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

[seanter]

Budget for the lens should be around a grand. I could be convinced to get the new body - but probably not the 7d2 and lens. I'd be killed for that, even though she'd like it. Maybe the 70D and lens.

So, best options seem to be:
7d2 and no lens
85
100
135
70D and lens.

THanks again. You've all been really helpful.

Sean

 

[AcutancePhotography]

When it comes to somethign a personal as a lens, I tend not to try to surprise people. Often you end up surprising them. "You shouldn't have bought that lens... really, you shouldn't have!"

Talk with her. Find out what she wants and what is interesting to her. It will be better than you trying to guess.

 

[sanj]

How about just the 70D? She already has all the lenses she practically needs for all 'normal' shoots and then some.

There will be more birthdays and occasions to buy her a lens. You can slowly gauge her actual need for a lens over the few months and buy her that particular lens in future.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

In the case of gifts for photographers, a guessing exercise can be disappointing. In this case it is better to predictable choices:

She has an old camera Rebel? A new Rebel will make her happy, without risk of unpleasant surprises.

She says she feels her Rebel small and slow? A 70D will satisfy it without being too heavy.

She wants a lens for portraits in low light? Sigma 50mm Art is exciting, but heavy and expensive. Canon 85mm F1.8 is very nice. Canon 100mm L Macro is great, if the light is not too weak.

 

[TAW]

My advice is take your best shot and surprise her! After (or even before) she opens it, let her know you researched and but did your best but you are completely comfortable if she exchanges it (you could even have a list of other options you considered)... As long as neither of you would take it personally, I would choose this option... and who knows, maybe you pick the perfect item... Based on what you said, it sounds like you have a high percentage of hitting the nail on the head with the 100L. But if not, no harm no foul... Who knows, maybe she exchanges it for a 1DX ;D

Good luck!
tom

 

[surapon]

With the lenses she already has, I think a newer camera is a better gift. IMHO.

+100 for me too, Dear Friend Mr. sanj
New 7D MK II for Your dear wife, please. Great cost and wonderful camera.
Surapon

 

[RustyTheGeek]

How about just the 70D? She already has all the lenses she practically needs for all 'normal' shoots and then some.

There will be more birthdays and occasions to buy her a lens. You can slowly gauge her actual need for a lens over the few months and buy her that particular lens in future.

Considering the entire thread so far, this is what I agree with most. Get the 70D and leave the rest for now. At this point, with the lenses you listed and the age of her current body, she'll love the 70D. It's a great camera and a great value.

Also, get a couple extra Wasabi batteries and a couple of high quality fast SD cards. That will complete the package for now.

 

[jebrady03]

Some good options listed above.

I'll +1 the suggestion to not buy anything and simply wrap up a picture of a camera+lens and tell her to consider it a voucher for anything up to $xxxx. This is what my wife did when she bought me a new TV.

Another option MIGHT be the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro. It's not quite as long as what you're talking about but it's great for tight portraits in tight spaces (school) and it's fun for macro.

As for buying her another camera... I agree that an upgrade from a 6 year old Rebel to a newer camera would be substantial (2 stop improvement in image quality) but ergonomics are SO important, especially to someone who's been using a DSLR for a LONG time and is comfortable with it. She may consider the 70D to be a massive, unwieldy beast and absolutely hate it! So again, I'd go back to the "voucher" idea.

Also consider an external flash if she doesn't have one. For any size DSLR except maybe the SL1 or T5, the 430 EX II is a FANTASTIC solution.

Nearing the end here... shop around for the best prices. Uses CanonPriceWatch.com to determine where the best prices are and if available, use the "street price" option to get an even lower price. And don't be afraid of refurbished gear directly from Canon. I've purchased 4 lenses and a camera body from them and everything looks and functions like it's brand new and the warranty is exactly the same as a brand new product. Canon often runs sales on their refurb gear that can save you an additional 10-20% off.

Finally, Adorama has the 70D + Pixma Pro 100 + photo paper + camera bag + memory card for $800. Even if you don't want the extras, that's the cheapest price around on the camera body... http://www.canonpricewatch.com/blog/2014/11/still-live-eos-70d-pixma-pro-100-for-799-ar-at-adorama/

 

[Lurker]

Is it just me or did we lose the mid-zoom aspect of the lens?
Since she has a "fast" mid-zoom already I'm not sure that fast means aperture. Maybe focus speed?

