Working with different focal lengths

wolfejmwolfejm Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
edited April 21, 2007 in Technique
I have another new-to-dslr question. I'm looking for good zoom lens with a longer reach than my 17-85. I rented a 70-200 F4L IS for this week to try it out, and really like it - surprise! I was wandering around a local blues event and took fairly good stage shots with the lens. However, I kept finding myself too close to other things on the ground.

Switching lenses constantly seems troublesome and probably means I'll miss more shots for fumbling around. How do you handle these kinds of things? I have an event coming up soon in a gym, and I want to be better prepared.

Thanks,
Jeff

[whoops, editing for a spelling mistake :) ]
- Jeff
http://jeffwolfe.smugmug.com
Canon 7D / EF 24-105L F4 / Tokina 12-24 F4

Comments

  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited April 2, 2007
    This is why the 24-105 is so popular. It covers a very convenient range. The 70-200 is definitely a bit more of a specialist lens, although using your foot zoom (walking to help your composition) can help solve the "too close" problem.

    Ultimately, the most efficient approach is to decide ahead of time what kind of shots you want, and take the lenses most likely to deliver them.

    You don't want to be constantly changing lenses, but a switch or two's no big deal.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • pyroPrints.compyroPrints.com Registered Users Posts: 1,383 Major grins
    edited April 2, 2007
    This is why I opted for the 18-180. It's my everyday lense. I still switch out for special shots, and prolly will do more so once I get a real tele-photo.
    pyroPrints.com (my little t-shirt shop)
    pyroPrints.com/5819572 The Photo Section
  • washerwasher Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited April 21, 2007
    The best answer, depending on your current visa card balance, is to buy another body.. Just what you wanted to hear I'm sure.
  • colourboxcolourbox Registered Users Posts: 2,095 Major grins
    edited April 21, 2007
    wolfejm wrote:
    I was wandering around a local blues event and took fairly good stage shots with the lens. However, I kept finding myself too close to other things on the ground.

    One thing you might want to do is check the EXIF on those photos and maybe graph which focal length range you used the most for your favorite shots. If it was usually closer to 200, you need a zoom that goes out to 200. But if it was more in the 70-135 range, you could get the 24-105 and not miss the upper range too much.
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited April 21, 2007
    washer wrote:
    The best answer, depending on your current visa card balance, is to buy another body.. Just what you wanted to hear I'm sure.
    Yeah..i almost always use my 2 bodies & being that i only use primes it really helps heaps. Plenty of well priced 20D & 350D's about that are quite capable of the job with a good 2nd hand price.
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