freelance

Lannie, when I bought the Sigma 12-24 the first pictures were horrible. After that, John Crowe told me to use the lens at Manual Focus (a litle bit less than infinitum) and in this way the borders are better than in the16-35 pictures.

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00PRaZ

Sarah, you shouldn't regret anything. IMO this thread has been turned to be a classic that has more valuable and deep information that many important books. At the present moment I am not prepared to understand the whole discussion, but I will print it and study as soon as I have time. It is difficult to have so important and expert people together . I'll come back tomorrow to see if the interesting debate continues.

Mike, when I bought the Sigma 12-24 I thought it was a lemon, but I was taught by John Crowe that I should use it MF at apoint a little less than infinity. Even for rooms and inside. If you use AF, the results are horrible. It is not lens you can use for events.When I bought the 16-35 I got shocked that I could get better pictures with the Sigma.

Have a look at the links in this thread:

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00Q9ND

5D+12mm<div></div>

40D+12mm<div></div>

Some other threads:

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00Q6FE

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00PuYD

Have a look at this:

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00PRaZ

 

The 17-40 is an excellent lens that many people that do not need an extra mm and 2.8, prefer to Canon 16-35. For landscapes architectural I like the Sigma 12-24 (When I need 12), but has to be used manual focus. AF does not yield good pictures.

Have a look at this thread:

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00Q6FE

Sample of 20D+Canon 10-22 at 10:

 

 

http://www.mrx.no/Misc/canon_10_22mm_at_10mm.html

I would not upgrade the 400 to 450. Even you should have very good technical reasons to upgrade to 40D. (viewfinder, speed...etc).

 

I would keep the 400D if you use telelenses and get a 5D for wide angles.

Excellent, Scott! I'll try with photoshop. Concerning the tilt-lens I think are not wide enough for my work. Sometimes I need Full Frame and 12 mm (Sigma 12-24)<div></div>

This picture is made with a 5D and a 16-35(16mm). The same result you can get with a 20D and a 10-22 at 10 mm<div></div>

I buy from Amazon.com lots of books without any problem. But they do not serve cameras to Europe.

I have an excellent experience with B&H with lots of orders.

In both lenses (100 and 50 mm macro), Photozone says that:

 

" As expected for a fix-focal lens and especially for a macro lens the level of distortions is absolutely negligible."

 

The verdict about vegneting is also identical.

Anyway, today I would have bought the Nikon 14-24 even having to wait three months for the adaptor. It is still a recurring wish (not need) that I have to drive away several times a week.

Tommy, you'll probably remember I studied the 24 1.4L and I decided not to buy it. The main strong point of the lens

was his aperture. But at this aperture (1.4), the pictures were not very sharp and the edges very soft. Then I decided

to buy the 16-35 that at 24 and at 2.8 is probably as sharp as the 24 or even more. I normally prefer the primes. But

in this case I think I took a right decision. I complaint about the 16-35 at the beginning for its performance at 16. The

problem is that the AF is prepared to focus a semicircle with the edges closer. For a landscape, you have to use

manual focus and focus the edges. The center will be OK. Anyway, for this works I prefer the sigma 12-24 at manual

focus.

I have the Canon 580EX II Speedlite (last model, $390 in BHphotovideo) and works perfectly well. I don't know if it will fulfill your needs/expectations but it is enough for normal professional work. Don't buy the model I (one) thinking it is model II.

 

You can see the features in:

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486706-USA/Canon_1946B002_580EX_II_Flash.html

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00PmII

 

A few pictures there

photo.net changes the link!

<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EOS-40D-Digital-Camera/dp/B000V9KCEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1214732768&sr=1-1">Link</a>

I agree with Mark U. I forgot that UK is not in the euro zone and the prices are now lower due to the UKP (GBP) rate of exchange. Amazon.co.uk has the 40D body only in 630.00 GBP = 1,256.61 USD with a cash back of 150. It finishes tomorrow but normally they look for another way to continue reducing the price. And the customs coming from Australia is something to pay attention too.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EOS-40D-Digital-Camera/dp/B000V9KCEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1214732768&sr=1-1

 

 

I miss an English corrector in photo.net!

I meant "most", no "mort"

In Germany, cameras are more expensive due to the rate of exchange. If you decide to buy it there I am sure you will find many good shops. I live in Spain and buy either in USA, bhphotovideo, or Europe, pixmania-pro.

 

You can see the prices in pixmania, one of the mort reputed sellers. If you had a corporation, you could buy at pixmania-pro, without 16% VAT.

 

http://www.pixmania.com/de/de/1662/xx/xx/1/1/criteresn.html

 

Concerning the used cameras, a saving of $200 is not worth your worries, even being the camera in perfect situation.

Unless you knew very well the owner of the 40D and his/her reasons to sell a last model camera, I wouldn't run the risk.