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,
Henning”
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!!!
