£1500 to spend on lenses

Mint_Sauce

Mint_Sauce

Mint_Sauce

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I am expecting to have around £1500 to spend on camera gear around next week (lucky me! eBaying some stuff). What would you buy?

I already have:

18-55mm kit lens (350D)
10-20mm Sigma

Ideally i'd like to replace the kit lens (possibly the new Tamron 17-50mm) and also buy a good lens for wildlife and a good macro lens (insect shooting!). What would you guys recommend?

I don't have to use all the money for all three lenses, I could get two lenses and then save up some more for another lens.

I am off to New Zealand at the end of the year and would like to take thousands of pictures of everything! So, it's everything from discovering new bugs up to early morning landscapes and then some crafty exotic bird shooting. :)

I am also thinking some good filters would be a wise investment, an ND for sure, what else though?
 
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Macro: Canon 100mm Macro is an awesome lens, speaking from 1st hand experience. Tamron 90mm Macro also gets an excellent review, and is slightly cheaper.

I have the Tamron 17-35, which is a fantastic lens. The shots I've seen which have been taken with the new 17-50 also look excellent. You could also afford the Canon 17-40L with that kind of money.

I'd also get a 70-200/300 zoom. The Canon 70-200L F4 looks good, and I've been told it's top quality. I think it's next on my list of lenses.

You'll then be left with some change to buy a nice flash or tripod with :D
 
Canon 17-40 £450
Canon 100mm macro £300

And if you could squeeze one in a Canon 100-400. though for second hand you could get one for £750.

A quality selection of lenses that should serve you well.
 
Well I've just bought the Tamron 17-50, which appears to be the dogs nuts, and the 70-200 F4 L, so I guess it's quite clear about my vote.
Ref the macro side of things, another option would be a cheapy 50mm and a set of Kenko tubes.
 
sigma 24-70 f2.8
sigma 70-200 f2.8
sigma 50-500
sigma 105 macro f2.8
All great performers. Just as good as the canon but half the price.
 
Id probably grab the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L non IS with a 2x Teleconverter for starters.
Probably a Canon 24-105L on top of that. Might just scrape in under budget :D
 
Well, for 3 awsome lenses I would be thinking:-

Canon 24-70 f2.8 or maybe 24-105 f4 IS
Canon 100mm f2.8 macro

For wildlife the 70-200f4 would probably be too short. Really need 400mm I think. So either get the 2x convertor with the 70-200 or go for the 100-400mm.

But I think the best advice that I can give now, is dont buy them all at once! Get one, then see what is it doesnt do for you, i.e you need more reach etc, how much you need..

I reckon start with a good walkabout, the 24-70 or 24-105.
 
cyKey said:
Tamron 17-50
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
Click to expand...

I had the sigma 24-70f2.8 for about 7months but didnt really get on with it. Found the quality of the lens wasnt very good and had lots of problems focusing in the dark... Maybe mine was just a bad copy. I'm not usually one for brand loyality but sticking with canon from now on...
 
yak.h'cir said:
I had the sigma 24-70f2.8 for about 7months but didnt really get on with it. Found the quality of the lens wasnt very good and had lots of problems focusing in the dark... Maybe mine was just a bad copy. I'm not usually one for brand loyality but sticking with canon from now on...
Click to expand...

I'm going to say bad copy. I've had mine about a month and I've used it nearly every day in Toronto and for 2 gigs. It can be slow but no slower than the Canon 50mm. Its so darn sharp too.

doors_open_sunday_28th_CRW_0070-01.jpg


I did try one before Xmas and it was slower and not as sharp. Sigma really do have issues. If you get a good one, never ever sell it :)
 
sell the sigma 10-20 and get a Canon 10-22/ Canon 24-105 IS USM. Best 2 lens combo around (unless you need a huge zoom obviously)

The 24-105 still impresses me every time I use it and have had it a while now - the detail and clarity is superb, with little need for unmask sharpen :)

no offense to Sigma users but i've owned 3 different sigma lenses and they all lacked detail
 
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70-200 for the medium to long end. You don't want something that will be a burden to carry round all day. It's light, top quality and all round I love it everytime I use it.

Get the 1.4x convertor for that 'little bit more' when needed. Not tried it but I hear 2x convertor gives to much drop in quality.
 
Replace kit lens - Canon 24-105 f/4
macro - Canon 100 f/2.8 macro
wildlife - Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or Canon 300 f/4
+ 1.4 t-con

Should cover most focal lengths then and all are sharp as :)

edit: oh and i nearly forgot, as well as ND filters like you said get a circular polariser, anything multi coated by B+W, Heliopan or Hoya.
 
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to go through all the lenses mentioned and look at lots of reviews then decide on the best lenses for me! Can't wait! :)
 
What about:

Canon 24-70mm F2.8 L
Canon 70-200mm F4 L
Canon 100mm Macro

Slightly over budget, but if you bought a couple in mint condition off Ebay I think you could get all three for around £1500.
Could always add a 1.4x TC for the telephoto later.

I'm in a similar position atm, I want long range, but I also need to cover 20-200mm pretty well. Hence I'm probably looking at:

Canon 24-70mm F2.8 L
Canon 70-200mm F4 L
Canon 300mm F4 IS L

Pricey, but I feel I need it :p
 
Sorry to drag this one back up but I decided on my lenses and purchased them a few days ago. Luckily due to Kerso I got them at a great price so was able to afford these bad boyz!

24-70 L 2.8 USM
70-200 L 2.8 IS USM

Arrived at my work and have just been playing with them, amazing sharpness and the focus speed is really quick. I can't wait to try them out this weekend, weather is supposed to be good too. :)

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~henleyb/webstuff/DSC00751.JPG
 
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The 70-200 is big, bigger than I expected - especially with the hood on! Not sure how I'd feel walking about with it, might feel a bit of a plonker. Is there a smaller hood that can be used due to the 1.6x crop factor?

The 24-70 feels like a tank, solid build - you can feel it means business.
I'm thinking of ordering a Crumpler Stunner to keep it all in since my old bag doesn't stand a chance with these beasts. Does anyone else own one of these?
 
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