I Need Lens Advice

Tommyboy

What I've got:

EF-S 10-22
EF-S 17-85
EF 50 1.4
EF 85 1.8
EF 70-200 2.8L IS

What I want:
EF-S 17-55 2.8
EF 100mm macro

I can sell the 17-85, no sweat. I have an XT and battery grip to sell also. Should I sell my 50mm 1.4? Will the 1.8 get it done? Will I miss the reach of 17-85? I use it 95% of the time. . . .

The collective wisdom of you multiple-lens-owners would be much appreciated.

ziggy53

Tommyboy wrote:

... Should I sell my 50mm 1.4? Will the 1.8 get it done? Will I miss the reach of 17-85? I use it 95% of the time. . . .

I have both the EF 50mm, f1.4 and EF 50mm, f1.8. While the f1.8 is not too bad and can produce excellent images, I find the f1.4 is more consistently accurate at focus and especially in very low light, when it counts.

As for the 17-85mm, look at your EXIFs and see how often you use the long end of that lens. Also review images looking for situations which might have benefited from the f2.8 of the EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS.

Also look at third-party macro lenses if you want to save a few bucks.

Glenn NK

For what it's worth to you, my most used lenses are the 17/55 and the 100 macro.

But I'm not likely a "typical" type as I am a bit into botancials (closeups not true macros). The 100 macro really shines here.

Then my other uses are landscapes and "people shots" and that's when the 17/55 really shines. It's usually wide enough for most landscapes, and is my "go-to" lens for indoors family shots (candids). Most of the time I can shoot with available light; some candids are blurry because of people movement, but usually a couple extra backup shots do the trick. The IS really works.

The colour rendition and IQ is at least on par with my 24/105 L lens which covers a lot of range, (but indoors is just too slow with available light).

HarveyMushman

Tommyboy wrote:

What I've got:

EF-S 17-85

What I want:
EF-S 17-55 2.8
EF 100mm macro

Will I miss the reach of 17-85? I use it 95% of the time. . . .

Do you use the 55-85 range? How can anyone else answer this question for you?

Gixster

Tommyboy wrote:

What I've got:
I can sell the 17-85, no sweat. I have an XT and battery grip to sell also. Should I sell my 50mm 1.4? Will the 1.8 get it done? Will I miss the reach of 17-85? I use it 95% of the time. . . .

I recently got a 20D, and I'm shopping right now for an EF-S 17-85 *and* a 50mm 1.4.

If you decide to sell in the next few days, I'd be interested in discussing the package deal with you assuming they are in good condition! Otherwise, I'll be buying new.

Thanks!

Ann McRae

I was priviledged to be able to borrow a 17 - 55 (thanks DavidTO) when my 17 - 85 died on the shootout this year.I did miss the 55 - 85 mm range. One sunset in particular, I swapped lenses several times, and ended up being happier with the 70 - 200 in that situation.

The 17 - 55 is a nice lens, but in the end I replaced the 17 - 85 with the 24 - 105. As an all purpose walk around, it has great range.

I have the 50 1.4, and so do not have wide and fast really covered, but didn't bfore either.

So, I think the choice will be:

do you need all purpose, or wide/fast.

ann

Gixster

Oops, I misread.

The 17-85 I'd be interested in if you're selling. The 50mm I'm looking at is the 1.8, not 1.4. Sorry 'bout that!