Question for Canon users...

ihiphotos

Hey ya'll...
I am gettin' ready to purchase more toys and just thought I'd get your input. :wink I am shooting with my beloved Canon 10D (are there really any better Canons out there?!) Here's what I have so far to accompany it- (* These are the things the camera store salesperson recommended to us.)
- Canon 75-300mm EF Zoom Lens
- a Promaster telephoto lens
- Canon 420EX Speedlite
- a tri-pod


I shoot LOTS of action ... baseball, football, cheerleading, basketball, soccer, etc. I have had the opportunity to shoot a few weddings, and hope more will come up. I have actually shot the Jr. High Prom and also things like the Hospice Christmas Dance/Banquet. I have had several churches ask for directories, so I am trying to accomodate more portrait-style requests as well. We have recently relocated to the beach, so I feel many of my shoots will be on location. (I love that idea!):):

Anyway... I would like to purchase the most needed accessories ASAP. I know for sure I need some filters and a smaller lens for closer shots. (Not sure how the camera guy forgot those items... :scratch If you have suggestions, PLEASE hurry with your replies! I get to go shopping as soon as I figure out what I want!!! :clap

Many blessings...

pathfinder

What is your budget? Hard to make any suggestions unless we have some idea of what you plan to spend. Some pros - who shoot for living - have substantial investments in equipment. Some auto mechanics invest thousands for their tools to go to work.

Anson

great lens link
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=16605

wxwax

Yes, what Pathfinder said. Budget is paramount.

ziggy53

Chrisa,


If you are on a tight budget, the first thing I would recommend is a Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. It's a great value and makes a good 1-2 person portrait lens.

Another lens to consider is a wide-zoom. Since you have the 10D, I don't think the EF-S lenses will work (without alteration) so you need an EF series. A good, inexpensive lens is the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Not quite as wide as you might need for some interior stuff, but still a good lens for the money.

Next wider, and more money, is the Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. The range of this lens is pretty limited, so I'm not sure I would advise it.

Next wider, and very popular, is the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. This is an "L" series and so it is more expensive yet.

If you have the budget for more "L" glass, there is considerably more out there, but now you are talking serious dollars.

I would recommend at least 2 batteries and maybe some extra memory cards, but you get to decide how much more, OK.

Good luck and keep us posted,

ziggy53

Higgmeister

You have a tripod, but do you have a remote for that camera. If you are wanting any long exposure shots, a remote is a must. It also helps in that you can stand away from your camera and still take pictures.

Have fun spending money,
Chris

ihiphotos

pathfinder wrote:

What is your budget? Hard to make any suggestions unless we have some idea of what you plan to spend. Some pros - who shoot for living - have substantial investments in equipment. Some auto mechanics invest thousands for their tools to go to work.

Let's say $1000 ... what would ya suggest with that?
I do have the battery charger and two extra batteries; also have six 256mb cards.
Thanks in advance for your input!

ihiphotos

wxwax wrote:

Yes, what Pathfinder said. Budget is paramount.

Let's say $1000 ... what would ya suggest with that?
I do have the battery charger and two extra batteries; also have six 256mb cards.
Thanks in advance for your input!

ihiphotos

Anson wrote:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=16605

Thanks! Can't wait to check it out!!!

ihiphotos

ziggy53 wrote:

Chrisa,


If you are on a tight budget, the first thing I would recommend is a Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. It's a great value and makes a good 1-2 person portrait lens.

Another lens to consider is a wide-zoom. Since you have the 10D, I don't think the EF-S lenses will work (without alteration) so you need an EF series. A good, inexpensive lens is the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Not quite as wide as you might need for some interior stuff, but still a good lens for the money.

Next wider, and more money, is the Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. The range of this lens is pretty limited, so I'm not sure I would advise it.

Next wider, and very popular, is the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM. This is an "L" series and so it is more expensive yet.

If you have the budget for more "L" glass, there is considerably more out there, but now you are talking serious dollars.

I would recommend at least 2 batteries and maybe some extra memory cards, but you get to decide how much more, OK.

Good luck and keep us posted,

ziggy53

I do have the battery charger and two extra batteries; also have six 256mb cards.
Thanks so much for taking time to share your thoughts! I'll let ya'll know what I decide after the shopping trip!

ihiphotos

Higgmeister wrote:

You have a tripod, but do you have a remote for that camera. If you are wanting any long exposure shots, a remote is a must. It also helps in that you can stand away from your camera and still take pictures.

Have fun spending money,
Chris

Hey Chris...
I do have the tripod, but haven't used it much at all. :uhoh I've just gotten so used to shooting with my camera in hand... No, I don't have a remote. Do you think, given my list of "already have" vs. the types photography I am most involved in vs. $1000 budget to spend, that the remote should be high on my list?
Thank you so much for taking time to share! YES ... I can hardly wait to shop!
Blessings...
Chrisa

ian408

Chrisa,

Light is king. The more, the better. If you're shooting mostly outdoor, then the
70-300 f/4-5 is probably going to be OK. I would skip the promaster and opt for
a 50mm and or the 85 f/1.8. The 420 is a great starter flash. When you need more,
it will slave nicely off the 580/550EX.

