Lens suggestions

[wickidwombat]

Re: All round lenses

Some amazing answers here, thanks you all very much, I have thought about the kind of situations I might be in for photography on the trip, it is all organised and so I don't think I will need the 70-200mm, so the 10-22mm and the 15-85mm sound like two very good lenses that I will use, a limit to just 2 lenses (probably won't use the kit lens) will prevent too much weight, and also allow me to set up faster and take the photo I want on any time I have during the day. I will try extremely hard and buy a tripod too. A couple of you have also recommended Circular Polarizer filters, so will have a look at those. Regarding the 15-85mm and 24-105mm, what are the benefits of each one, as different people like the 24-105mm, and some prefer the 15-85mm.

Thanks, I really appreciate all of the help you have all given me, James

if you are going to get the 10-22 then you should get the 24-105 over the 15-85
2 reasons
less double up on focal length the 24-105 has more reach and is faster and weather sealed to a certain extent
also it will work on a FF camera if you upgrade later on
if you are only going to take 2 lenses then the 10-22 and the 24-105L are definately going to help you out
you can also look at a kenko 1.4 TC which works on all lenses it will bump the reach up on the 24-105 and make it f5.6 it is small light and works well and costs under $200

all depends on your budget

 

[pj1974]

Re: All Around lenses

Many good perspectives have been given already.

I'll just quickly add my 2 cents worth

My favourite 'all round lens' for my 7D body is my Canon 15-85mm USM IS.

What '2nd lens' I take depends on the circumstances. Eg:
1. if for architecture, big sweeping landscapes, would usually be my Sigma 10-20mm EX
2. if for wildlife, my Canon 70-300mm L
3. if for macro (or casual portrait) my Canon 100mm macro USM

Sometimes I even take my Sigma 10-20mm and my Canon 70-300mm L as the 'two lenses'. I usually don't like walking with more than 2 lenses on me. 1 lens is even better.

When I visited Perth (Western Australia) a few weekends ago, I just took my Canon 15-85mm, and really didn't miss anything I wanted with that. 8)

Regards

Paul

 

[wickidwombat]

Re: All round lenses

Tamron 18-270mm, if you were willing to compromise some on image quality and/or miss a few photos

NO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!
please do not buy the Tamron 18-270 you may as well take that wad of cash shove it up you butt and set it on fire because it will hurt less than the pain the 18-270 will cause your eyes and you will get more for your money!

but seriously I had this lens and promptly sent it back stay well well away from tamron.

also bear in mind the 60D does not have AF micro adjust so you cannot make non canon lenses optimal
I definately recomend staying with canon brand lenses for this reason alone.

I love the 85mm sigma i just bought however i had to add +13 out of possible 20 to the micro adjust on my 5D2 for it to be bang on target if i put this same lens on a 60D or 600D I know i would absolutely hate it because nothing would be in focus wide open

 

[Isaac]

Re: All round lenses

I would take:

17-40L for wide angle
24-105L for most walkabout/street/candid photos
70-200L or 70-300L (for that extra reach)

These are not that heavy, so suitable for traveling

That would be my list too, the 70-200 I would get the f2.8 for low lighting.

 

[AcinonyxJG]

Re: All Around lenses

Some more great information, I'll have a look through what has been said about the lenses recommended to me, once again, I'm greatly thankful for all of the inforemation you have given me, I would have never been able to find this much about the lenses.

So, I'll need this kind of line up?

Ultra Wide Angle - Canon 10-22mm or Tokina 11-16mm, will also look at the Sigma 10-20mm
General 'walkabout' lens - Canon 15-85mm or 24-105mmm maybe 50mm f/1.4 aswell as one of these?
Telephoto - Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS or 70-300mm

 

[whatta]

Re: All round lenses

I love the 85mm sigma i just bought however i had to add +13 out of possible 20 to the micro adjust on my 5D2 for it to be bang on target if i put this same lens on a 60D or 600D I know i would absolutely hate it because nothing would be in focus wide open

As far as I know every camera + lens combo behaves different, so the +13 might not be relevant for all cam+lens

Before I bought my sigma I did some focus tests in and near the shop.

But we see your point, I would love to have AFMA in my (next) body.

