Official Canon Gear Thread

[Yammer77]

Talk all things Canon

[jefg99]

Countdown is two days to Pittsburgh and my acquiring my first DSLR from my son. A Canon XTi, it should be fairly easy to pick up, being similar to my old Canon EOS Rebel SLR. With used 18-55, 55-200 and a 28-135IS as my walkaround lens, I should be set for awhile. I can't imagine ever moving up to L quality, but then I thought I'd be sticking with my P&S, so who knows. It will be interesting how much difference there will be from my smaller G9 sensor. I'll have to take photos side-by-side to compare.

[jefg99]

Well, I did get my camera this weekend, and will be taking it out for some test drives.  I have little doubt that basic shooting will be easy, and I need to finally learn how to do things one can do with a camera other than (1) point, and (2) shoot. OK, I know some things, just not enough.    Here is what I have so far (I bought everything used).
Canon XTi
18-55mm kit lens
55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II, non IS
28-135 USM IS
I'm looking to add a longer lens, and have a lead on a 70-300 ($195 new, less used). I'm thinking, however, that it would be usable only in bright light situations, so I may hold out for the same in an IS version (about $525). What I'm really trying to do is to avoid further temptation until I try out the camera and see if I'm going to use it regularly, or stick with shooting my G9 on a regular basis.
(Lucky for me my old S40 used the CF cards, so I have a bundle of them already)
Any thoughts?

[ajlipe]

Jeff,

My advice to you is to use the camera and lenses that you currently have. Find out what you can do with them before buying anything else. After you've used the lenses you will know where they are lacking for your style of shooting and will then have a better idea of what glass you need to buy. I have 5 lenses and they were each bought for a specific purpose and some get used more than others. I have the following:

Canon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS
Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS

The 24-70 and 70-200 see the most use. If there is a lens you want to try out, just ask the next time we're shooting together.

Also, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina have some very nice lenses for the Canon mount. My son has a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 that produces very nice images.

Well, I did get my camera this weekend, and will be taking it out for some test drives.  I have little doubt that basic shooting will be easy, and I need to finally learn how to do things one can do with a camera other than (1) point, and (2) shoot. OK, I know some things, just not enough.    Here is what I have so far (I bought everything used).
Canon XTi
18-55mm kit lens
55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II, non IS
28-135 USM IS
I'm looking to add a longer lens, and have a lead on a 70-300 ($195 new, less used). I'm thinking, however, that it would be usable only in bright light situations, so I may hold out for the same in an IS version (about $525). What I'm really trying to do is to avoid further temptation until I try out the camera and see if I'm going to use it regularly, or stick with shooting my G9 on a regular basis.
(Lucky for me my old S40 used the CF cards, so I have a bundle of them already)
Any thoughts?

[jefg99]

Thanks for that advice Alice. As I know you know, there is a temptation to jump in with both feet rather than sticking your toe in first. On our upcoming trip to Spain, I'm considering packing only my 28-135IS. I think that should cover the bases for most travel shots. If I was going to take (buy something else), it might be a 50mm 1.8, which comes rather cheaply ($85), and would be good for low-light indoor shooting without flash.

Based on your experience, would the IS on my 28-135 4.5 provide me close to the same shooting range as a 1.8? That is, close enough as to not buy a 1.8?

[ajlipe]

Jeff - I have the 50mm f/1.4 lens and love it. I've used it in low light conditions where my f/2.8 lenses didn't satisfy my needs. I know people who have the 1.8 version and love it - best bang for the buck at <$100. I would highly recommend adding the 50mm f/1.8 to your arsenal of lenses.

I ask myself one question when buying a new lens - what can this lens do for me that none of my other lenses will do? I see too many people get on the lens merry-go-round where they buy a lens only to find out they really don't use it. Then they sell the lens to finance a different lens.

I need to start doing that with my camera bodies too . Oh wait! There was a specific reason for upgrading from the 30D to the 40D and now to the 50D so guess I sort of do that with camera bodies too.

[Yammer77]

So with the 5D, you can take movies...
So if I want a video camera, buy a DSLR.
If I want a camera, buy a camcorder.

[jefg99]

Hey you! Stay on your own thread or WE are coming over there and bug you!!!!    

[Yammer77]

hey its all good.
I never once bashed canon p&s....my sis in law, i gave her a sd1000.
Nice compact camera.

[jefg99]

Well, I've put in my Christmas wish list. However, I sincerely doubt that this will be sitting under the tree this year. In fact, there's probably few trees it would fit under. Oh well, perhaps next year.

Heck, I'd be grateful for one of the 500mm f/4 IS lens in the boxes in the background.

Canon 1200mm. Somewhere in the $80,000 neigborhood.

[ajlipe]

Jeff - I think I read somewhere that the 1200mm is a special order item, that only 3 have been made, Sports Illustrated owns (or owned at one time) 2 of those lenses and B&H had a used one for sale on their website a while ago. May I borrow that lens for a day of testing when it shows up under your Christmas tree? 

[Ken K.]

I think that the Club should order one of these and we take turns using it. 

Maybe the Oly folks can get Oly to make an adapter

Ken

[ajlipe]

Ken - that sounds good to me!

[jefg99]

Just ordered an 18-55mm IS lens to replace the old XTi 18-55 non-IS kit lens. On trips, I do a lot of non -flash indoor photos, so I'm hoping this will help with low lighting. They claim the IS can help by four f-stops, but I'll be happy with two. It almost seems underpriced at $167 with good reviews, but they're competing with other manufacturers with built-in IS.

So, in the rare case that you'd hear of someone needing a cheap 18-55 kit lens, I'd be happy with $50. I also own a 70-200 which I'll probably sell as well.

[ajlipe]

Jeff - which 70-200 lens do you have? I have the 2.8 IS version and love it but I've heard really good things about each of the 4 versions.