Canon 5D Mark II with a 17-40mm F/4 lens
Henning from Germany, sent me this question that I thought I would share:
“Joe,
I know you shoot with Canon. So I would like your advice on the following question of mine: I am thinking of purchasing a few additional lenses for my Canon camera. At the moment, I own a Canon model with APS-C sensor (30D), but I would like to buy my lenses with a future upgrade to a full-format sensor camera in mind.
I have always loved shooting with a fast fixed-focus small tele lens for portraits, and I am starting to really enjoy shooting with a wide angle lens, as well, thanks to your online course “Stretching your Frame of Mind” (a great course, by the way). Fixed focus lenses would be okay for me – I actually like shooting with them. I am looking to upgrade in terms of picture quality (in particular, my Canon kit zoom 4.0 – 5.6 / 17 – 85 mm is not the greatest, I find)
My current favo rite combination would be a Canon 4.0 / 17mm – 40 mm and either a Canon 1.8 / 85 mm or a 2.8 / 100 mm Macro lens (not so much looking for a Macro lens in particular, but rather for a high-quality portrait / multi-purpose small tele lens). I would keep my 1.4 / 50 mm to cover the “middle” range and to have at least one faster lens available. As an alternative to this combination, Canon’s 2.8 / 24 – 70 mm lens sounds like an interesting option.
I am not a professional photographer, so I am on a budget. However, I would be willing to spend some money on good quality lenses that I can continue to use after my next camera upgrade and that give me a range of options from wide angle to small tele.Which lenses would you recommend in my case?Your feedback would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Here’s my response to him:
Henning, your choices are right on! I actually have both of these lens and I’ve always been very happy with them. When buying these lens, remember that it would be a lifetime investment, and providing that you take care of them you probably would never have to replace them.
FYI, when I was buying my first digital wide angle lens, I inadvertently bought the 17-40mm F/4 when I meant to buy the 16-35mm F’2.8. I didn’t realize it until i got my lens and was shooting with it for a while. I guess some might suggest a “senior moment’!!! I was going to send it back but after using it for a while I decided to keep it because I was really liking it.
The stop I lost going from a F/2.8 to a F/4 was negligible since I virtually always use a tripod, and I’m very fast with it!!! If you’re the type that doesn’t want complete control of your photographs and you hand hold your camera, then that one stop would/could make the difference in being able to shoot in a low light situation (without having to crank up your ISO, and then forgetting that you did later on). Of course, that one stop makes a huge difference in price. The 17-40mm lens sells for $US840.00, while the 16-35mm goes for $US1700.00. You’re paying a lot for that stop but to me it’s worth it when you think of it as a one-time investment and amortize it over the course of your photographic lifetime.
I really love my F/2.8 100mm Macro, and like you I use it for portraiture as well as other situations besides Macro work. A fantastic lens!!! As far as the F/2.8 24-70mm lens, I also have it and let me tell you that it’s an incredible piece of glass!!! Down the road, it’s a ‘must have’ lens for you.
There’s always going to be a lot more you can do with zooms over fixed lens. At one time, i traveled with fifteen lens, now, I carry four and I have everything from 17-200mm and my life is soooooooo much easier.
Since light is so fleeting, and can vanish in a blink of an eye I don’t want to miss it by changing lens. even as fast as I am, I’m not as fast as Mother Nature.
One last note Henning: When it’s time for you to upgrade your camera body, I would absolutely go with the Canon 5D Mark II. To me, it’s unbeatable. I’ve been shooting with them for a long time and I have no desire to change. As they say, “if it ain’t broke, why fix it”? One thing I will tell you and hope you’ll remember is that buying your first 5D Mark II won’t make you a better photographer, but what it will do is to make you the very proud owner of a Canon 5D Mark II. It’s not the camera, it’s the ten inches behind it that’s important!!!
I hope this helps.
JoeB
Hi Joe…I am also in your current SYFMind class at PPSOP. Enjoyed the article on Canon lens as I shoot with the 7D. Have been thinking about the 100mm macro & saw B&H is currently offering $140 off with some promotion. I am very curious as to the 4 lenses you now carry as opposed to 15. Going to Italy (bike trip) & Africa & don’t want to miss a shot but ned to be smart in choice. Would appreciate your feedback. Thank you Can’t wait for the new 5DMark to be announced
Hi Kathy,
I would grab the 100mm Macro for that price!!!
