Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

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Archive 2009 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

EOS20
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p.2 #1 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

The 17-55 IS and 70-200 f/2.8 IS combo is great on a crop camera (The 7D) so you should just stick with this combo.

A 24-XX lens on a crop camera can be limiting unless you have another wider lens (which will end up costing you even more money, and will mean your wife will need to carry around another lens). I use to have a 24-105 IS which I used on my 40D which was ok, but I also had a 17-40 to cover the wide angle, I wouldn't want to have been limited to just having a 24-105 as my widest lens though.

There is also allot of overlap between the 24-105 and 70-200, so IMHO it doesn't really make a great combo since your only gaining another 95mm. I was shooting with a 100-400, so the 24-105 fitted into my setup nicely. I liked the 24-105 IS better on my 5DmkII.

24-70 is bigger, heavier, and lacks IS which is a very useful feature, and I think the 17-55 IS would most likely suit your wife better then the bigger/heavier lens.

I would say your best to just stick with the 2 lenses you have already purchased, and I'm sure your wife will be very happy with those two lenses.

Dec 13, 2009 at 02:43 PM

ohyeah
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p.2 #2 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

bpark42 wrote:
ohyeah wrote:
The 70-200 f/4L is lighter, yes. But better IQ than the f/2.8? I've had both lenses, and have not found this to be true. Comparing both lenses wide open maybe, but the f/2.8L stopped down to f/4 and smaller is as good or better than the f/4L at any aperture. Having that extra stop is in so many ways better that the "only" way I'd prefer the f/4L is if weight was the deciding factor, period.
Enjoy!!

Are you talking about the IS version? The f4L IS is consistently rated the best of the Canon 70-200's. In many cases, I am sure the difference will not matter, since the artistic merits of the shot should carry it (vs. the largely technical concern of supreme sharpness), but even so, the f4L IS is possibly the best Canon zoom lens out there, and is certainly capable of beating up on its 70-200 f2.8 IS sibling a little bit, especially at 200mm.

I agree that it is great to have the extra stop, but I am not sure a "newbie", so to speak, will appreciate the virtues of the extra stop when weighed against the, ah, weight of the 2.8. The f4L IS makes a great (high end) starter telephoto zoom, IMO. The 2.8...maybe, maybe not.

For reference: http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/196-canon-ef-70-200mm-f4-usm-l-is-test-report--review

EDIT: To save people some reading, if they aren't interesting in the whole review...

"The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L IS is the very best zoom lens tested to date in Canon mount. The resolution figures (center/border) at all focal length and all tested aperture settings are nothing short of stunning and also as good as the best fix-focals in this range. At f/11 there´s the usual decline in quality due to diffraction - this is a physical limit. Truly remarkable."

I agree, the 70-200 f/4L IS is an amazing less that produces amazing images. But I had both at one time, and now only the f/2.8 IS. At f/4 on down, both lenses were virtually identical in IQ (for me). Sure, the f/4 with different sensors, focal lengths, apertures, etc. may be ever so slightly better in some tests than the f/2.8 IS. But the f/2.8 IS leaves it in the dust when you factor in all the benefits of it's extra full stop.

As for the weight, that's a personal preference, and wasn't an issue for me. But if that's an important factor to someone, then so be it. But leaving weight completely out of the comparison (and cost

), the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS could be one of the best zooms ever made, by any manufacturer. Paired with my 5D2, I'm constantly amazed at the images this combo can produce, and in just about any situation.

Dec 16, 2009 at 09:53 PM

Rob-Bob
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p.2 #3 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

EOS20 wrote:
The 17-55 IS and 70-200 f/2.8 IS combo is great on a crop camera (The 7D) so you should just stick with this combo.

+1

I just finally got a me 28-105.
-It will be a great mid-range, walk-around lens.
I also have the 2.8, 70-200- for more reach, but sometimes wider is nescessary.

--Now, I'd kill to get(NEXT Purchase)will/should be that 17-55mm for the wider range. I also am shooting with a crop-cam, so getting more on the wider side will also be wonderful.
I think that you made an excellent choice with the 70-200 & the 17-55mm.
I'd say perfect combo-gift.

Bob

Bob

Dec 16, 2009 at 10:07 PM

Jo Dilbeck
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p.2 #4 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

hfillmore wrote:
Depending on the usage, the lens you might want to reconsider is the 70-200 2.8. It's one hulluva heavy, large lens, weighing in at about three pounds. If travel, walk around, weight, and size are important, you might want to consider the f4 IS version instead. It's about half the size and weight, with better IQ.

The 17-55 is a no-brainer. The best walk around for the crop camera, without a doubt.

Ditto the above. The 17-55 is definitely a keeper for the crop camera. The 70-200 F2.8 is indeed heavy, and incomparing my friends 2.8 to my F4 IS version, My F4 version is much sharper, and a helluva lot lighter. But, you can let her decide on Christmas day! I wish my husband knew enough to purchase me camera equipment for Christmas, I have to provide him the exact specifics of what I what, so where's the surprise in that?

Dec 16, 2009 at 10:38 PM

jrscls
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p.2 #5 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

Stick with the lenses you bought. The 70-200 f2.8 IS will be better for portraits and events if the lights go low. The 17-55 f2.8 IS is also a very nice lens for crop bodies like the 7D. If you also plan to get a full frame like a 5D II, then the 24-105 is a better choice.

Dec 16, 2009 at 10:57 PM

mh2000
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p.2 #6 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

If you aren't going to FF in the near future I think the 17-55 is probably better as a general lens (from what I see posted)... IS on a f2.8 would be very nice. *I* used the 24-70L on a crop camera and loved the FL's and quality... but I prefered being a little longer than wanting wider. Keep what you have, should be great!

You probably have enough money left over to get either a 35/2 or 50/1.8... I'd probably add that just so you get a faster lens.

Dec 17, 2009 at 04:36 AM

Anden
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p.2 #7 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

You have made excellent choices. Don´t worry. Just shoot. In the future you might add a fast prime, a wider lens and a longer lens depending on what you shoot.

A

Dec 17, 2009 at 12:53 PM

toddmitchell
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p.2 #8 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

great set up

next year you can add a nice fast prime of her choice and a flash and cs4 and lr and some studio strobes and...............

Dec 17, 2009 at 02:23 PM

canon pants
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p.2 #9 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

Great set up. 17-55 is the best lens for a crop camera. basically gued on my 7D

Dec 17, 2009 at 02:43 PM

joezasada
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p.2 #10 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

The 17-55 is a great one-lens compromise for a crop body... otherwise you would get the 10-22 for wide (you'll still want one of those eventually) and either the 24-70L or 24-105L for the mid range.

the 70-200L is a workhorse telephoto zoom that's hard to beat...

Dec 18, 2009 at 12:21 AM

well69
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p.2 #11 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

What a lucky wife.

You made perfect choices, stick with them. The 17-55 is an amazing lens on a crop body.

Sounds like you could use a tripod and an intervalometer and you're good to go.

Dec 18, 2009 at 02:47 PM

Jeff Donald
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p.2 #12 · Buying my wife camera gear, have questions.

I teach photography and almost every female student that has the 70~200 f/2.8 complains of the weight and uses it on a tripod. You did get your wife a tripod, right?

Dec 18, 2009 at 03:40 PM

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