Lens as a gift. Non Photographer buying... :)

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seanter

Nov 25, 2014
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#1
Hi,

I want to buy my wife a new lens - if you all think she needs it. Her gear is:
Canon Eos Rebel Crop (fairly old - about 6 years)

Lenses:
Canon 70-300 4-5.6
Tokina 11-16 2.8
Tamron 28-75 2.8
Sigma 18-35 1.8

She is wanting a mid-zoom faster lens. I'm thinking about the 135 2.0 or the 85 1.8
She shoots landscapes, portraits, animals, etc. General stuff.

I'd appreciate your collective advice.

Thank you!
Sean
 
#3
For IQ and overall wonderfulness I would suggest the EF70-200 f/4L IS. If she has a need for speed, then the Tamron SP70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC would be a nice option. If you get her either one of those primes you're considering, you'll end up having to get her a better zoom anyway.
 
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#5
seanter said:
She is wanting a mid-zoom faster lens.
Click to expand...

Then get her one of those. What is mid-zoom, I don't know. 50 mm 1.4? How about a 35 mm Sigma or the 30 mm crop version (what ever it is called)? Your idea, 85 1.8, is not that bad either. It's a very fast focusing lens. The 135 mm 2.0 is also great, but it is not that versatile.

The suggested macro if definitely nice too, but how is it a fast lens or mid-zoom?
 
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#6
Marsu42 said:
Bennymiata said:
Get her a 100mm macro lens. Great for portraits and pets, but the world of close-up bugs and flowers will open up a whole new photographic world to her. She'll love you for it. Macro lenses are not only usefull, but lots of fun.
Click to expand...

+1, exactly what I intended to write and advise.
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+1, According to The-digital-picture.com the “Most fun per dollar lens”. It can be either the 100mm f/2.8 or f/2.8L, depending on what you are willing to spend (I’ve got the non-L myself; a truly great lens for the money).
 
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#7
scaptic said:
+1, According to The-digital-picture.com the “Most fun per dollar lens”. It can be either the 100mm f/2.8 or f/2.8L, depending on what you are willing to spend (I’ve got the non-L myself; a truly great lens for the money).
Click to expand...

I've exchanged my non-L for the L, even if I'm Mr. Budget. Reasons are: a) the IS on the L which doesn't matter much for macro, but is terrific for everything else; b) weather sealing on the L (my non-L broke down twice), c) a bit better iq on crop (less CA wide open), d) focus limiter switch on the L. For pure tripod macro, the non-L is fine though.
 
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#10
seanter said:
She is wanting a mid-zoom faster lens. I'm thinking about the 135 2.0 or the 85 1.8
She shoots landscapes, portraits, animals, etc. General stuff.
Click to expand...
Hi seanter!

I'd be willing to go with all the advices pointing towards the 100/2.8 macro (L or non-L, both are good. I did as Marsu did, but had no issues with the non-L), if...

If your wife is or might get interested in macro., it delivers you two lenses in one:
macro + portrait although a little bit long on crop for the later.
This argument would also be my "no go" for the 135/2.0. On crop it is too long for portrait (for me).

If your wife is not so much into macro, the 100/2.8 macro IMHO is not fast enough.
Therefore I'd go for an 85mm lens. The 85/1.8 from canon is a good bang for the buck but has some CA.
Maybe third party lenses like the sigma 1.4 might be interesting, but some complain about AF issues. With those fast apertures below 2.0 your wife is getting in another league to discover what DOF means. And there they are way ahead the macros .

Concerning sanj's guess about a new body:
This also came to my mind but i have to points against it:
1. It's a present from you to your wife. Cameras come and go. A lens will last longer in the family.
2. I'd say it's up to her to decide, if ergonomics (Important for women! At least for mine), IQ and tech functions of the camera no longer fulfill her needs.

Maybe it'll be best to ask her or to present her a voucher and you'll go shopping the lens together.

Hope it helps. Yours,
Maximilian
 
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#11
Maximilian said:
I'd be willing to go with all the advices pointing towards the 100/2.8 macro (L or non-L, both are good. I did as Marsu did, but had no issues with the non-L)
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That was stupid /me shooting outdoors a lot with the lens near/on the ground all the time. That's when I learned the hard way that €500 repair costs don't cover the non-L being €400 cheaper...

sanj said:
This may not be your plan but I think it is best if you consult her. You both can sit together in front of internet and select the most appropriate lens. My thoughts.
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Well, true enough, but it's not like you cannot send/bring back a lens. A macro lens makes a great surprise, I remember the first time I shot with it - I felt like a 5 year old kid, "Woooooaaaa, I can get thaaaaaat close!!! Look at the details!!!" :-)
 
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#13
Hi,
I appreciate all your input. Is it worth getting another crop like the 70D, or should I wait and try to spring for a full frame?

I like the idea of the 100, but since she's also looking (And I failed to mention) for indoor shots - we work at a school and she likes to take candids of the students - I am not sure 2.8 is fast enough... Thoughts?

Sean
 
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#15
seems like a fast 35mm would do a lot....

35 f2 I.S. ............ very nice for moderate action indoors..

35 f1.5 sigma.........able to stop some action
I use this a lot................. ~50mm effective for her camera
...................

she is missing indoors fast lens as you hinted...

I like the sigma because sh can throw out the backgrounds on shots indoors.....


the 35 I.S. seems nice too a lot lighter smaller ....1/2 the price?
maybe with small movement she can capture ..situations better......
lower iso maybe...

some folks like this because ...pretty fast but the I.S. is so useful....

I seem to like the 35 I.S. better for this use.......



this is a tough choice imo


Tom
 
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#17
seanter said:
I appreciate all your input. Is it worth getting another crop like the 70D, or should I wait and try to spring for a full frame?
Click to expand...

That would mean exchanging your ef-s lenses that don't work on full frame, and compromising nice usability like the 70d for good iq, but "no fun" gear like the 6d with a pita af.

seanter said:
I like the idea of the 100, but since she's also looking (And I failed to mention) for indoor shots - we work at a school and she likes to take candids of the students - I am not sure 2.8 is fast enough... Thoughts?
Click to expand...

The af of the 100L macro lens isn't very fast in low light, in that case look at the 135L/2 which is good for this type of work, but lacks IS. It might be a bit long portraits on crop though.

What's your budget anyway? Does it stretch to the 7d2?
 
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#18
seanter said:
I appreciate all your input. Is it worth getting another crop like the 70D, or should I wait and try to spring for a full frame?
Click to expand...
With her lens setup I'd stay at crop. Only if she'd make the wish for FF, I'd start to consider this.

Apart from that I'd stick to my first post.
 
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#20
On a crop, 100 mm L macro would give you the ff equiv of 160 mm. Little long for portraits. Good for macro. I never used my 100 L for portraits when I shot crop. On FF it is an amazing portrait lens.

I would go with the 85 f/1.8 if you want tight portraits or the Sigma 50 f/1.4 for a general portrait lens. The 70-200 f/4 or a 24-105 f/4 (Canon or Sigma) are other thoughts for a "mid-range" zoom on a crop. What is your budget?
 
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