First lens for a 30d - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/27/2006 12:34:54 AM · #1

Hello everyone, I recently got a canon 30d, and I got the kit lens, because I have no others and I am not loaded with money. My question ha probably been asked a thousand times, but what are some of the first lens I should get? They can be zoom or prime, hopefully no more than about $400. The obvious 50mm 1.8 scares me a bit b/c i hear it is cheaply made and I will just end up replacing it with the 1.4. Also, 50mm is a bit tight. I will probably do mostly outdoors shots and would like a wide to moderate focal length for a cropped sensor. Thanks to any helpful replies.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

12/27/2006 12:35:38 AM · #2

The usual suspects depending on your budget and intent.

50
24-70
24-105

edit: cheaply made is a relative term. Unless you plan on using it to prop open doors, the 50/1.8 is not giong to fall apart in your hands. It is a great lense.

Message edited by author 2006-12-27 00:36:24.

TechnoShroom

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/27/2006 12:38:24 AM · #3

Originally posted by klorineforbrains:

The obvious 50mm 1.8 scares me a bit b/c i hear it is cheaply made and I will just end up replacing it with the 1.4.

While it may seem tight the above is mostly not the case. It has a plastic body but I wouldn't call it cheaply made. That would imply that it is going to fall apart. Unless you mistreat it that isn't going to happen.

roba

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/27/2006 02:36:55 AM · #4

While I've recently upgraded all of my glass, my first walk-around lens was the Canon 28-135 IS. Fantastic lens for the money, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking in that price range. Solid build, good reach, and IS.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

12/27/2006 02:39:29 AM · #5

Tamron 28-75mm has a lot of devoted users here, including me. It does 1:2 near macro, image quality is pretty much equal to the much more expensive Canon 24-70mm L glass. 28mm is not very wide for landscape work, but it isn't hopeless.

R.

asimchoudhri

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

12/27/2006 02:59:02 AM · #6

i would suggest the 17-85mm IS. the 28-135 IS is a great lens... i actually bought it shortly after i got my 30d. i returned it a few weeks later, though, because while i loved the reach, it didn't go wide enough for me. i exchanged it for the 17-85 IS. while this is about $100 more expensive than the 28-135, i really like it am very happy with it. it's wide enough for some nature stuff and has enough telephoto for versatility. i think the image stabilization is supposed to be a little better as well (newer version of the technology since it's a newer lens).

go for the 17-85... then when you get a 10-22 later for wide stuff and a 70-300 IS for nature/wildlife/surveillance work you will have lenses which complement each other very well.

(note that i'm referring to canon lenses... i haven't researched third-party lenses much, but i know the canon lineup inside out)

Message edited by author 2006-12-27 12:44:24.

Army of nOne

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/27/2006 03:00:47 AM · #7

I think the 24-70 and 24-105 is out of the question price wise. If you can stretch it, I might try picking up a used 17-40 f/4L. It is much wider than 28, especially for landscape. It should run around 500-550 on ebay. I bought mine for 530 and sold it for 520 on ebay. I should be getting a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 in the mail tomorrow and I only hear good things about it.

You might also consider a superwide angle lens. The Tokina 12-24 f/4.0 might be an attractive choice. It runs about 430 new online. But it depends on your dedication to landscape. Wouldn't be useful at all for portraits, except probably for environmental portraits. I'm getting that lens tommorrow too. My brother has it already and recommended it to me.

Don't be afraid of the 50mm 1.8. It is a great lens for the money, as many will tell you. It is all plastic, but it's light as heck and will only fail if you abuse it. I have had mine for 8 years fault free.

I have the same camera BTW and I love it. Good luck on whatever you decide.

12/27/2006 03:04:11 AM · #8

Originally posted by asimchoudhri:

go for the 17-85... then when you get a 10-22 later for wide stuff and a 75-300 IS for nature/wildlife/surveillance work you will have lenses which complement each other very well.

He already has the 17mm end covered with the kit lens, though... The Tammy brings pretty decent macro into play and excellent quality at an affordable price. I donno... I'm not familiar with the 17-85, but I tend to be suspicious of lenses that zoom more than 3X. They usually give up something in exchange for the extended range.

R.

Army of nOne

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/27/2006 03:08:45 AM · #9

I presumed he was going to ditch the kit lens.

Are you going to keep the kit lens? Or replace it?

