DSLR Users, what do you think of this setup?

[alphatarget1]

Canon Rebel XT (Body only)
Canon EF 28-200mm USM
Canon EF 20-35mm USM

I'll be mostly taking landscape shots, so I'd want a wide angle lens and I figured 20mm would be pretty sweet. The only reason of wanting to buy the bigger zoom lens is I don't want to be stuck with not being able to zoom very far. Any comments on the lens or suggestions on what I should do?

budget: $1600 max., won't be buying until next january at the latest.

 

[Saint Nick]

thats what i'm talking about.

go4it!!!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Canon Rebel XT (Body only)
Canon EF 28-200mm USM
Canon EF 20-35mm USM

I'll be mostly taking landscape shots, so I'd want a wide angle lens and I figured 20mm would be pretty sweet. The only reason of wanting to buy the bigger zoom lens is I don't want to be stuck with not being able to zoom very far. Any comments on the lens or suggestions on what I should do?

budget: $1600 max., won't be buying until next january at the latest.

20mm isn't very wide on a 1.6x crop DSLR. I'd look at the 10-22mm if you want wide angle.

The 70-200mm f/4.0 is also an excellent lens for the money.

For a great portrait lens I'd get the 50mm f/1.4.

Edit-There are some decent Tamron and Sigma lenses out there for less money but I've only tried one Sigma and I wasn't overly impressed with it.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Canon Rebel XT (Body only)
Canon EF 28-200mm USM
Canon EF 20-35mm USM

I'll be mostly taking landscape shots, so I'd want a wide angle lens and I figured 20mm would be pretty sweet. The only reason of wanting to buy the bigger zoom lens is I don't want to be stuck with not being able to zoom very far. Any comments on the lens or suggestions on what I should do?

budget: $1600 max., won't be buying until next january at the latest.

20mm isn't very wide on a 1.6x crop DSLR. I'd look at the 10-22mm if you want wide angle.

The 70-200mm f/4.0 is also an excellent lens for the money.

For a great portrait lens I'd get the 50mm f/1.4.

hmm, do you think it's necessary to get a 10-22mm for architecture? I think the 10-22mm is a bit more expensive.

 

[tami]

are you interested in macro shots? if so, you may want to go with a macro lens.

don't forget to buy lots of storage media as well as a laptop (with the appropriate power converter!!!) and card reader to transfer your images to your computer nightly.

 

[aceO07]

Camera(750$) + 17-40L(700$) + 50 f1.8($70). $1520. What are you going to use the telephoto for? 200mm is sweet but I haven't found much of a use for it on my Rebel.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

hmm, do you think it's necessary to get a 10-22mm for architecture? I think the 10-22mm is a bit more expensive.

very expensive. but wide angle lenses are sweet. (as are telephoto too!)

i wish i owned a 10mm zoom lens. but i looked up the prices for them and they are outrageous.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: aceO07
Camera(750$) + 17-40L(700$) + 50 f1.8($70). $1520. What are you going to use the telephoto for? 200mm is sweet but I haven't found much of a use for it on my Rebel.

200mm is actually a great length for long-distance shots. if you look at my photoblog, i've taken many pictures at that focal length, and even beyond at 300 (i have a 70-300mm).

i also hate to be the nikon fangirl, but you may want to consider the d70 as if you are on a budget, it MAY be cheaper. i love my D70, but i won't go knocking the rebel XT anyone who goes the path of SLR gets a big :thumbsup: from me

 

[Anubis]

if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Canon Rebel XT (Body only)
Canon EF 28-200mm USM
Canon EF 20-35mm USM

I'll be mostly taking landscape shots, so I'd want a wide angle lens and I figured 20mm would be pretty sweet. The only reason of wanting to buy the bigger zoom lens is I don't want to be stuck with not being able to zoom very far. Any comments on the lens or suggestions on what I should do?

budget: $1600 max., won't be buying until next january at the latest.

20mm isn't very wide on a 1.6x crop DSLR. I'd look at the 10-22mm if you want wide angle.

The 70-200mm f/4.0 is also an excellent lens for the money.

For a great portrait lens I'd get the 50mm f/1.4.

hmm, do you think it's necessary to get a 10-22mm for architecture? I think the 10-22mm is a bit more expensive.

It is more expensive but a 20mm lens is really the equivalent of a 32mm lens with the 1.6x crop factor.

I have a 17-40mm lens (great lens BTW) which is much wider on my digital rebel than my 24-70mm lens but when I put the 17-40 on my film camera man, that sucker is really wide!

 

[DBL]

Your options may change drastically in 5 months.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: tami
i also hate to be the nikon fangirl, but you may want to consider the d70 as if you are on a budget, it MAY be cheaper.