The 85 will get you through bball until you can afford some better glass. The 70-300
will be good for day games but don't plan on shooting night unless the place is lit
like a Christmas tree

$1000, spent wisely, will get you some but not all of what you're looking for. As a
suggestion, take a look around the buy and sell forum here as well as other forums.

Best of luck and welcome to dgrin!

Ian

wxwax

No, I'd say the remote should be pretty far down your list.

Unfortunately, $1000 isn't much when it comes to glass. Sounds like you need a long lens and a portrait lens.

I'd second the motion for a Canon 50mm f1.8. A good lens and incredibly inexpensive.

Your sales person's suggestion of a 75-300 makes sense with your budget. Personally, I'd get the IS version. And just know that the lens is going to be slow and challenging to shoot with in low light and indoors.

That leaves you about $350-400. Me, I'd get the flash next, not the tripod. And I'd go along with the Canon 420EX.

You might want to save up some before before buying the tripod. Better to spend a buncha money and get a good one, than get a flimsy one and have to upgrade it later.

No-one ever got angry because they had too much memory, you know. A fast 1GB card would go down a treat.

ihiphotos

To Ian and Sid...
I think my original post musta been confusing...
These are the items I already have ... the salesperson I was referring to was from the original purchase two years ago. At that time, I walked in the store w/ $3K and purchased these things:

- Canon 10D
- Canon 75-300mm EF Zoom Lens
- a Promaster wide-ange lens
- Canon 420EX Speedlite
- a tri-pod
- battery pack, charger, and 2 extra batteries
- camera bag
- a 256 mb card (I now have 6 of these.)
- a card reader

Now I have about $1K (I might could sweet-talk hubby for a little more! )
I am just trying to decide what I should spend that money on ... we are getting ready to dive into business. I want to be as best prepared as possible. You can see what I've been able to accomplish with my present set-up if you'd like to take a look at my website. I feel that my action shots are better than my indoors shots, but I think that's primarily due to lack of equipment and needing more experience.

Also, is the 20D much better than the 10D?
All of your input is welcomed!
Thank you for welcoming me on-board ... you folks are great!

ian408

Ok. If it were me, I'd think real hard about the 50 and 85 or replacing the
Promaster WA with something better--like maybe a 16-35 or 17-40.

And the 10 vs. 20 question. It is a better camera. Whether you should
upgrade depends on what you're looking for.

Ian

ihiphotos

ian408 wrote:

Ok. If it were me, I'd think real hard about the 50 and 85 or replacing the
Promaster WA with something better--like maybe a 16-35 or 17-40.

And the 10 vs. 20 question. It is a better camera. Whether you should
upgrade depends on what you're looking for.

Ian

Thanks for your quick reply, Ian! I'll keep ya'll posted! :

txdude35

The lenses that I have added to my collection that I find indispensible are the 50 1.8 and the 28-135 IS.
The 28-135 is on the camera 90% of the time. Its not as wide as I would like for some shots, but the range is great, and the IS is sooooo nice in low light.

I've heard from many people that they don't like the "feel" of the plastic body on the 50 1.8, so you might want to look at the 50 1.4, at more than 4x the price.

pathfinder

ian408 wrote:

Ok. If it were me, I'd think real hard about the 50 and 85 or replacing the
Promaster WA with something better--like maybe a 16-35 or 17-40.

And the 10 vs. 20 question. It is a better camera. Whether you should
upgrade depends on what you're looking for.

Ian

agree

Many folks seem to start their lens collections with zooms, thinking this will be cheaper in the long run, than buying several good primes. I did too. But I am gradually shifting away from this view. A handful of good primes is really all most folks need. 24mm 50mm 85mm 200 or 300mm

ian408

I've been thinking (can you see the smoke?). I've offered you equipment advice
but I should also offer the educational advice as well. Given your desire
to develop a business, seminars and other learning events would be a great
investment too.

A day long or weekend long event is a great way to pick up new skills or learn
to use a piece of equipment that's new to you or to learn about running a
photographic business.

I attended a lighting seminar and learned a great deal and I plan on attending at
least one field shooting event in the coming year (not to mention it's a great
vacation opportunity).

Spending time learning is always a good investment.

Ian

pathfinder

I am surprised that no discussion has been about a computer, software, or printer if the stated desire is to enter a digital photography business. A good computer, editing software, and an appropriate printer will a requirement for a serious digital photography enterprise. Along with a good broadband connection. This will not fit within the stated budget though.