 

[Flake]

Re: All Around lenses

Firstly I'd reccomend you take a look at the weather forecasts & history for the time of year. In Iceland the sun will still be low in the sky, so any wide angle will struggle with flare, or you'll have the sun directly in the shot. consider a set of ND grad filters, probably soft ones to control the brightness of the sky. Learn how to photograph snow properly.

In terms of kit, avoid lenses like the 24 - 105mm which give you no wide angle, and if you don't buy any other lens, because of the high price, it's worth it because of the better image quality. My reccomend would be the 17 - 55mm IS f/2.8 and the filters plus a tripod & remote release. I would avoid the 50mm f/1.4 because a bright day with glare from the snow will mean you can't take advantage of the wide aperture anyway!

The 70 - 200mm f/4 L is a great lens and if the budget allows go for it!

 

[AcinonyxJG]

Re: All Around lenses

Thanks, would there still be snow in Iceland in April? There might be, as we will be visiting some glaciers. So overall, should I go for wider aperture, or will it not matter so much? as this seems like the thing that decides which lens I get...


If I got the canon 10-22mm, I could buy a flash for indoor use due to the f/3.5-4.5..or would it not be worth it and I would be better off overall with the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8?

 

[Viggo]

Re: All Around lenses

I used to be on a photo-page where I a guy from Iceland took the sweetest landscapes, and the only setup he used was 1ds II and a 12-24 Sigma. So I guess the wider the better!

I would bring (on a 60d) a 10-22 Canon and a 70-200 f4 L.

I'm going to Iceland myself, hopefully next summer, as I know some people who have relatives there. And my choice of setup then will my trusted TS-E 17mm and a brand new 1d X

 

[AcinonyxJG]

Re: All Around lenses

I used to be on a photo-page where I a guy from Iceland took the sweetest landscapes, and the only setup he used was 1ds II and a 12-24 Sigma. So I guess the wider the better!

I would bring (on a 60d) a 10-22 Canon and a 70-200 f4 L.

I'm going to Iceland myself, hopefully next summer, as I know some people who have relatives there. And my choice of setup then will my trusted TS-E 17mm and a brand new 1d X

If I took the 10-22mm and the 70-200mm, would I not need a lens for indoors or general photography, as I feel that there may be quite a few situations like that. If so, what do you think about the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, or would I need something with better aperature? Maybe the 17-55mm f/2.8?

 

[Flake]

Re: All Around lenses

The problem with the ultrawide lenses is that you cannot use filters with them, as it's Springtime when you're going the sun will be lower in the sky, in Summertime when the sun is high there's not such a problem, of course you might want to photograph the Northern lights, in which case a wide angle is a must. Glare off snow can be an issue, unless it's overcast even f/2.8 is going to be too much, and you'll want to stop down to get the DoF anyway, at night very dark so flash is going to be needed for portraits.

If you want to take setting sun pics then you'll need a reverse ND grad, remember that if you really want wide angle shots you can always stitch them together, but you cannot post process the effect that filters will give you, and lens flare can ruin shots.

 

[AcinonyxJG]

Re: All Around lenses

The problem with the ultrawide lenses is that you cannot use filters with them, as it's Springtime when you're going the sun will be lower in the sky, in Summertime when the sun is high there's not such a problem, of course you might want to photograph the Northern lights, in which case a wide angle is a must. Glare off snow can be an issue, unless it's overcast even f/2.8 is going to be too much, and you'll want to stop down to get the DoF anyway, at night very dark so flash is going to be needed for portraits.

If you want to take setting sun pics then you'll need a reverse ND grad, remember that if you really want wide angle shots you can always stitch them together, but you cannot post process the effect that filters will give you, and lens flare can ruin shots.

So based on that, would the canon 10-22mm be better overall?

 

[briansquibb]

Re: All Around lenses

I used to be on a photo-page where I a guy from Iceland took the sweetest landscapes, and the only setup he used was 1ds II and a 12-24 Sigma. So I guess the wider the better!

I would bring (on a 60d) a 10-22 Canon and a 70-200 f4 L.

I'm going to Iceland myself, hopefully next summer, as I know some people who have relatives there. And my choice of setup then will my trusted TS-E 17mm and a brand new 1d X

+1

 

[whatta]

Re: All Around lenses

When I used the 17-85 I amost always ended up at 17mm, so I wanted to go wider, so I bougt the 15-85 when my first lens broke.

10-22 will serv you well for sure for landscapes.
70-200 f4 IS is the lens I consider for street/stranger portraits.

