I have an excuse to buy some goodies!

Phate · 6 Feb 2007 at 13:25

Hi all,

I'm an amatuer photographer, if your interested, see my gallery here

I have a Canon 350D with just the kit lens and a Canon 55-200mm Ultrasonic with a couple of filters.

Now in April I'm going to the Bahamas for 2 weeks fishing and some of the photo opportunites with sunsets and the colours in the water are just to die for. hehe

So what I'm asking really are 2 questions.

A. What can I buy that will be better suited for the situation? I already have a circular polariser (sp?) filter. (Very tempted by some L glass)

B. Does anyone have any tips at all? going to be looking to capture sunsets and also daytime shots with reflections against the water.

Many Thanks all

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 6 Feb 2007 at 13:28

Get yourself a colapsable tripod that will easily fit in say your suitcase just for basic support and get yourself some Gradulated filters seeing as you will probably be doing some waterscape/sunsets.

My biggest regret of Jamacia and Ibiza last year was no tripod but I can hardly take my 055PROB

Phate · 6 Feb 2007 at 13:31

Fstop11 said:
Get yourself a colapsable tripod that will easily fit in say your suitcase just for basic support and get yourself some Gradulated filters seeing as you will probably be doing some waterscape/sunsets.

My biggest regret of Jamacia and Ibiza last year was no tripod but I can hardly take my 055PROB

My dads got a portable tripod he takes on trips with him, the sodding thing isn't all that stable, but saying that, I did take "Turbo" on it.

Any links to a portable stable tripod?

I do have a semi decent one from Jessops which is stable and could probably fit in the suit case with all the fishing roads.

Gradulated filters? I'm sure i've been explained that before, time to run to wikipedia!

Scuzi · 6 Feb 2007 at 14:18

I suppose it depends on what you want to photograph. If I was heading away somewhere nice like that, I'd want a wide lens for all the land/seascapes, the Sigma 10-20mm comes to mind. If you don't need something quite as wide but need a good walkabout lens, I can recommend the Canon 17-40mm f4 L, mine hasn't been off the camera since I got it.

Phate · 6 Feb 2007 at 14:27

Scuzi said:
I can recommend the Canon 17-40mm f4 L, mine hasn't been off the camera since I got it.

Now this I certainly have been looking at!!! will probably buy one before I go! thanks for the info.

J1234 · 6 Feb 2007 at 15:47

Isn't your sig a bit old now?... As for the lens i've also been looking at a Canon 17-40mm f4 L for holidays and looks good, don't forget to post up pics with your new lens

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:06

Buying a 17 - 40 L F4 is a great idea but how it will pain you to see I have a 35 day out of date £70 cash back coupon on the lens

Phate · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:09

Justin said:
Isn't your sig a bit old now?... As for the lens i've also been looking at a Canon 17-40mm f4 L for holidays and looks good, don't forget to post up pics with your new lens

Yes it is, but I have nothing (picture wise) good enough to replace it with, and I can't be bothered to photoshop myself something good

.

And I will post the picture of the lens!

Going to look into buying this ASAP so I can get some practice in with it

Scuzi · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:10

Fstop11 said:
Buying a 17 - 40 L F4 is a great idea but how it will pain you to see I have a 35 day out of date £70 cash back coupon on the lens

I have an out of date voucher too. I was a few weeks too late

Phate · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:23

How much should I be expected to pay for this lens? obviously without mentioned competitors!

Thanks

Scuzi · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:27

Phate said:
How much should I be expected to pay for this lens? obviously without mentioned competitors!

Thanks

If you order it from a certain supplier in Hong Kong who guarantees to pay your import tax should you get charged for it, you can pick it up for £355.99 + shipping which is excellent value considering it's around £450 here in the UK.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:29

Scuzi said:
If you order it from a certain supplier in Hong Kong who guarantees to pay your import tax should you get charged for it, you can pick it up for £355.99 + shipping which is excellent value considering it's around £450 here in the UK.

£355!! I would be tempted to pick up a spare!

FranchiseJuan · 6 Feb 2007 at 16:33

While the 17-40 is a great lens, I think the bargin lens at the moment is a used 28-70 F2.8 USM is a great deal. I have seen quite a few on the market recently in good condition for about £500.

I am only saying this as the original poster has said that he has most of the range covered already.

SDK^ · 6 Feb 2007 at 17:39

Phate said:
Yes it is, but I have nothing (picture wise) good enough to replace it with, and I can't be bothered to photoshop myself something good .

It's not compulsorily to have a signature - just remove it

ranarama · 6 Feb 2007 at 18:38

FranchiseJuan said:
I think the bargin lens at the moment is a used 28-70 F2.8 USM is a great deal. I have seen quite a few on the market recently in good condition for about £500.

This is the next lens I'll be buying. I've seen it new for £824 which seems quite reasonable. However, I walked into a high street shop today just to have see how I like it and they wanted over £1100 for it. They didn't have any batteries charged for their 30D :rolleyes:

either so I couldn't use it. Still wouldn't have bought it from them anyway so it's not like they've lost out on a sale. They're probably dropping in price as I've heard a rumour that an IS version will be out in the next 12 months.

Back on topic I'd second the sigma 10-20 or canon 10-22 if you can afford the extra.

Puz · 6 Feb 2007 at 19:03

ranarama said:
Back on topic I'd second the sigma 10-20 or canon 10-22 if you can afford the extra.

Yes I agree. You need a wide angle lense to compliment your existing lenses and the Bahamas would be ideal to try it out....
I've just bought the sigma 10-20 quite cheap and I'm very happy with it

SDK^ · 6 Feb 2007 at 19:17

ranarama said:
This is the next lens I'll be buying. I've seen it new for £824 which seems quite reasonable. However, I walked into a high street shop today just to have see how I like it and they wanted over £1100 for it. They didn't have any batteries charged for their 30D either so I couldn't use it. Still wouldn't have bought it from them anyway so it's not like they've lost out on a sale. They're probably dropping in price as I've heard a rumour that an IS version will be out in the next 12 months.

The 28-70L F2.8 was replaced by the 24-70L F2.8 (the lens you wanted to test). the 28-70 can be found quite cheap and it's still a superb lens.

ranarama · 6 Feb 2007 at 20:13

SDK^ said:
The 28-70L F2.8 was replaced by the 24-70L F2.8 (the lens you wanted to test). the 28-70 can be found quite cheap and it's still a superb lens.

Good point well made...must learn to read the fine details properly

FranchiseJuan · 7 Feb 2007 at 00:02

SDK^ said:
The 28-70L F2.8 was replaced by the 24-70L F2.8 (the lens you wanted to test). the 28-70 can be found quite cheap and it's still a superb lens.

Yes. While everyone looks at the 24-70 as it is wider and newer, the 28-70 is very overlooked. Some have seen only studio use, and can be in really good condition when you get it (mine looked like new when I got it). Image quality wise I would rate it above my 50 F.18.

Phate · 7 Feb 2007 at 09:40

SDK^ said:
The 28-70L F2.8 was replaced by the 24-70L F2.8 (the lens you wanted to test). the 28-70 can be found quite cheap and it's still a superb lens.

I was holding a Sigma 28-70 F2.8 last night (didn't have my camera on me) needless so say I was impressed :cool:

I think I'm going to be looking at getting the following.

17-40L
10-20 Sigma
Flash
various filters (not sure which yet)

Now I gotta figure out how much this is going to cost me, oh well

EDIT: Think I'm going to need a bigger bag to carry it all!