Some photographic seminars about lighting technique could be worth their weight in silver also.

ihiphotos

Hey~ Thanks for all the input!!! :-)
Okay... I went shopping today... well, more asking and looking, but anyway- the sales rep suggested that I consider the Canon 50mm 1.8 as well. He said, even better would be to get the Canon 50mm 1.5 Macro, which he says will serve dual-purposes, of course, and produce even better portraits. He also suggested that I get the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 4LUSM for better night action shots. Do ya'll agree with the Macro over the 50 mm 1.8 ???

I did end up purchasing the UV filters for my 75-300 and my WA. He looked at my lens and said they are in great shape. (Not too bad since I've been shooting with them for 2 years with no filters!) I also purchased a lens cleaning cloth (Anti-static Tiger Cloth) and looked into the lens bracket for portraits. I checked on the 580 EX; it costed $430 there! yikes... will keep using my 420EX for a bit! And, I bought a Kodak 1400 dye-sub printer ... I will be offering on-location printing. Any of you used one of these? I am excited! And yes, I have a great computer (AMD Athlon XP, 1.25 GHz, 512 ram, running Windows XP Professional, I currently have Photoshop 7 - learing in as I've been editing much more simply with Picture It) ... not sure what you would like to know...)

Ian - I will be taking courses as I work it out. I have posted and asked if anyone knows anything about New York Institute of Photography, with no replies yet. Do you know anything about it. Their website is www.nyip.com
I know I need some help with lighting!

txdude35 : I don't think considering a lens 4x as expensive will be what I'll be doing right away ... thanks for the heads up, tho'!

YA'LL HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC!!!
~Chrisa

wxwax

Hmmm, don't know much about the 50 2.5. Reviews by users here.

You've actually listed two 70-200 lenses there, and there's quite a price diference. Both are excellent. The f4 is slower and cheaper, the f2.8 is much faster and a lot more expensive.

Ruud G.

Hi,

I also have a 17-35mm 2.8 from Canon. A real nice lens
Not cheap but maybe you can find a good 2nd-hand...

Ruud

ihiphotos

wxwax wrote:

Hmmm, don't know much about the 50 2.5. Reviews by users here.

You've actually listed two 70-200 lenses there, and there's quite a price diference. Both are excellent. The f4 is slower and cheaper, the f2.8 is much faster and a lot more expensive.

OOPS! You're right! He recommended the 2.8 @ ~$1400. What's a good price?

ihiphotos

Ruud G. wrote:

Hi,

I also have a 17-35mm 2.8 from Canon. A real nice lens
Not cheap but maybe you can find a good 2nd-hand...

Ruud

WOW ... I just noticed your signature ... I think I'll just take your set-up!
Your website is awesome! I would LOVE to be there for a week to shoot photos like that!
What would you think would be a good new / used price on the 2.8?
Thanks!
~Chrisa

wxwax

ihiphotos wrote:

OOPS! You're right! He recommended the 2.8 @ ~$1400. What's a good price?

You can get the non-IS version new at B&H for a little over $1,100.

ian408

If you plan on shooting at night, the IS will buy you an extra stop or so. Otherwise,
it should be short enough to hand hold.

I know nothing about the NYIP. Sorry I can't be of more help there.

Ian

Onrey

Will the Sigma brand 70-200 f/2.8 for $750.00 or the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 For about $400 work on her 10d? I have to 24-70 f/2.8 and love it, saving for the 70-200 2.8 now.

ian408

Onrey wrote:

Will the Sigma brand 70-200 f/2.8 for $750.00 or the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 For about $400 work on her 10d? I have to 24-70 f/2.8 and love it, saving for the 70-200 2.8 now.

I can't speak for the Sigma brand. Perhaps someone can help out here?

Ian

Nappalonia

pathfinder wrote:

agree

Many folks seem to start their lens collections with zooms, thinking this will be cheaper in the long run, than buying several good primes. I did too. But I am gradually shifting away from this view. A handful of good primes is really all most folks need. 24mm 50mm 85mm 200 or 300mm

This is the conclusion I've come to for myself as well. I have 3 primes on my wish list and only 1 zomm

lynnesite

ihiphotos wrote:

Also, is the 20D much better than the 10D?
All of your input is welcomed!

OK, 39,000 shots through the 10D and now 15,000 or so through the 20D, with one trip's opportunity to shoot both of them at the same time.

The 20D wins in EVERY respect except that the 10D has a quieter shutter. Here's a summary of why I'd take the money and buy a 20D instead:

Most importantly, it makes CHEAPER LENSES ROCK.
Second, the exceptional low noise performance in low light/high ISO
For me, an action shooter, faster frame rate, faster writing to the card.

There are probably other reasons but those are the biggies. I shoot with L glass now but had a 24-85 and still have a 50mm 1.8 with which to make the comparisons. But my expensive lenses on each body--no contest, I'd like to sell my 10D and get another 20D as a backup body/to keep the short lens mounted when shooting with both.