For friends my two primes are perfect good enough.
Currently far my favourite lens is the 30 1.4 though.

 

[elflord]

Re: All Around lenses

If I took the 10-22mm and the 70-200mm, would I not need a lens for indoors or general photography, as I feel that there may be quite a few situations like that. If so, what do you think about the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, or would I need something with better aperature? Maybe the 17-55mm f/2.8?

For indoor portrait shots, my suggestion would be a 50mm lens. If it were me, I'd go with that and the 10-22mm. I owned the 15-85mm and wouldn't recommend it if you already have an ultra wide -- sure it covers a wide range, but it's f/5.6 on the tele end. When I owned it, I found it much more useful on the wide end, so I'd recommend it if you aren't bringing an ultra wide lens.

The 17-55mm f/2.8 is a nice lens, but it's expensive and you have a big overlap in focal lengths. You get similar coverage from the 50mm f/1.4 + the 10-22mm, and you get and f/1.4 aperture.

I wouldn't worry too much about having some gaps in the focal length, as long as you have coverage for the kinds of shots that you're interested in. 10-22mm + 70-200mm f/4 would work for some people and not for others, it really depends on the kinds of shots you're taking (that combo would work nicely for landscapes and outdoor portraits for example). It might not work quite as well indoors. Avoid the temptation to cover everything -- you'll end up with either too much glass or slow glass with that approach.

 

[AcinonyxJG]

Re: All Around lenses

Thanks, just out of interest, do you prefer the 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, or the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, I am thinking more towards the 70-200mm, as I won't want too much weight while in Iceland, and I may not need the extra 100mm.

 

[briansquibb]

Re: All Around lenses

If you are buying then I would recommend the 70-300L as you would use it for more than Iceland

If you are renting I would go for the 70-200 as it is a bit lighter

There is very little to choose between them in IQ

 

[AcinonyxJG]

Re: All Around lenses

If you are buying then I would recommend the 70-300L as you would use it for more than Iceland

If you are renting I would go for the 70-200 as it is a bit lighter

There is very little to choose between them in IQ

Thanks, I will be renting the lens, so I'll go with the 70-200mm

 

[simbrow]

Re: All Around lenses

Hi, I am going to go on a trip to Iceland in April next year, I am also going to soon be getting my first DSLR (EOS 60D), I would like to know what kind of lenses I could take to Iceland, so far I have thought of getting a kit lens, although not sure which one, and also try and buy the 50mm f/1.4 lens, and the 70-200mm f/4 IS USM lens, I would like to take landscape photos e.t.c. but also portraits, so I would like a good range of focal lengths, also, I cannot go too expensive.

Thanks, James

OK I am going to mess up the waters here with the caveat that I am unclear which lenses you will buy versus which ones you are planning to rent. However, if you are intending to buy the 10-22 and the 50mm 1.4 but renting a 70-200L F4 IS, I would argue this:

Given that:

60D+15-85 kit lens = approx $1500
10-20mm = approx $700
50mm 1.4mm = approx $350

Total $2550

Why not simply buy a 5d Mark 2 with a 24-105L f4 (approx $2800) instead?
And if you need a lens with a wider aperture, pick up an el cheapo 50mm 1.8 ($110)

You lose some width (16mm (10mm on a cropped = 16mm) vs 24mm) but you now have a full frame camera with an absolutely brilliant lens.

 

[Cosk]

Re: All Around lenses

I'm going to revise my earlier recommendation.

Since you are brand new to photography, 14 years old and learning, you need to bring gear you can use effortlessly, very fast, and without thinking about it.

You don't want to be 'that guy' who has a duffle bag full of gear and is always fumbling with lenses and tripods, and holding everyone up.

You want to be able to capture a memory as quickly as possible - and get back into the action with your friends and family.

You don't have enough time between now and April to get comfortable with 3 lenses.

Pick one lens, and get to know it. You have a lot of trips ahead of you.

I'll often take a trip and bring one prime lens (e.g. 50mm). It forces you to think about composure rather than taking lenses on and off.

Read this:
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/06/09/why-shooting-with-just-a-35mm-lens-can-help-your-photography/

I'd say bring one lens and learn it:

Either: 17-40mm f/4 if you want a zoom
Or... if you want to become a better photographer, bring only a 24mm 2.8 prime and learn composure (thats equivalent to a 38mm perspective)