Lens selection for Canon 7d

[andreas]

Hi

I am new to this site, so apologies in advance if there is a similar thread to this. Feel free to point me there

I currently have a Canon 400d and a Sigma 18-200 DC OS lens. They have been a pretty decent and flexible combination to get me started in the digital SLR world.

I don't specialise in any particular photography - I take a few wildlife shots, some surf shots, portraits of my kids and friends, landscape shots, photos at kiddie parties, close-ups of insects etc.

Now I'm looking to upgrade, and with the vast amount of reviews and forums out there, this is hard work! I do like being able to take videos on my SLR, so I've pretty much managed to narrow it down to the 7d. I looked at the 5d MK 2, but there are some things such as the 8 frames / sec and some video features on the 7d that makes it more suitable for me. Saying that, they are both great. I know - I've read about 2763 reviews

So - now what lenses to buy. Ideally just one do-it-all lens would be great, but that just imposes too many limitations (not to mention weight and cost).

What I've looked at and probably my final list of options:

1) Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
This is what I'd get on an FF camera - not crop as I lose a lot on the wide side. Still an option though...

2) Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens
This is quite a recent lens and I think (with some doubt because of the 3.5-5.6) that this may be the best 'on the camera most of the time' lens. Reviews are pretty good and it is IS.

3) Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS
The 2.8 is very appealing, but the additional zoom of the 15-85 seems to make it a better walk-around lens.

4) Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM Lens
I really like the range of this lens. My only reservation would be the 4-5.6. The 70-200 f/4 may be an option, but I do lose 100mm on the top end. S telephoto would definitely be on my list as a second lense. So pairing one with a 'walk-around' lens is the tricky part...

Soooo - I'd love some opinions on what you would choose for a 7d (or any crop SLR) if you were an amateur photographer with a keen interest in photography in general, but no specific field of photography in mind (yet).

HELP

Thanks,
Andreas

[mnphotos]

For number 4 you may want to also check out the Tamron 70-300mm lens. It's getting great reviews. I just ordered one today so can't give you any first hand opinions yet.

http://www.tamronlensreview.com/tamron70300vcreview

They have a $50 rebate going on for that lens here:

http://www.adorama.com/TM70300VUNK.html

Ed

[inkista]

1) Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
This is what I'd get on an FF camera - not crop as I lose a lot on the wide side. Still an option though...

Agreed. I enjoyed my 24-105 on crop, but I love it to freakin' pieces on full frame. A good lens, but if you like wide on a crop, this probably isn't going to be your first choice.

2) Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens
This is quite a recent lens and I think (with some doubt because of the 3.5-5.6) that this may be the best 'on the camera most of the time' lens. Reviews are pretty good and it is IS.

Aside from the max. aperture, this is very much the 24-105 analog for crop bodies (24/1.6 = 15mm). I'd say as long as the max. aperture doesn't bother you, this could be the one.

3) Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS
The 2.8 is very appealing, but the additional zoom of the 15-85 seems to make it a better walk-around lens.

Agreed. However, f/2.8 still stays extraordinarily appealing. I'd say that if the cost is making you a bit leery of this one, possibly looking at the Sigma & Tamron 17-50ish f/2.8 lenses might be worthwhile, too. Or, consider supplementing the 15-85 IS USM with a fast prime (EF 28mm f/1.8 USM or EF 35mm f/2, maybe) for those lower-light situations.

4) Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM Lens
I really like the range of this lens. My only reservation would be the 4-5.6. The 70-200 f/4 may be an option, but I do lose 100mm on the top end. S telephoto would definitely be on my list as a second lense. So pairing one with a 'walk-around' lens is the tricky part...

Just a thought, but if you're willing to pay for the price and cart about the f/4-5-5.6, and size/weight is not an issue, then you may also want to consider the EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. From most of the reviews I've seen, the image quality is pretty much the same, and while the IS is an older generation and there's the push-pull zoom, the 400mm reach is going to make this a lot nicer as a choice for wildlife, birds, and surfing. For 400mm, going to f/5.6 is a better tradeoff, imho.

The 70-300L seems to be a better choice if you're willing to pay the premium for L performance and the tiny size of the lens.

[rpcrowe]

Here's a suggestion... Get the 7D, but keep your 400D to use as a second camera with a second lens.

I absolutely LOVE my 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens except that it is not quite long enough to use as my only lens (However, I do occasionally carry it as my only lens and it limps along fairly well). I combine the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS along with the 70-200mm f/4L IS lens on a pair of 1.6x cameras. This gives me a true focal length range of 17-200mm with IS throughout and a constant f/2.8 aperture in my mid-range zoom (note: I don't miss the 55-70mm gap to any great degree). This is the greatest combination of lenses I have ever used in over 50 years of photography...

[andreas]

Hi

Thanks so much for the hints and tips

I bit the bullet and bought the 7d with the 15-85 (not 17-55, although I think I will miss the f2.8). It was a package deal, so quite a bit cheaper than if I had bought the 7d with the 17-55. That said, the 15-85 is really awesome - an has IS. Very sharp, quiet, good weight, feels solid and with the very capable sensor on the 7d, higher ISO settings to increase the shutter speed don't seem to add too much noise.

To round off the package I bought the 70-300 L. Wow - what a lens. The guys in the shop were raving about it and I can see why. True, I have only my 18-200 Sigma to compare it too, and I guess at that price the 70-300 should look great!

Anyway - thanks for the advice and I'll be posting photos soon.

Now I need to sell off one of the kids

Cheers,
Andreas

[inkista]

Well, thank goodness it was just one of the kids and not a kidney.

Happy new gear!!

[meltimtiman]

I'm a 50d user and will be upgrading very soon to a 7D. I was able to invest on a few "for keeps" as they are my favorites
1. 10-22mm UWA for landscapes and tight family photos
2. 24-70mm L as my general purpose, walk around lens
3. 70-200mm f/2.8 II for my street, portrait, snipe, and low light lens

I'm not much into macro photography so I havent thought of getting a dedicated macro lens. For close up shots, I use a Marumi +5 close up lens

[Nitin]

hi Andreas, have been in the same dilemma since I bought Canon 7D. First of all, 7D is an awesome body so go for it. After reviewing lot of options I settled for EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L 2USM lens. Its a superb lens, fast and the clarity is great. Its fantastic at wide angle end but short on zoom end. If you are looking at walk around lens, would suggest eitherEFS 17-55mm f/2.8 OR 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM lens. Both the lenses are superb. 24-70mm f/2.8 is an ideal lens on full frame body but you will miss the wide angle.
In my opinion 17-55 f/2.8 fits the bill.

Nitin

[rpcrowe]

Great choices... IMO, the overlap of the 17-85mm with your 70-300L will serve you to good advantage when shooting with a single body. It will mean fewer lens switches since you have a 70mm to 85mm overlap which can be shot with either lens.