Help with new camera

[bobross!]

I have read the starter guides, but still need a little help. I am somewhat new to photography. I have a decent budget that I can use, want to keep around $3000(or so). I am amazed by the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom, does it make too much of a difference with this lense, say going from a Canon 7D down to a 60D(picture quality wise).


I am going to Panama next month, and it will be very humid, and I will be near water, so quality build of the lense and frame are important for me. I am comfortable with spending $3000, so if you have better recommendations, please let me know.

 

[GoSharks]

You may be comfortable spending that much, but are you going to be comfortable carrying that beast around?

 

[bobross!]

good point, and to keep in my price range I have been looking at the 70-200 f/4, and it is lighter.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

good point, and to keep in my price range I have been looking at the 70-200 f/4, and it is lighter.

I understand that the 70-200 f/4 is a very sharp lens. I would get the IS version.

Adorama has the 7D bundled with the 70-200 f/4 IS for $3049 shipped.
http://www.adorama.com/ICA7DL18.html

Here is the 60D Bundled with the 70-200 f/4 IS for $2449 shipped.
http://www.adorama.com/ICA60DL12.html

JR

 

[bobross!]

thanks Johnny, yes I was planning to get the IS version. I guess the question remains, is there much difference in photo quality between the 7D and 60D with the 70-200 lens?

 

[ElFenix]

I am going to Panama next month, and it will be very humid, and I will be near water, so quality build of the lense and frame are important for me.

i took an xti and a sigma ultrawide chest deep into the andaman sea with not a problem. you don't need super high end gear to survive a trip to panama.


if you've not been doing this much before (ever?) i'd suggest less expensive kit. 60D with the tamron 70-300 VC lens (the one for $400, i think there's some cheaper models that are no where near the same lens). toss in the canon 15-85 and you've got a long-ranging, fairly inexpensive, and fairly lightweight set. that doesn't scream STEAL ME!!!! like the big white bazooka will.

edit: 15-85 is more expensive than i had remembered

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Here is the snapsort.com comparison of the 7D vs 60D
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Canon_EOS_7D


JR

 

[Gintaras]

I am somewhat new to photography.

How "new"? ever had and took photos with ENTRY level dslr? or at least advancecd P&S?

I am amazed by the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM Telephoto Zoom

Why are you amazed? have you taken photos with that lense or have seen other people photos taken with that lense?

Canon 7D down to a 60D(picture quality wise).

Neither camera has "INSTANT MASTERPIECE" button

Everywhere has to be a starting point. In photography too.

"somewhat new to photography" and to ask about Canon 7D or 60D, would be same, if you would ask, if you could go to college after kindergarten or to drive Formula 1 next day after getting driver license. Unless you consider yourself a genius, what is unlikely in your case:

it will be very humid, and I will be near water

Prolly every fool does know that near water can be humid.

 

[Madwand1]

toss in the canon 15-85 and you've got a long-ranging, fairly inexpensive, and fairly lightweight set. that doesn't scream STEAL ME!!!! like the big white bazooka will.

edit: 15-85 is more expensive than i had remembered

Suggest the 15-85 instead of a 70-200 on a crop body. It's smaller, lighter, and has a more useful range (24-136 FF equivalent). You can probably just take that lens and get all your photography done. With the 70-200, you'd probably be switching lenses to use it, and likely find that you don't use it all that much and the size & weight to carry it around a hassle. Of course, if you intend to spy on the beach from your hotel exclusively or something like that, I'd be wrong -- my point is for general travel & photography.

 

[Throckmorton]

Just make sure you post your pictures when you get back. Looking forward to seeing what amazing photos $3000 worth of equipment takes. :whiste:

 

[Gintaras]

Suggest the 15-85 instead of a 70-200 on a crop body. It's smaller, lighter, and has a more useful range (24-136 FF equivalent). You can probably just take that lens and get all your photography done. With the 70-200, you'd probably be switching lenses to use it, and likely find that you don't use it all that much and the size & weight to carry it around a hassle. Of course, if you intend to spy on the beach from your hotel exclusively or something like that, I'd be wrong -- my point is for general travel & photography.

Is it good to suggest focus length lense without asking what photos would he like to take of?
What, if he would like to take photos of birds there? 15-85 would be a good suggestion.
OP didn't state what photos he would like to take - no good too.

 

[Gintaras]

Just make sure you post your pictures when you get back. Looking forward to seeing what amazing photos $3000 worth of equipment takes. :whiste:

There's one thing - depends, who do use that $3000 of equipment. Photos might be amazing or might be not.
Go to dpreview Photo Challenges, you might see photos taken with expensive equipment at the bottom of contest...

 

[ElFenix]

What, if he would like to take photos of birds there? 15-85 would be a good suggestion.

neither is a 70-200, for that matter.

 

[corkyg]

My last trip to the Amazon area incorporated many of the thoughts and considerations above. Many valid points. I settled on two lenses - my 24-105 f/2.8 L IS, and my 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO IS. I have the big 70-200 f/2.8 L IS, but that is too big and heavy to tote in the bush. The DO lens was a very good performer and easy to carry.

That would be lens #3 in this photo:

 

[Gintaras]

neither is a 70-200, for that matter.

Who says so?
I know, that many Olympus users do use ZD 50-200 lense(some with extension tube) for birding. And I've seen many amazing photos of birds taken with that lense.

Just that Canon crop factor is 1.6 while Olympus - x2

Depends, how close you can get to birds.

 

[Paladin3]

IMHO, anyone new to photography would be smart to buy an inexpensive DSLR crop body and the kit wide zoom and telephoto zoom lenses. Once you can out-shoot those two kit lenses, and legitimately answer why you need and how you would use better, faster and more expensive glass, then you can sell your starter gear and worry about upgrading.

 

[ElFenix]

Who says so?
I know, that many Olympus users do use ZD 50-200 lense(some with extension tube) for birding. And I've seen many amazing photos of birds taken with that lense.

Just that Canon crop factor is 1.6 while Olympus - x2

Depends, how close you can get to birds.

i guarantee you they weren't using extension tubes.

using a teleconverter would get you to 400... which is what you should have been using to begin with.

unless you're right under a bird 200 isn't going to fill much of the frame with the bird. larger birds you can be further away of course.

 

[Madwand1]

I settled on two lenses - my 24-105 f/2.8 L IS, and my 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO IS.

I guess you meant 24-105 f/4 L IS. I use one on my FF, and the last time I traveled with it, the 70-200 stayed in the hotel most of the time.

The 15-85 on a crop has comparable, but better range than the 24-105 on a FF. Because of that, on a suitable body, either of these are great travel lenses.