Canon 20D lens setup

[CLQ]

Hi all, Thanks for all the great replies.
After reading through all your replies and thinking through, I think the next lens i am going to get will be in this order (over a period of time):
1) 50mm F1.8 (can afford to buy one straightaway :bsmilie: )
2) Tamron 28-75 F2.8 (For a general walk-around, also is good for my EOS 300 film camera too)
3) 35mm F2 (For group photos in indoor low light conditions)
4) 85/1.8 or 100/2 (for learning portraits, pictures of children from afar & church events)

And finally when got money or strike lottery :bsmilie:
5) Canon 70-200 F4 or Sigma 70-200 F2.8

That is all i think i need (or can afford) for a forseeable future. Must be contented, if start buying F2.8 L Zooms or something will never have money to marry in the next 20 years :bsmilie:

Thanks again
cheers-

 

[DaNi3L]

Not sure if u might be needing a 35 f/2 after getting the 50 f/1.8
If you're talking about getting group shots in lowlight conditions, you'll have to use a flash in anycase even with the 35mm. You'll need a f/5.6-8 to have the faces in focus, so the f/2 max aperture wont come in handy for group shots in low lighting. So strictly speaking, I think the 17-40 is enough unless you're thinking of upgrading to 16-35 f/2.8 for low light group shots. :bsmilie:

 

[gryphon]

Not sure if u might be needing a 35 f/2 after getting the 50 f/1.8
If you're talking about getting group shots in lowlight conditions, you'll have to use a flash in anycase even with the 35mm. You'll need a f/5.6-8 to have the faces in focus, so the f/2 max aperture wont come in handy for group shots in low lighting. So strictly speaking, I think the 17-40 is enough unless you're thinking of upgrading to 16-35 f/2.8 for low light group shots. :bsmilie:

Correct! Do not shoot group photos below f4. Especially if 2 rows, one row behind & one in front, shoot at least f/5.6-8 as mentioned by DaNi3L. Else the row that u did not focus at will be OOF due to the DOF.
17-40L is good enough already.

 

[CLQ]

Not sure if u might be needing a 35 f/2 after getting the 50 f/1.8
If you're talking about getting group shots in lowlight conditions, you'll have to use a flash in anycase even with the 35mm. You'll need a f/5.6-8 to have the faces in focus, so the f/2 max aperture wont come in handy for group shots in low lighting. So strictly speaking, I think the 17-40 is enough unless you're thinking of upgrading to 16-35 f/2.8 for low light group shots. :bsmilie:

Thanks DaNi3L, point noted.
So which do you think is more useful. 50mm focal length or 35mm, frankly i feel 50mm is too long for indoor, especially when you add that to the 1.6x in 20D... but thinking though 50mm will become a 80mm (x1.6) so is a good portrait lens

 

[DaNi3L]

Thanks DaNi3L, point noted.
So which do you think is more useful. 50mm focal length or 35mm, frankly i feel 50mm is too long for indoor, especially when you add that to the 1.6x in 20D... but thinking though 50mm will become a 80mm (x1.6) so is a good portrait lens

You have a 17-40L, which is an excellent performer already. So why go for the 35mm which is within its range? For myself, I chose the 50mm prime to compliment my 17-40 not only because of the focal length, but also the great price!

 

[CLQ]

You have a 17-40L, which is an excellent performer already. So why go for the 35mm which is within its range? For myself, I chose the 50mm prime to compliment my 17-40 not only because of the focal length, but also the great price!

well because i often shoot at available light conditions indoor. cannot use flash. F4 is simply not good enough and 50 is not wide enough...
Of cause there is an option to raise the ISO, but if with F2, is not is even better if need to raise ISO?

i agree that 50mm F1.8 is very good price (i had it b4 with my EOS 3, but whole set was stolen last year ) i will definatly get that (read some where which says that not buying this lens is a sin :bsmilie: ) but knowing the type of photographs i take, i will need wider (was even consodering 28mm/1.8 but so ex compared to this).
I have no experience with 3rd party lens, what do you think of their prime lens? are they comparable to the Canon's prime range? and the prices?

Thanks again DaNi3L

 

[DaNi3L]

Welcome! I'm not one who ups my ISO too much, I'm using a 300D after all. I use a flash for most low-light group situations. ;p

Sorry I can't comment bout 3rd party wide primes, never really touched them before. Btw, are you considering getting a flash?

 

[CLQ]

Actually i have now a canon 540 (the only remaining thing from my old set of equipments, the rest are all stolen) and is not saving for the 580...
Now that you mentioned flash, i wanted to ask if the 580 is really better than the 550 when used in a 20D? i know that 580 has E-TTL2 and has more range, better recharge rate, but is the difference great?
Also any of you know the price for these 2 speedlites?
Thanks again

 

[megaweb]

i know that 580 has E-TTL2

Not true. 20D has E-TTL2. Canon EX Speedlite flashes like 550EX, 420EX and 220EX mounted on 20D can have E-TTL2 too.

For group shots, you need to use a flash and use small aperture value like f5.6 or f8

To capture ambient lighting shots, get the cheapo 50mm f1.8 to start off.

 

[iz_k]

What do u guys think of the EF-S 10-22mm + EF 24-70mm f2.8L line up for travel on a 20D? Currently have the 16-35, but feel it's not wide enough on 16 for landscape and 35 not long enough...

 

[user111]

for best results, always stick to original canon lenses

 

[metalgear]

This is such a useful post, I decide to edit the good parts

17-40/f4L
- versatile, light enough to travel with
- mainly for wide angle captures, landscapes and group shots
- distortions to the faces if too close
- might need external flash coz f4 isnt really outstanding when it comes to indoor lightings
- without flash..might have to bump your ISO to 800 if not 1600
- 1 stop of light under walking about conditions (bright day, scenic) won't matter that much

70-200mm/f4L
- excellent companion to ur 17-40. these 2 lenses' combination,
- recommended by Canon Lens Workbook for most shooting purposes
- good head and shoulder shots at 70mm wide open
- quick enough for sports and birds in outdoors.
- light compared to the f2.8L lenses
- used around $900

Sigma 70-200 f2.8
- lighter and faster focussing than Tokina, and faster
- Sigma's HSM is very fast too, but can't beat Canon's USM.
- picture quality is very good, on par with Canon's except just slightly softer at f2.8.
- similar price to Canon's 70-200 f4

Tokina 80-200 F/2.8 Pro
- new about S$900 over 70-200 F/4L.
- Good for low lighting and indoor event without flash
- heavy due to all-metal construction
- good focusing speed, cannot beat canon USM
-cannot beat L for colours and saturation

tamron 28-75mm/f2.8
- highly recommended mid-range zooms
- has macro features too?

50mm/f1.8 and 85mm f1.8
- excellent for low-light indoors, ambient lighting esp candid shots,
- used around $100. new ones, around $120-$130.
- At f/1.8 and iso 800/1600 can capture people in bars or club
- 8mp means you can crop
- affordable compared to f/2.8 (Cheap!)

 

[CLQ]

Hi metalgear,
Thank you for helping to summarize each of the mentioned lens and stating the pros & cons for each lens, help me to be able to see immeadiately.

I have decided to next get the 50/1.8 and then follow by the Tamron 25-75 /2.8.
As for the long zoom, i will wait till i feel that i really need it before going for either the canon 70-200/4 or sigma (though i lean towards canon due to the weight factor).

Once again thank you to all of you,

Cheers-
LQ