Thinking of going to "L", opinions needed!

lukechad · 15 Oct 2012 at 21:32

Hello,

Its been a heck of a while since I was last posting on here, been a hectic 12 months with my son being born! Now its time to get back into my photography again properly!

So, I'm currently at a stage where I'm taking a few paying bookings and enquiries for friends of friends, I have a busy weekend already planned this week, some modelling shots for a local hair salon, a 21st birthday party and a christening! Certainly getting back in at the deep end!

So, since Jacob was born Ive upgraded my camera from a 1000D to a 550D, which I'm more than happy with, now its time for some new glass.

My current lenses are very standard
50mm f/1.8
18-55 IS
55-250 IS

Now, my current thoughts are as follows

a new 70-200 f/4L (Non IS) (£500)
a used 100-400 L (think there is only one) (~£900-1000)

I do like aviation photography but I think as I get more work locally that they will really be a thing of the past for a little while.

So, will I notice the loss of 50mm from my reach?
Should I really be getting IS for that zoom level?
Should I get a cheap 70-300 for the times I might find 200mm isnt enough?

Its a minefield of prices and options, obviously the 55-250 will go and the money will go towards the new lens, I just feel if I jump in and get an affordable L that I may regret not saving harder for the 100-400

Phate · 16 Oct 2012 at 07:48

24-70L

Cannot go wrong. Such a versatile and usable focal length whilst giving you a lovely DOF and is perfect for the work you will be doing by the sounds of it.

Second hand you should be able to get one for £850ish although this could be wrong as it has been a while since I have looked at prices.

iamtheoneneo · 16 Oct 2012 at 09:30

yeh as above, theres one for £800+pp on TP at the moment. seems a good price.
I love my 70-200 L F4 IS but feel it might be a little long for your needs.

jaybee · 16 Oct 2012 at 10:09

I don't think it sounds like you know what you want it for. What do you feel your current photos are lacking? General sharpness? Are you upgrading just because you think you should as you are getting more work? Is the 550d ever going to limit the work you do? it sounds like no thought has gone into the decision other than "I just want a new lens".
You describe some of the things you will be doing and they do not strike me as requiring a long focal length as a priority. Family gatherings/events and portrait work might be more suited to something like a 18-50 or as above a 24-70 range with larger apertures for indoor work.

jonneymendoza · 16 Oct 2012 at 15:05

24-70 for 800? where? the going rate for that is like 1.5k!!

why? because its discontinued and the mk2 is over 2k

iamtheoneneo · 16 Oct 2012 at 15:26

as i said above its on TP. Im not sure why your jumping on this as if I said something incorrect, I believe I was pretty clear in where the source was.

lukechad · 16 Oct 2012 at 20:47

Ok thanks for your help,

The reason for starting this thread is to ask for feedback and opinions, so "you dont seem to know what you want" replies dont really help me.

I havent looked into the differences with spec and cost, but what is the big difference between the 24-70 and the 24-105? There must be a reason people choose not to have a slightly larger focal length?

Cheers

As for the question about the 550D being enough, I certainly think it will be for now, if things do take off with my photography then I'd be keeping the 550D and getting something with a full-frame, but for the foreseeable future the lens chosen will be put on the front of my 550D

theheyes · 16 Oct 2012 at 20:54

lukechad said:
I havent looked into the differences with spec and cost, but what is the big difference between the 24-70 and the 24-105? There must be a reason people choose not to have a slightly larger focal length?

Aperture.

The 70-200 f4 should blow you away, mine is so sharp it's almost unbelievable. I would say it's a great choice for a first L lens and you might be able to find one second hand as a lot of people get L fever and trade it in for one of its bigger brothers.

lukechad · 16 Oct 2012 at 21:05

Can you post a picture that you feel really shows your lens at it finest? Which body is it used with?

I looked quickly and see obviously the 24-70 is f/2.8 as opposed to the f/4 of the 24-105.

Well I find the focal length of the 55-250 I currently have quite handy, quite good to capture a moment both near and afar when i'm capturing family moments.

I can see even high street retailers have the 70-200 f/4 for 500 quid, 100 less for a good used one.

James J · 16 Oct 2012 at 21:41

theheyes said:
Aperture.

The 70-200 f4 should blow you away, mine is so sharp it's almost unbelievable. I would say it's a great choice for a first L lens and you might be able to find one second hand as a lot of people get L fever and trade it in for one of its bigger brothers.

