Advice on Canon Lenses

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goswald

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Hi,

I'm looking at investing in a Canon Telephoto Zoom lense.

These are the 3 which I am currently looking at and would like some insight as to which would be best for me. Photography at the moment is a hobby but I am looking to taking it further.

  • Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III USM
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM STABILISER
  • Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0 L USM

I have started doing lots of portraits and am looking at making some extra cash doing weddings.

Thanks
 
You might not use the zoom lens for weddings that much but of the three the 70-200 f/4 L is the best in terms of sharpness and speed.

What lenses so you currently have?

EDIT - And it's one lens or several lenses. :)
 
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At the moment only the 18mm - 55mm.

I am also currently using the 350d (Hoping to also upgrade soon).

Any other lenses I should be looking at before going for a telephoto zoom lense?
 
I have the # Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0 L USM together with a 1.4x zoom multiplier.
The lens is really really awesome. Sure, 200mm is really small, but it's awesome for use at weddings. The 1.4x multiplier takes it to f5.6 which is still acceptable under lighted conditions.
 
goswald said:
Any other lenses I should be looking at before going for a telephoto zoom lense?
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Look at the "nifty fifty" (50mm f/1.8) or the [justifiably] more expensive f/1.4. If you're not thinking of going full frame there is the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM but it's not cheap. :)

The 70-200 is fine for those candid shots but you'll probably find you want something wider.

Right now I'm 90% sure my next lens will be the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM. I've been renting the Canon version for corporate events and while I really like it I'm not sure I can justify the expense yet.

BTW - dont get me wrong - I've got the 70-200 f/4 and I love it and it handles a Vivitar 2x TC nicely for when I need some extra legs on it.
 
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bwana said:
Look at the "nifty fifty" (50mm f/1.8) or the [justifiably] more expensive f/1.4. If you're not thinking of going full frame there is the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM but it's not cheap. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for mentioning it ;) It's excellent and I know of a couple of wedding photographers who shoot with crop bodies, who use this lens.

You might also look at the 24-70 (the Sigma is probably closer to your budget). Something else you may consider is the Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 EX DC II HSM. It's f/2.8 right through, and it's designed to give you roughly the same range on a crop body as a 70-200mm would on full frame (80-240 on Canon's 1.6), which makes it a bit more useful. I've heard good things about this lens.

Other than that, of the three you mention, the 70-200L is tops. The 70-300 IS USM would be my second choice.
 
goswald said:
Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III USM
Canon EF 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM STABILISER
Canon EF 70-200mm f4.0 L USM

I have started doing lots of portraits and am looking at making some extra cash doing weddings.
Click to expand...

Portraits and weddings? That would probably be the 70-200. It's a fantastic lens. For the same price you could also get the 70-300IS. It really depends on what you need. The 70-300IS adds IS and an extra 100mm, but the 70-200 is faster for something that moves (like people at a wedding). And where would you use 300mm at a wedding anyway? That first lens [Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III USM] has got to go off your list. Optically, it's not in the same league as the 70-200f4/70-300IS. At least, not the one I used.

Disclaimer: I don't know what I'm talking about. Ask bwana - he has some events experience.
 
So... after reading the advice and browsing the net, I have decided to go for the:

Canon EF 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

One last question, should I bite the bullet and go for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM instead?
 
I think the f1.4 has more accurate focus? I don't know. I think koffiejunkie might know. I do have the 70-300IS, though, and it's fabulous.
 
goswald said:
So... after reading the advice and browsing the net, I have decided to go for the:

Canon EF 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

One last question, should I bite the bullet and go for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM instead?
Click to expand...
I think the 1.8 is an awesome lens - probably the best lens for its price that canon makes. It's fast and very sharp.

And the 1.4 is even better :)
picture.php

ldmelsa said:
I think the f1.4 has more accurate focus? I don't know. I think koffiejunkie might know. I do have the 70-300IS, though, and it's fabulous.
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Whats the max aperture at 200mm?
 
goswald said:
One last question, should I bite the bullet and go for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM instead?
Click to expand...

If you can come up with the money, I think yes.

ldmelsa said:
I think the f1.4 has more accurate focus? I don't know. I think koffiejunkie might know.
Click to expand...

I've only played with it briefly, but yeah, if I had before I bought the f/1.8, I would have bought the f/1.4...

EDIT to clarify (for the confused): If I had tried the 50mm f/1.4 before I bought my 50mm, I would have bought the f/1.4 instead of the f/1.8. :D
 
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I am selling a Sigma 55-200 as I do not use it as I am doing portraits and close up work like food photography. I agree the nifty 50 is a great lens and I use it for most of my work these days.
With wedding work you do not want to be on top of the people so a zoom type is better.
 
bwana said:
Look at the "nifty fifty" (50mm f/1.8) or the [justifiably] more expensive f/1.4. If you're not thinking of going full frame there is the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM but it's not cheap. :)
Click to expand...

koffiejunkie said:
Thank you for mentioning it ;) It's excellent and I know of a couple of wedding photographers who shoot with crop bodies, who use this lens.
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I have heard that this lens is very popular with wedding photog's.

I have one of these and there's a fair deal of criticism regarding build quality vs the high price, but the picture quality soon makes you forget these negatives. If I were to chose only one lens, then it would be this one.
 
Frankie said:
I have heard that this lens is very popular with wedding photog's.
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Only those who shoot APS-C but I suspect the 5D Mk2 is still the wedding photographer's choice of camera.
 
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