johanjooste

Hi all good people, thanks so much for all your valuable input. I also had the 17-55mm, f/2.8 IS on my list at first, but thought of the drawback if one eventually switch to full frame. I suppose one must buy what is best for now - what suits the 40D and your budget. So I think the following for a start: 40D camera, 17-55mm, f/2.8 IS zoom lens and the 430EX II Speedlite flash.

Thanks Paul, yes indeed, a flash 430EX II is also in the reckoning, but I want to stick to Canon equipment. Another person

suggested to only get the 17-55 mm, f/2.8 IS lens, instead of the three lenses I have mentioned. Price wise, it is about

right, but I really also want to get the 85mm for shallow depth-of-field.

I am getting the 40D soon and need to plan for lenses. I have these lenses in mind to do weddings and general photography: 17-40mm, f/4,

50mm, f/1.8 II, and lastly the 85mm, f/1.8. On a tight'ish budget, do you have any other suggestions and should I cover the range between

50 and 85mm?

Thanks Martijn!

Martijn, I had Tokina ATX-Pro lenses to go with the two Minolta bodies, which I sold. I still have the bodies, since the buyer

of the lenses have the new Sony bodies. I believe that Canon has very good equipment, especially lenses and that's why

I'm changing. Should I pay more and go for the 50D when it comes out?

Hi, Julian, if I may. I'm from Namibia and am following the different threads and the two lenses that you mentioned, namely,

17-40, f/4 and 50mm, f/1.8, are also on my list. I also want to include the 85mm, f/1.8 for outside portraits. I want to get the

Canon 40D as a starting body with the mentioned lenses to do weddings and general people photography.

 

I have had Minolta film equipment, but it's time to change to digital for me. What do you think of those lenses and their

coverage when one is on a thin budget, mainly because of our poor exchange rate to the US$ (8.00)?

Hi there, thank you all for contributing. I think I have made up my mind for now, and that is to go with the 40D, get only

certain EF-S lenses for the "wide" end and the rest EF lenses to use on a full frame body when I get there. I was thinking

to get the following for now: 17-55mm, f2.8 IS (general scenes), 85mm, f1.8 (for portraits and low light shots).

Johan Jooste

Thanks Danny D, I tend to agree with you although I forgot to mention from the start that I am not entirely a hobbyist - have

worked on assignments (product shots, corporate functions and weddings). I intend to start doing weddings again (low

light), and in my spare time wildlife (in parks) and landscapes. So as you can see from my needs, it's from wide angle to

telephoto.

Johan Jooste

Thanks Antonio, I have no digital equipment, coming from film, but need to make up my mind to go for either full frame

(more expensive) or crop factor (less expensive). Some rumors that full frame will be cheaper in near future? What is the

risk of buying a full frame camera second hand on Ebay for instance? (I have been warned against buying second hand

over the internet).

Johan Jooste

Thanks for all the answers, will search further!

Johan

I have a question and am not sure if it's been answered before. If it is, please refer me to that post. I am in the market for a switch to

Canon digital after using Minolta film cameras for a long time. Ideally I should go for the 5D camera, but the price is for now too steep, so I

am thinking to get the 40D. My question is, the "best" lenses (L-lenses), are made for full frame cameras and if I buy EF-S lenses now and

want to upgrade to full frame later, then the EF-S lenses would be unusable? What advice can you guys give me, it's my first post! Johan

Jooste