Depending on your area, you can probably pick up some great used Nikon lenses for a lot less than you could their Canon equiv. One of the side-benefits of owning one of the most prolific camera mounts on the planet.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Canon Rebel XT (Body only)
Canon EF 28-200mm USM
Canon EF 20-35mm USM

I'll be mostly taking landscape shots, so I'd want a wide angle lens and I figured 20mm would be pretty sweet. The only reason of wanting to buy the bigger zoom lens is I don't want to be stuck with not being able to zoom very far. Any comments on the lens or suggestions on what I should do?

budget: $1600 max., won't be buying until next january at the latest.

20mm isn't very wide on a 1.6x crop DSLR. I'd look at the 10-22mm if you want wide angle.

The 70-200mm f/4.0 is also an excellent lens for the money.

For a great portrait lens I'd get the 50mm f/1.4.

hmm, do you think it's necessary to get a 10-22mm for architecture? I think the 10-22mm is a bit more expensive.

It is more expensive but a 20mm lens is really the equivalent of a 32mm lens with the 1.6x crop factor.

I have a 17-40mm lens (great lens BTW) which is much wider on my digital rebel than my 24-70mm lens but when I put the 17-40 on my film camera man, that sucker is really wide!

...which is why the 10-22 is really your only option for true ultra wide angle on a 1.6x DSLR. I think Sigma has a competing lens out.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Canon Rebel XT (Body only)
Canon EF 28-200mm USM
Canon EF 20-35mm USM

I'll be mostly taking landscape shots, so I'd want a wide angle lens and I figured 20mm would be pretty sweet. The only reason of wanting to buy the bigger zoom lens is I don't want to be stuck with not being able to zoom very far. Any comments on the lens or suggestions on what I should do?

budget: $1600 max., won't be buying until next january at the latest.

20mm isn't very wide on a 1.6x crop DSLR. I'd look at the 10-22mm if you want wide angle.

The 70-200mm f/4.0 is also an excellent lens for the money.

For a great portrait lens I'd get the 50mm f/1.4.

hmm, do you think it's necessary to get a 10-22mm for architecture? I think the 10-22mm is a bit more expensive.

It is more expensive but a 20mm lens is really the equivalent of a 32mm lens with the 1.6x crop factor.

I have a 17-40mm lens (great lens BTW) which is much wider on my digital rebel than my 24-70mm lens but when I put the 17-40 on my film camera man, that sucker is really wide!

...which is why the 10-22 is really your only option for true ultra wide angle on a 1.6x DSLR. I think Sigma has a competing lens out.

sigma and tokina both have a 12-24 out and sigma has another one i think a 10-20 for the canon users

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: DBL
...which is why the 10-22 is really your only option for true ultra wide angle on a 1.6x DSLR. I think Sigma has a competing lens out.

I think the Sigma is 12-22 or something like that. I didn't want a really wide lens, I just wanted something that I could take pictures of a room and not have to back up to the other side of the house to get all of it in the picture. My wife is a realtor so being able to take pictures of rooms in a house was a consideration. You don't get any of the wide angle distortion on a 1.6x crop camera at 17mm like you do with a film camera.

BTW-I would also make sure you have some method to download the pictures you will be taking like Tami suggested.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Anubis
if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

or

Canon 17-85IS ($550 but can be had for $500)
Canon 70-300IS ($450)

I'd prefer this as the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. You would only need to carry the other lens when you know you want to do some telephoto work.

And don?t forget to include $70 for a 50mm f/1.8. It?s the only lens <$500 that can show you the full capabilities of the camera with regard to resolution.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Anubis
if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

or

Canon 17-85IS ($550 but can be had for $500)
Canon 70-300IS ($450)

I'd prefer this as the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. You would only need to carry the other lens when you know you want to do some telephoto work.

And don?t forget to include $70 for a 50mm f/1.8. It?s the only lens <$500 that can show you the full capabilities of the camera with regard to resolution.

Not true, the 50mm f/1.4 is even better and it's under $400. I just picked one up about a month ago. Great lens, very sharp with excellent bokeh (which is something the f/1.8 lens isn't great at).

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Anubis
if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

or

Canon 17-85IS ($550 but can be had for $500)
Canon 70-300IS ($450)

I'd prefer this as the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. You would only need to carry the other lens when you know you want to do some telephoto work.

And don?t forget to include $70 for a 50mm f/1.8. It?s the only lens <$500 that can show you the full capabilities of the camera with regard to resolution.

Not true, the 50mm f/1.4 is even better and it's under $400. I just picked one up about a month ago. Great lens, very sharp with excellent bokeh (which is something the f/1.8 lens isn't great at).

the nikon 50 1.8 has great bokeh however i use the 35 f/2 much more on the digital and it is amazing
and i forgot about the 17-85 IS

canon has too many damn lenses that cover the same zoom range

 

[virtuamike]

Another vote for the 17-40. I haven't been all that impressed with the 10-22; Canon's offerings at wide are pretty weak.