12/27/2006 03:11:12 AM · #10

Originally posted by Army of nOne:

I presumed he was going to ditch the kit lens.

Are you going to keep the kit lens? Or replace it?

If he keeps the kit lens for now and gets the Tammy (which he can afford), then his obvious next step is to go ultrawide, then after that he can go 70-200; it's a logical progression.

R.

LeeD

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/27/2006 06:56:07 AM · #11

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

FWIW... Robert's right... I love my Tammy... it never leaves my camera.

hanneke

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/27/2006 06:58:49 AM · #12

Originally posted by Palmetto_Pixels:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Tamron 28-75mm has a lot of devoted users here, including me. It does 1:2 near macro, image quality is pretty much equal to the much more expensive Canon 24-70mm L glass. 28mm is not very wide for landscape work, but it isn't hopeless.

R.

FWIW... Robert's right... I love my Tammy... it never leaves my camera.

same here. I just switch it because it doesn't fit into my bag when it's attached to the cam ;)

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

12/27/2006 07:40:11 AM · #13

The Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO is a good performer and reasonably priced. But make sure it is the DG version.

Don't be too quick to junk the kit lens, it works well for what it is.

Message edited by author 2006-12-27 07:41:08.

Chiqui

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

12/27/2006 08:48:11 AM · #14

Originally posted by routerguy666:

The usual suspects depending on your budget and intent.

24-70
24-105

Neither of those lenses fall under the "no more than about $400" category, they cost more than twice that so why even mention them? Yes, they are great lenses but not what the OP is asking about.

OP, before I bought my 24-70, I had a Sigma 24-135 that I really liked. It wasn't the best around but it was pretty good for the price. The only reason I upgraded was because I was going pro and I needed a large aperture throughout. You can get that lens for $359 at BH Photo and probably cheaper on ebay.

Another option, and the one my husband swears by, is the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR Di. It is a great lens that is almost as good, if not the same, as the Canon 24-70. You can get it at BH Photo for about $380. This would be my choice if I had to pick between the the I have mentioned. I hope this helps.

June

Message edited by author 2006-12-27 08:49:59.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

12/27/2006 08:51:42 AM · #15

Originally posted by Chiqui:

Originally posted by routerguy666:
The usual suspects depending on your budget and intent.

24-70
24-105

Neither of those lenses fall under the "no more than about $400" category, they cost more than twice that so why even mention them?

June

Obviously I skipped the budget part of his question...

klorineforbrains

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/27/2006 01:31:04 PM · #16

Wow, thanks everyone for the great discussion. I've never looked at third party lenses before, but there seems to be a lot of support for the tamron 28-75. Right now this is where I'm leaning. I like the fast max stop of it compared with canon zooms. Just one other thing . . . I've heard that newer canon cameras have motor trouble with 3rd party lenses. My camera is only about a week old, do any other 30d users have AF or other compatability problems with this lens?

12/27/2006 01:34:40 PM · #17

Originally posted by klorineforbrains:

That won't be a problem, it's the el-cheapo lenses and the older lenses that create problems. Tamron is a major manufacturer, they have it covered.

R.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

12/27/2006 01:48:10 PM · #18

The problems with focusing and aperture control on 3rd party lenses are mostly a thing of the past. Canon doesn't tell Sigma, Tamron and other 3rd party manufacturers exactly how their AF system works, the 3rd party companies have to figure it out by reverse engineering it. Once upon a time, several years ago, Canon changed some parts of that and as a consequence, some Sigma lenses would not function on camera bodies with the revised AF system. Sigma was quick to update their new lenses to be compatible. They "re-chipped" their customer's lenses to make them compatible and did so for free. I'm not aware of similar problems with other third party lenses.

I would not hesitate to consider the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 or any other 3rd party lens for your 30D.

klorineforbrains

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/27/2006 02:12:18 PM · #19

Thanks for the reassurance about the AF problems (or lack of them). Also, thanks for the reassurance regarding the 50mm 1.8 II. I will probably get this lens fairly soon as well.

One more matter. Are there any popular, fairly wide prime lens I should look at? Also, where can I get the hood for the Tamron 28-75 ?

Again, thanks for all the help.

hanneke

12/27/2006 02:15:10 PM · #20

Originally posted by klorineforbrains:

Also, where can I get the hood for the Tamron 28-75 ?

It's in the box, together with the lens (at least, in my box)

pamelasue