abqnmusa

I use both an XTI & 5D.

on the 5D

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17-40 F4L / 24-105 F4L IS / 70-200 F4L IS / 300mm F4L IS

same lenses on the XTI

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28-65 / 36-168 / 112-320 / 480

This combination is working out for me.

I suppose "best" depends on what you are using the flash for.

I use the 220EX with my 5D most of the time. The 220EX is small and easy to take with me in any camera bag. That makes it "best" for me.

If I need bounce flash capability I use a 430EX.

just a few thoughts for you to consider ...

Having owned the EF 70-200 F4L, and now the updated EF 70-200 F4L IS I would recommend saving for the IS version if you can afford it.

The image quality is very good, and the IS makes it much easier to get good shots. Especially when you did not bring a tripod or monopod.

That said, the non-IS version is quite good and you can find many used copies on this site, or www.fredmiranda.com in the buy & sell section.

As for the Tokina. I have used it on a 20D and was impressed with the build quality of the lens, and the image quality. Some claim the Canon EF-S 10-22 is better IQ. That may be, I could not say myself.

good luck

I had a 24-70 F2.8L but sold it for the 24-105 F4L IS. I found the 24-70 images to not be all that great at F2.8. There is just not enough depth of field at F2.8. So I did not see F2.8 an advantage over F4.

The IS on the 24-105 is very good and I prefer the IS advantage over the F2.8 on the 24-70. The 24-70 was too heavy and bulky for me.

I have a EOS Digital Rebel XTI and the 24-104 F4L IS lens. The focus is very fast. I used it to photograph car racing with no problems.

The servo modes on the XTI work. I could never get reliability with the 20D on servo modes.

I have used the XTI with the 17-40 F4L, 24-105 F4L IS, 70-300 DO IS, and 400mm F5.6L. It focuses fast on all of these lenses. I use the Rebel XTI & 400mm F5.6L to photograph birds and it works great.

The EOS 5D I have can focus faster with most all lenses , and is a bit more reliable with AI Servo mode. But the 5D is quite a bit more expensive.

I tried a friends 30D with my lenses, and then back to the XTI with the same lenses. I could not see any difference in focusing.

I tested a friends Tamron 17-50 F2.8 against my Canon EF 17-40 F4L. I was considering the Tamron 17-50 for my 400D camera, and used that body to test.

The Tamron 17-50 has terrible chromatic aberations at 2.8 / 3.5 and clears up at F4. It was also very soft on the edges at 2.8 / 3.5

Multiple shots confirmed this to be the case. The Tamron 17-50 lens may be F2.8 but it is not usable until F4.

I did not see the same chromatic aberation in the Canon F4L. The Canon also seems to have more sharpness at F4.

Note that all 17mm lenses are soft on the edges until you stop them down. That I expected. The chromatic aberation in the Tamron I did not expect.

Looks kind of cool, but not sure it would be woth the hassle. The XTI is built well and the polycarbonate plastic is very durable. I know friend who beat up their Rebel 300D's and have not cracked the plastic on them.

If the body of my XTI gets a crack I will patch it with a bit of JB weld. ;>)

If you can afford the EF 24-105 F4L IS then get that lens. It works very well on both my XTI & 5D. The EF 17-40 F4L also works well on both.

I had a good EF 24-85 F3.5-4.5 but discovered the 24-105 F4L IS beats it out on both the XTI & 5D. Oddly the EF 24-85 F3.5-4.5 is better on the 5D then the XTI. The 24-85 F3.5-4.5 was fine on the 10D but not so great on the XTI or 5D.

Not an "L" snob here. I just think the high resolution of the XTI, 10.2, and 5D, 12.8, require the best of lenses. Otherwide you see the failing of the lenses.

Yes, I think you will find the flash is cutoff with all 1.6X cameras. The 220EX solves the issue.

To me the built in flashes are useless. They only work with very small lenses (i.e. kit lenses). I would rather have a better viewfinder and no useless popup flash. Even the 17-40 F4L gets cutoff on the XTI.

I used to have a 20D and now have an XTI. Most of my recent photography has been car racing photos. Lenses are 24-105 F4L IS, 70-300 DO IS & 400mm F5.6L

I do not miss the 5 FPS of the 20D. I found 5 FPS is too fast. The 3 FPS setting of the XTI is fine.

I find the XTI focus clearly beats out the 20D. The is expecially true with "AI intelligent mode" or "AI servo" mode. The 20D focus was good but failed too often. I get more reliable focus with

The focusing on the 5D clearly beats out both the 20D & XTI.

results may vary. This is what I have observed.