What are you shooting that'll need 200mm? I sincerely doubt you'll be shooting much telephoto. If you're in the cities, the 17-40 is probably all you'll need for the entire day. A 50/1.8 and 85/1.8 would fill out everything else. If you want to save some money consider buying used, or just wait for one of the Dell deals.

You might also want to consider Nikon as a cheaper route. Obviously the 18-70 isn't going to match up with L glass but it's a great lens for the price and it pretty much covers everything you'll need. Add a 50/1.8, 85/1.8, and SB600/800 and you're set.

Shameless D70 plug

 

[imported_Mike]

My setup so far:

Rebel XT
28-135 IS

I want to add the 70-200 f/4 but im a cheap arse

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Anubis
if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

or

Canon 17-85IS ($550 but can be had for $500)
Canon 70-300IS ($450)

I'd prefer this as the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. You would only need to carry the other lens when you know you want to do some telephoto work.

And don?t forget to include $70 for a 50mm f/1.8. It?s the only lens <$500 that can show you the full capabilities of the camera with regard to resolution.

Not true, the 50mm f/1.4 is even better and it's under $400. I just picked one up about a month ago. Great lens, very sharp with excellent bokeh (which is something the f/1.8 lens isn't great at).

It's not any sharper though, which was my main point. It is faster and has better bokeh.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: virtuamike
Another vote for the 17-40. I haven't been all that impressed with the 10-22; Canon's offerings at wide are pretty weak.

What are you shooting that'll need 200mm? I sincerely doubt you'll be shooting much telephoto. If you're in the cities, the 17-40 is probably all you'll need for the entire day. A 50/1.8 and 85/1.8 would fill out everything else. If you want to save some money consider buying used, or just wait for one of the Dell deals.

You might also want to consider Nikon as a cheaper route. Obviously the 18-70 isn't going to match up with L glass but it's a great lens for the price and it pretty much covers everything you'll need. Add a 50/1.8, 85/1.8, and SB600/800 and you're set.

Shameless D70 plug

another plug also plugging the 17-35 tamron

 

[virtuamike]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Anubis
if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

or

Canon 17-85IS ($550 but can be had for $500)
Canon 70-300IS ($450)

I'd prefer this as the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. You would only need to carry the other lens when you know you want to do some telephoto work.

And don?t forget to include $70 for a 50mm f/1.8. It?s the only lens <$500 that can show you the full capabilities of the camera with regard to resolution.

Not true, the 50mm f/1.4 is even better and it's under $400. I just picked one up about a month ago. Great lens, very sharp with excellent bokeh (which is something the f/1.8 lens isn't great at).

the nikon 50 1.8 has great bokeh however i use the 35 f/2 much more on the digital and it is amazing
and i forgot about the 17-85 IS

canon has too many damn lenses that cover the same zoom range

Guh. I'm really not impressed by the bokeh of the 1.8. One of the reasons I jumped to 1.4, and it's still one of the weaker bokeh performers in my bag.

Then again 50mm and wider offer enough FOV that you really should be composing with backgrounds to give context to your subjects versus trying to isolate like you would with a telephoto, so the bokeh almost becomes a mute point.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: virtuamike
Another vote for the 17-40. I haven't been all that impressed with the 10-22; Canon's offerings at wide are pretty weak.

What are you shooting that'll need 200mm? I sincerely doubt you'll be shooting much telephoto. If you're in the cities, the 17-40 is probably all you'll need for the entire day. A 50/1.8 and 85/1.8 would fill out everything else. If you want to save some money consider buying used, or just wait for one of the Dell deals.

You might also want to consider Nikon as a cheaper route. Obviously the 18-70 isn't going to match up with L glass but it's a great lens for the price and it pretty much covers everything you'll need. Add a 50/1.8, 85/1.8, and SB600/800 and you're set.

Shameless D70 plug

The 17-40mm lens is a great lens but I carried it all day at the San Diego Zoo recently and kept wishing I brought my 70-200mm lens.

 

[virtuamike]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: Anubis
if you HAVE to go with canon id do this

XT Body Only
Tamron 17-35 f/2.8-4 ($450)
Canon 28-135 USM IS ($400)

that will be really close to 1600

if you go nikon you just need teh D70 Kit 900$ and another lens for whatever extrea reach you want

or

Canon 17-85IS ($550 but can be had for $500)
Canon 70-300IS ($450)

I'd prefer this as the 17-85 makes a great walk-around lens. You would only need to carry the other lens when you know you want to do some telephoto work.

And don?t forget to include $70 for a 50mm f/1.8. It?s the only lens <$500 that can show you the full capabilities of the camera with regard to resolution.

Not true, the 50mm f/1.4 is even better and it's under $400. I just picked one up about a month ago. Great lens, very sharp with excellent bokeh (which is something the f/1.8 lens isn't great at).

It's not any sharper though, which was my main point. It is faster and has better bokeh.

If he's on a budget, the 50/1.4 isn't practical compared to the 1.8. The money is better spent elsewhere.