steve_dimond

I agree that the 70-200mm f4L IS is a fantastic lens. But, as you have pointed out, on a 1.6x crop camera body your maximum focal range is 112mm. This effectively takes you out of the street portrait/people photography category that you indirectly indicated you would like to have. By your own words, you are not "into chasing animals...". Most persons desiring a walk-around lens like to capture wide angle, portrait, and general scenery such as structures. Because of this, you might consider buying the 17-55mm EF-S f2.8 IS USM lens. It is considered by many pros to be one of the finest lenses made. On a 1.6x FOVC camera it gives you a respectable 27.2mm wide angle and a great 88mm long focal end that covers the people portrait range perfectly. It is also light and has the added feature of IS. To many, this lens is L quality in all but the name! Later, when you have the money saved, you can add the 70-200mm f4 IS USM to your arsenal and have just about everything you could want as a "general purpose" photographer. Good luck!

To all of you who answered me concerning my issue with the selection of lenses I say: Thank you! I am taking into

account what each of you has said and weighing your comments carefully into my thinking. There are so many

forums where so many people simply "throw" answers at a question without actually considering what is being said.

However, each of you have acted to restore my faith in the online forum-learning process. I know that I was overly-

lengthy in my "question" and I apologize; but your patience with me and the sincere answers that followed have hit

the mark.

 

Again,

Thanks to all of you.

Steve

Thanks, Sheldon.

As most of you already know, it can challenging to find a lens or series of lenses that properly encompass the range

of photographic opportunities or preferences that we would like. For instance, I have finally decided on the Canon

EOS Digital Rebel XSi as my first dSLR. Not my first SLR, just my first dSLR. Anyway, after much research etc., I

learn about "cropped" camera 'bodys' and so on and also about the full range of Canon lenses available including the

new series EF-S that are made exclusively for the cropped body. Then I begin comparing reviews about all these

lenses and all the EF lenses, with or without IS, and, well, you know how mind boggling it can be. Analysis

paralysis doesn't take long to set in.

 

Anyway, of the EF-S lenses the one that clearly stands out in the reviews of many different professionals is the 17-

55mm, f2.8, IS. Not only do most knowledgeable persons compare the quality of this lens to the Canon Pro level 'L'

series lenses but they also note that it is most likely one of the best "walk-around" lenses a photographer could

have. Of course, I like this. Who wouldn't. However, because of the dreaded crop factor of APS-C sensors, the true

effective focal range of this lens on the crop-body camera is 27.2mm x 88mm. I like shooting wide angle and I like

shooting 'people' pictures and portraits. So, you might ask, just what the h... is my problem? To me, wide angle is

either of the three following focs: 20, 24, or 22mm with 28mm and 35mm actually being moderate wide angle focal

lengths. So if I want these capabilities on the cropped camera, I have to go to the EF-S 10mm x 22mm. "So now

what's the problem", you might ask? Well, nothing really, I guess. Afterall the 10mm x 22m meshes nicely with the

17mm x 55mm and the 10mm x 22mm is an okay lens, but what do I do for the next range up? I really do like the

idea of IS because I have a tendency to "quiver" somewhat when I shoot. That leaves me with the EF 24-105mm f4

IS 'L' series USM which is truly a remarkable walk-about lens and much, much more. But look at the "small" end. I

end up with an overlap of 55/24 when placed next to the 17 x 55. Seems silly when you think about the money

involved. My other choice would be the EF 70-200mm, f4, IS, 'L' Series USM. A mighty good lens. However, now I

have two issues in my mind: (1) I like low-light photography and f4, though not "bad", is certainly not as good as

f2.8, and (2) I now have a focal length "gap" of 70/55 that I haven't filled if I stick with the EF-S 17x55 lens as my

general "walk-around" lens.

 

After all of this, here's where I'm at and I look forward to your experienced input.

1) EF-S 10x22mm, f3.5/4.5 (non-IS) USM with a 17x55mm, f2.8 IS USM and finally the EF 70x200mm, f4, IS,

USM 'L' Series. OR...

2) EF-S 10x22mm, f3.5/4.5 (non-IS) USM with an 'L' series 24-105mm, f4, IS, USM 70x200mm, f4, IS USM 'L'

Series (remember, I need IS on the medium and long focal lengths). Remember, f4 doesn't provide "great" low-light

capability, normally, without the use of a tripod but the 3-4 stop advantage of IS when applied on the shutter side

could off-set the challenge. (Any thoughts?)

 

Okay folks, I know this is all overkill, but I would really like your input on this. What Would You Do?

 

Thanks,

Steve

Highly recommend Panasonic DMC-FZ8. Has 12x optical zoom (28-432); great image stabilization; very good review at dpreview.com and very good price at Best Buy: $349.00.

To start: I am a novice photographer. Actually, I should not even use the

term 'photographer'. I'm just an old man who has used "point-and-shoot"

cameras all his life and has never been very good! I have wanted a digital

camera for a long, long time but I kept waiting for just the right time. I did

a lot of research: magazines, friends, comsumer reports, dpreview, etc. A few

weeks ago I was all set to buy the Sony DSC-H5 only to find out there are none

left in America. The H7 and H9 have been getting horrible reviews so I changed

direction. Reviewed Panasonic DMC-FZ8. Dpreview "Highly Recommended". Picked

it over Canons, Nikons, etc. Got happy. Went to Best Buy. Got talked into DMC-

TZ3. All because I was wondering out loud if I might like something a little

more compact. Sales guy showed me some TZ3 pics; they looked pretty good. He

said Panasonic great little camera and I should be very happy. I bought the

little gem for $304.00 at Best Buy. I'm still working my way through the

instructions (why don't the Japanese let Americans write the instructions?)

I've captured a few very amaturish images and even managed to upload them to

my computer using HP Photosmart. Then today happened. Three weeks ago when I

bought the TZ3 I don't think dpreview had reviewed it yet. Well. Today they

have and it barely gets a "Recommended" from the guys over there. The big

beef? The most important issue of all: image quality. Scored very low. I am

now experiencing post-first-digital-camera purchase depression and I took

years to decide before blowing it! LOL. My first love in photography is

portraits. Especially black and white. Secondly, existing light scenes. Sales

guy said I could do both. I've never done portraits. I've never done black and

white. They're just my first loves. I don't expect to do decent portraits with

the point and shoot. I understand I would probably need a DSLR. But, here's my

question to you: based on the dpreview about the TZ3's image quality, would

you return the camera and pick another one? And, if so, which one would any of

you recommend? On the other hand, if anyone out there is actually and

experienced user and uses the TZ3, what is your experience and what would you

recommend that I do. I apologize for the length of this post (my first) and I

thank you for your repsonse. Sincerely: post-purchase blues guy.