Ok, this is what I carry all the time:
17-40mm F/4
24-70mm F/2.8
70-200mm F/2.8
100mm Macro
2-Canon 5D Mark II’s/with battery grips
Extra Canon batteries
580 Speedlight (I very rarely use this except for shooting occasional family stuff indoors when it’s dark))
Hope this helps.
Joe
Joe,
thanks for your detailed feedback. I find your ‘short-list’ of lenses that you use very helpful. I am curious: which of these lenses do you use more often and which ones less often? Can you maybe rank them from “most often used” to “least frequently used”?
Since I will not purchase all these lenses at once that would be helpful to know. I have my personal favourite from this list, but would be interested in your favourite(s), as well.
Thanks a lot,
Henning
Henning,
In my forty-two year career, I would say that 80% of every photo I’ve taken in that time frame has been with a wide angle lens. No matter if it’s a landscape, a portrait, a building, etc. It’s always been my ‘go to lens’.
If I could only own one lens, it would be the 17-40mm or the 16-35mm (which I would pick first). Then, my next lens would be the 24-70MM F/2.8, followed by the 70-2oomm F/2.8 and last, the 100mm macro.
Joe
I was considering the Canon 24mm F/1.4 but after reading this I’m starting to rethink that. Oh now I’ve got to rethink this purchase.
Christine,
I prefer the wide angle zooms because of their versatility. With a set 24mm, that’s all you have. It’s a stop faster being a F/1.4, but since I always want control of what i can and cannot shoot, I use a tripod. especially since I’m always shooting either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Therefore, that extra stop you have with the 24mm doesn’t matter. I’d rather have multiple focal lengths in one lens. By the way, a F/2.8 lens is considered very fast so I wouldt choose the 16-35mm F/2.8. I bought the 17-40mm F/4 lens by mistake. I clicked on the wrong lens!!!! I still like it a lot, being on a tripod.
The 17mm-85mm lens Henning bought is a lot slower. You get more mm’s, but I wouldn’t give up that much speed to get it.
It’s not going to matter which wide angle lens you shoot with. If the camera is not level, you’re going to get distortion. All it takes is to have your camera pointed up or down and you’ll see a lot of distortion…which might bring up another issue. Since a 24mm is not really all that wide, to get the top of anything you’ll have to tilt your camera up, causing distortion; unless you take several steps back. hopefully one more step back won’t put you into the ocean, lake, or maybe a lava pool!!! With a wider lens, you might not have to. Somewhere in the 16-35mm there is a 24mm.
If you go to my blog, click on the Adorama logo/link. Their prices are as low as anyone’s out there and they’re great people to deal with, and can answer any questions with professional knowledge. I’ve begun writing for their Learning Center, which is a great added bonus. They’re definitely on the side of the photographer.
JoeB
Thank you for the info. What you say makes a lot of sense. I have a 7D currently so I know that none of these will be a true 24mm or 16-35mm for now. But if ever have the money to get a full frame camera this lens will be even better. It is a large price tag and I’m not a professional so I still need to give it some thought, but right now I am thinking the 16-35mm is looking good if I do buy a lens. Also I just signed up for your next SYFM class at PPSOP and I’m looking forward to it.
Talk to you soon!!!
🙂
JoeB
What brand/type of tripod are you carrying around? I have an extremely heavy one from years ago that holds my (now non-working) 4×5 camera but I can’t imagine carrying it around with me everywhere.
Christine,
I’ve been using the same tripod for the past thirty years. It’s called a Husky Quickset Mark IV. They’re not made anymore, but you can find them on eBay. It has to say Mark IV. They are the easiest tripod to use in the world. It’s fairly lightweight and can go up to seven feet. I have a Sachtler quick release on it so it’s fast and easy. No funny knobs!!! If you’re interested in one let me know and I’ll look out for one. I buy them to keep parts around, and the last one I bought was in beautiful condition and I pain $125.00 for it!!!
Gitzo makes really good tripods that are lightweight and very simple to use. When you put a monoball on it, it’s a great tripod. They make Carbon Fiber tripods that are very light, but very pricy. Their aluminum tripods are fine and a lot less. If you click on the Adorama logo on my blog, it will take you to their site. The people there are very helpful and can talk to you about your needs. Their prices are very competitive. Their logo is on my site because they have a great Learning Center, and I’ve started to write for them.
JoeB