Highly recommend that lens also. Use to own one myself when I was a canon shooter and really loved it. Its so damn sharp and the images have beautiful colour and contrast even wide open. I loved the lens so much I took a decent shot of it haha:

Canon 70-200L F4 Lens by jjohnson2012, on Flickr

lukechad · 16 Oct 2012 at 21:51

Ha thanks! Do you have one of what it was capable of?

James J · 16 Oct 2012 at 22:25

Yup!

Singing at Hull Uni by jjohnson2012, on Flickr

Beeeeeeee by jjohnson2012, on Flickr

Patriotism by jjohnson2012, on Flickr

jonneymendoza · 17 Oct 2012 at 07:35

iamtheoneneo said:
as i said above its on TP. Im not sure why your jumping on this as if I said something incorrect, I believe I was pretty clear in where the source was.

relax dude. jesus christ. chill man

iamtheoneneo · 17 Oct 2012 at 09:38

jonneymendoza said:
relax dude. jesus christ. chill man

Im fine, just fed up of you jumping to incorrect conclusions because you cant learn to read.

jaybee · 18 Oct 2012 at 11:46

jaybee said:
I don't think it sounds like you know what you want it for. What do you feel your current photos are lacking? General sharpness? Are you upgrading just because you think you should as you are getting more work? Is the 550d ever going to limit the work you do? it sounds like no thought has gone into the decision other than "I just want a new lens".
You describe some of the things you will be doing and they do not strike me as requiring a long focal length as a priority. Family gatherings/events and portrait work might be more suited to something like a 18-50 or as above a 24-70 range with larger apertures for indoor work.

lukechad said:
Ok thanks for your help,

The reason for starting this thread is to ask for feedback and opinions, so "you dont seem to know what you want" replies dont really help me.

Ok, but general feedback and opinions on...? What? Your OP is not particularly clear to me what you want to discuss. I'm not being pedantic or unpleasant and I am trying to help so please do not get the wrong idea.

lukechad said:
I havent looked into the differences with spec and cost, but what is the big difference between the 24-70 and the 24-105? There must be a reason people choose not to have a slightly larger focal length?

The 24-105 is f/4 and the 24-70 is f/2.8.

As for your original post, the things I take out of it that you want to specifically "ask for feedback and opinions" on are:

lukechad said:
...now its time for some new glass.

My current lenses are very standard
50mm f/1.8
18-55 IS
55-250 IS

Now, my current thoughts are as follows

a new 70-200 f/4L (Non IS) (£500)
a used 100-400 L (think there is only one) (~£900-1000)

But then you immediately go on to say:

lukechad said:
I do like aviation photography but I think as I get more work locally that they will really be a thing of the past for a little while.

So...what else do you want them for? Presumably for the work you talk of getting locally where by you mention this will include "some modelling shots for a local hair salon, a 21st birthday party and a christening!"

This is why I said what I said above. How did you reach the conclusion that for the above type of photography you would require either a 100-400L or a 70-200 f4 L ?

lukechad said:
So, will I notice the loss of 50mm from my reach?

You already have a 50mm prime and an 18-55mm so I don't understand the question. If you mean would I notice that the new lenses you are looking at start at 70mm and 100mm instead of 50mm....yes of course. Would this be an issue? It depends what you want to use them for.

lukechad said:
Should I really be getting IS for that zoom level?

It depends what you want to use them for.

lukechad said:
Should I get a cheap 70-300 for the times I might find 200mm isnt enough?

Enough for what? You do not specify your typical usage but you could look at a 1.4x convertor instead.

lukechad said:
Its a minefield of prices and options, obviously the 55-250 will go and the money will go towards the new lens, I just feel if I jump in and get an affordable L that I may regret not saving harder for the 100-400

I'll have to just repeat that I don't really think you know what you want, so you haven't asked the right questions.

I am trying to help though. If you want to improve your photography I'm just saying that you can't expect to just buy an L lens, stick it on the 550d and suddenly your shots improve 100% of the time.

As for the lenses you mention. I've used them all. All very nice for different purposes, but remember they are all much more bulky and long and heavy than your current stuff. You should consider also competing lenses form Sigma/Tamron when looking at any expensive lenses really, just to be aware of what competition there is. Some third party lenses offer outstanding bang per buck and even surpass the performance of some Canon lenses they directly compete with.