Upgrade Suggestions

[jcurtice]

I picked up my first DSLR 5 years ago, a Canon XTi. I've been saving my pennies ever since (Literally! I actually filled up the local CoinStar machine and had to go back a second time). With my first baby about to arrive I figured it was time to upgrade. I will most likely get a 60D especially now that the 7D price has returned to $1599. I could wait to see what the 70D offers, but the baby probably won't adhere to any of Canon's release dates.

Aside from lots of low light baby photos and video, I plan to use the camera for typical hobbyist photos such as portraits, landscapes and architecture. I've tried some sports photos of my indoor soccer team, but that was a complete fail due to the indoor lighting and the huge amount of noise at higher ISOs.

Anyway, after that lengthy intro, I was wondering if there were any lenses I should add/upgrade to my collection while I still have money left in my pocket.

I currently have:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM

If you could add 1 lens to that collection, what would it be?

 

[The Bad Duck]

For an aps-c camera I´d add sigma 30 /1.4. Or... a flash. But you asked for lens so the sigma it is.

 

[MrBeavis5]

If you dont want to upgrade to a FF camera in the near future, I would add an EF-s 17-55 f/2.8 IS. This lens is an awesome addition to any crop sensor camera.

 

[Loswr]

If you dont want to upgrade to a FF camera in the near future, I would add an EF-s 17-55 f/2.8 IS. This lens is an awesome addition to any crop sensor camera.

+1.

Unless you're planning on a FF body close on your 60D, I'd sell both the 28-135mm and 17-40mm, and get the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS.

I'd also really recommend a 430EX II.

The other suggestion would be a better quality fast prime than the 50/1.8. I'd recommend the 85mm f/1.8, great for portraits (sharper wide open and much better bokeh than the 50/1.8), and also useful for indoor sports (over 2 stops faster than your 70-200/4).

 

[unfocused]

I'd also really recommend a 430EX II.

+1. With the 60D you can use the infrared flash function to fire the 430EXII off camera. A good strobe and a diffuser will be far more useful than one more lens. You can get a refurbished 430EXII at the Canon Direct Store for $239.

A cheap umbrella and you'll be all set for baby portraits.

 

[cliffwang]

If you stay with APS-C, I highly suggest 17-55/2.8. Here is my combination:

Canon EF-S 10-22mm/F3.5-4.5
Canon EF-S 17-55mm/F2.8
Canon EF 70-200mm/F2.8 IS II
Sigma 30mm/F1.4

 

[jcurtice]

I didn't mention it since it's not a lens, but I do already have the Speedlite 580 EXII.

I must admit I've been shying away from EF-s lenses in case I ever went FF, but with the new addition, I doubt I'll have the luxury of buy a FF body any time soon unless my only upgrade right now was a 5DMKII.

 

[elflord]

I picked up my first DSLR 5 years ago, a Canon XTi. I've been saving my pennies ever since (Literally! I actually filled up the local CoinStar machine and had to go back a second time). With my first baby about to arrive I figured it was time to upgrade. I will most likely get a 60D especially now that the 7D price has returned to $1599. I could wait to see what the 70D offers, but the baby probably won't adhere to any of Canon's release dates.

Aside from lots of low light baby photos and video, I plan to use the camera for typical hobbyist photos such as portraits, landscapes and architecture. I've tried some sports photos of my indoor soccer team, but that was a complete fail due to the indoor lighting and the huge amount of noise at higher ISOs.

Anyway, after that lengthy intro, I was wondering if there were any lenses I should add/upgrade to my collection while I still have money left in my pocket.

I currently have:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM

If you could add 1 lens to that collection, what would it be?

For baby pics, you really want fast glass, especially if you're using a crop. Out of all of these lenses, the only fast prime you have is the 50mm f/1.8, and it's your cheapest lens. I'd suggest getting at least one fast prime (to start with, somewhere in the 30-85mm range -- e.g. the 50mm f/1.4 or the 85mm f/1.8) The macro is good to have for baby shots.

I agree with those who say you should sell your 17-40 and 28-135 zooms. You could replace them with the 17-55 or rethink your line up. The Tamron 17-50mm (non VC version) sells for about $250 used -- that would replace two slow zooms with one fast zoom plus some extra cash.

Which lenses did you try for the indoor sports shots ? What ISO / aperture / shutter speed did you end up with ?

What do you currently use the 70-200 for ?

If you haven't done so already, start shooting in raw. It will help a lot with the indoor shots (most baby shots will be indoors) A flash also helps indoors. It gives you a little more room to move with the aperture setting when you're shooting indoors.

btw, the refurb 7D is available from canon's online store ($1350 or so, I think)

 

[wickidwombat]

get 1 of these
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Studio-Lighting-5in1-reflector-diffuser-56-22-PSR04-/280615552875?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4155fd876b
and a window with some light shining through
babys have a low tolerance to flash generally and get cranky
you 100mm f2.8 will take stunning shots might just be a bit long on a crop
50 f1.4 is a nice option

 

[elflord]

I didn't mention it since it's not a lens, but I do already have the Speedlite 580 EXII.

I must admit I've been shying away from EF-s lenses in case I ever went FF, but with the new addition, I doubt I'll have the luxury of buy a FF body any time soon unless my only upgrade right now was a 5DMKII.

Pick up the Tamron 17-50 used and you only tied up a small amount of cash in EF-S and you'll recover most of what you paid for it if you want to sell it later. Then you can use the extra cash for other things (a fast prime, or upgrading the tele). If you want to go wider than 17-50, you'll probably need to spend more on APS-C lenses but you don't have anything wider than that now, I suspect now's not the best time to look for wider lenses.

 

[jcurtice]

What is the best place to buy/sell used photo equipment?