Camera stuff is expensive and you hate to get it wrong. Lens and camera choices can be very personal things for someone who has been involved in the hobby for a while. I would recommend making a creative card with a "gift certificate" for a photography shopping trip. Take a day and take her to a couple of camera stores, a nice lunch. Stop on the way home a pick up something for super and a nice bottle of wine. She'll get the lens of her dreams, not ours, and the memories of the day every time she uses the new equipment.

 

[RGF]

you say you want to get her a mid range zoom

Good choice - the wide angles is over covered and the 70-300 covers that range well.

Canon makes 2 lens you could consider

24-70 (L version - $$$)
24-104 (L version - $ to $$)

 

[sengineer]

How about a Canon Refurbished 6D. http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-6d-body-refurbished $1,367.28.

 

[sanj]

See how nice the members of this forum are? Such nice replies! Who said we are rude? hahahaha

 

[sanj]

How about a Canon Refurbished 6D. http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-6d-body-refurbished $1,367.28.

This would be great if all existing lenses are full frame. I do not know if they are.

 

[slclick]

A B&H Gift Card

 

[tron]

How about a Canon Refurbished 6D. http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-6d-body-refurbished $1,367.28.

This would be great if all existing lenses are full frame. I do not know if they are.

+1. Plus, refurbished 6D is out of stock this moment!

 

[FTb-n]

If the Rebel has less than 18 megapixels, a body upgrade is in order.

If sports isn't a priority and you want to stick with a crop body, the 70D paired with a Canon 17-55 f2.8 would be a huge improvement and an ideal system for general use.

However, if full-frame is in play, consider the 6D with a 24-70 f2.8L II or even the older 24-105 f2.8L.

As previously implied, there's a risk here. These suggestions aren't cheap and we are making assumptions about your wife's interest in photography. I can only draw from my experience. A few years ago, I upgraded from an 8 mg XT to a 60D. For a short zoom, I chose the 17-55 f2.8. I was blown away with the IQ improvement and the low light performance of this body and this lens.

Eventually, with my sports photography, I pushed the limits of crop bodies and ventured into FF with a 5D3 and a 24-105 f4L. I was blown away again with IQ improvements and better low light performance.

Full frame is expensive (and heavy). It typically leads one to buying more 'L' lenses. It may then lead to buying better post processing software and better computers. But, once the money is spent, for the serious photographer, it can be very rewarding.

General advice is not to upgrade until the limits of your gear are holding you back. You need to decide whether the limits of your wife's Rebel, or of crop bodies in general, are constraining her photography.

 

[ramon123]

Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II

 

[FTb-n]

Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II

+1

I thought the OP wanted a mid-range zoom, but on crop or FF, the Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS II is my workhorse lens.

 

[Steve Balcombe]

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.

The advice already given - 70D and/or the 100L macro lens - is spot on. I wouldn't suggest the 7D MkII without consulting with your wife as it is much bigger and heavier and double the price, with very little advantage for "... landscapes, portraits, animals, etc. General stuff." Great, great camera but that doesn't make it an automatic choice, especially if it soaks up all the budget.

However. One thing you were very clear about in your OP was a faster lens, and your examples are f/2 and f/1.8. What was the reason for that? Is it a key part of what your wife wants - e.g. for shallow depth of field portraits? I would recommend that you clarify that before possibly buying the wrong lens. But if f/2.8 is ok, the 100L would be superb - it would become the best lens she owns (by a mile!).

BTW you said "mid-zoom" but people often say zoom when they mean telephoto. Zoom means variable focal length. I've assumed you mean telephoto!

 

[NorbR]

As for buying her another camera... I agree that an upgrade from a 6 year old Rebel to a newer camera would be substantial (2 stop improvement in image quality) but ergonomics are SO important, especially to someone who's been using a DSLR for a LONG time and is comfortable with it. She may consider the 70D to be a massive, unwieldy beast and absolutely hate it! So again, I'd go back to the "voucher" idea.

This.

I agree that, given the lens lineup, a body upgrade is probably the best choice. That being said, personally, I wouldn't give a camera body as a gift, at least not completely in the dark. A camera is a bit more "personal" than a lens, and speaking for myself, I would want to choose carefully a new body for myself, having given it quite a bit of thought. Lenses, you can gift to me any day, I'll always play with them anyway

Of course, if she's hinted that she'd like to upgrade to a particular body, then go for it. Otherwise, go for the voucher, or make sure anything you buy is returnable.

As for lenses, not much to add to what's be suggested above. 85/1.8 or 100L both sound like great options, I'd go for one of those, depending on budget.