoot I just use a wrist strap that offers no support at all, it just keeps the camera from falling if I loose my grip.

I had a 350D and was never happy with the AF. My wife now has a 400D and it is MUCH improved overall. The AF is faster and the IQ is better. I have a 30D and it is on par with the 400D but with way better handling. My work still has a 350D that I have to use sometimes and I hate it. Most of the time I just use my personal 30D even at work. If I were you I wouldn't try to save the few bucks it will take to step up!

I use the grip and love it. Once in a while I take it off and use a smaller lens to get a less obvious look when I am trying not to scream (I have a very expensive camera in my hands). I usually cant wait to put the grip back on. It does add some weight though but helps tremendously with the handling and if any of your sore wrist is due to shooting in portrait mode it will help even more. How long have you been shooting with this rig? Sounds like you may also just need some more time out with it to strengthen up the muscles that are actually used.

 

Jokes about going to the gym are just that because most of the machines are not going to hit exactly the muscles you use (and in the way you use them) to shoot with. The best gym equipment for this is your camera in your hand as much as possible.

I had an XT and it was a fine camera but the usual suspects were at play there. I didn't care for the AF in anything but good light and it was kind of small for my hands. Never cared about it not having a spot meter but the screen size and burst rate killed me. I got a 30D and could never go back now. One thing that surprised me was the wheel on the back of the 30D. It wasn't even a consideration in making the switch but turned out to be my favorite upgrade feature.

I use podcasts a lot and the best I have come across by far is from Martin Baily Photography. Start at the beginning, you will not be disappointed and the information is spot on! Do a google search or search in iTunes for him.

Colin, Steve, Amazing responses. I have never heard it put quite like that. I will print them out and study the wisdom in there for my own learning. Thanks very much.

Different versions of the same lens? Or between this and other lenses?

If you do get an XTi, consider getting a grip to help it fit your hand and give your pinky a place to land. That should be a slogan for Canon.

I used a 420 for quite a while until I got a 580 and it made a HUGE difference. Flash can be a tricky thing with Canon until you fully understand it, or at least get a better grip on it. Read the EOS flash bible, that always helps.

It can be said ?truthfully? that given the same lens a 10D will take better pictures than a 1Ds MKIII. It has more to do with the photographer than anything else. That said, I have a 30D and the wife has an XTi. I love my 30D because of the much better handling and control it gives me. You couldn?t take the scroll wheel on the back of it or the fact that it fits my hand like a glove from me at any price. The top LCD screen, spot meter and much more rugged body are important to me as well as other improvement over the XTi. But in the end I can take the same picture with either camera. I have a friend who I was unable to talk into a 30/40D over the XTi because all he could see was price and megapixels. Two weeks after he got the XTi he traded it in on a 40D for all the reasons above. The XTi may be the right camera for you, all I am saying is go to your local reputable dealer and check them out in person.

 

Good luck

I sure love my 70-300is non DO. I have a really great 100-400L also but reach for the 70-300 sometimes for size & weight issues without hesitation. Both of mine are wonderful lenses.

If the lenses you get arent perfect considder sending them to Canon for calibration instead of sending them back to where you purchased them from. This way you know you wont have to go through sending lenses back and forth till you get a good one. When they come back from Canon they will be perfect for sure "for the most part".

I put mine in date ordered folders and use keywords to find photos I need. There is a year folder that opens up to month folders that hold folders for each days shoot (2008\March\2008_03_05) This is a little work up front but works very well and if you use Lightroom it will do this part on import from a card. Lightroom also makes it easy to add keywords and will even do it on import also.

 

Another smaller program I use that is VERY helpfull is ExifPro It was only something like $20.00 and I couldnt live without that one for viewing and looking at all the metadata our cameras put in the images.

 

Good luck.

Lowpro Slingshot 300AW. Best bag I have ever had. Backpack style with easy access to your camera without taking it off.

I have the 24-105L and just purchased the 17-55 to compliment it. I find the 24-105 a little slow indoors "for my liking". The 17mm end of the new onw works much better for me on a 30D indoors "limited space" and the extra stop REALLY helps. Unfortunately after a few days with the 17-55 I discovered it is very soft on the long end and is going to Canon to be calibrated. I'm sure thats all it is and I think this will be a great lens after that.

 

Depending on how late of night time you are talking about I'm not sure 2.8 will be fast enough without a flash or tripod. I use a 50 F1.4 and 85 F1.8 for really low light hand held stuff and sometimes that's not enough.

 

Good luck.

You really have to read and comprehend the photonots.org eos-flash link above. You are not going to be very good at this anytime soon if you don't. It's a long read "and you will have to read it more than once also" but indispensable information.

Lets see how the 55-250 does at 2.8. Really dude, it's F8! the 55-250 may be a good lens "I dont really know" but at F8 a LOT of lesser lenses are. There is a good reason the 17-55is is narly a grand.

And when you are done struggling with 3.5-5.6 as some here suggest you will realize the potential of the 2.8

B&H has it on sale for $1,480.00 right now and in stock. Just got a 17-55is for $854.00 and this was one of the other lenses on sale there.