Cameras & Camcorders

[ivandaboss]

I would like to add to this, fixed focal lengths are very specific to the type photography you are doing and are precision instruments. Zoom (variable) lenses are as well very specific to their use, mainly as mentioned to allow the photographer to not move around. However zoom lenses tend to have a "sweet spot" this is a range that it is the best at a given range, these lens tend to distort either direction of this "sweet spot". If you are a novice get zoom lenses and then progress into fixed focal lengths, after several months of shooting you will start to value of when each is needed. Many things to consider but don't want to overwhelm a beginner.

[ivandaboss]

save the money and get another lens and a used pro camera such as 1D Mark II (approx 800 used). You will be amazed!! Try asking this on a Canon forum and guarantee you will get the same answer. I personally own the camera and plan on buying more for back-ups even if they are 6 years old. Don't get hung on the megapixels unless you print larger than 20x30. This is the sizes I print and dont have problem after post process. I would not suggest this to a amerture though, you have to know how to set a camera to own one. One more thing the shutter life is 200,000 versus 50,000

[ivandaboss]

get a used 1d mark II and a ef 24-105 usm f3.5, you will come out to about the same cost. Though the 105 end is a 5.6 the 70 range is approx f4.0. That close of range with a big aperature you will have a very narrow depth of field and unless you have a camera designed for fast focus you will end up with blurred shots.

[Frankd7]

I appreciate your replyalthough I would like you to answer my question directly. I am a little squeamish when it comes to buying used equipment. i can buy a 7D with a 25-125??? not sure about the size, with two batteries and a charger and a couple of other accessories for 1999.00. Then I would use my 18-55 3.55.6. Or i could buy the 24-70 and use my canon xsi. That is my question. 7d and 18-55 or xsi and 24-70 2.8  which one is better?

[ivandaboss]

sorry Frank let me be a little more direct, this would be a very difficult decision because I don't think you are steering right. But thats my opinion and this is why. I have a Rebel XS, D40, and 1D Mark II N. When I use the Rebel XS with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM or  Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD  at a close range on moving objects the camera can not decide if it is in focus quick enough hence a lost shot. The D40 does the same, but not as bad; the 1D can track remarkably fast. On the other hand if you get the 7D wich is a nice piece as well, you can keep you the lenses you have now and crank the Iso and shoot at about a F/4 and do post noise reduction, but with a KIT lens you will never achieve the perfect shot. To speed the focusing you can set the camera on shutter priority around 1/200; naturally the camera will stop all open.  My suggestion before dropping a couple g's is to get a rental from a online store or local photo shop that rents lenses. This way you can make your own decision, and it will only cost about 100 for a week. www.lensrentals.com is the place I use when I am trying to find a new toy. Sorry if you feel I rambled, but I have been down this road and I agree it stinks.

[Frankd7]

I'm sorry if I made you feel that you were rambling. It is just that you know what you are talking about and I do not. Since our conversation, I went out and bought a 17-55 2.8 lens. The xsi I have is a little better than the xs. I use my 70-200 to shoot soccer and football. the pictures come out great. I was an athlete in my younger years so I try to anticipate the play which helps my shot. I get great action shots, especially soccer, I get the ball suspended in the air off a kick and it looks great. The problem is with low light, ie. Basketball and swimming. High school sports arenas are terrible as far as lighting goes. So, I went to adorama and talked with someone there and he and I came to the 17-55 conclusion. I think it is going to work out. I will get the 7D soon enough. The lens is the key right now. I will show you some basketball shots after one of my games. Thanks for the advice. Believe it or not, you were a great help.

[ivandaboss]

Great, Glad to hear that you made your decision, later as you upgrade your camera you will see the improvements with the lens. Something that I found out the other day is that L series lenses have more capability with the 1D series cameras. When you get ready to look at buying a new body, don't get hung up in the specs. There is a reason why the T2I (consumer), 60D (Amature) , 7D (semi-pro) are all 18 megapixel by spec. along with alot of other functions, but what it really comes down to is the stuff not mentioned. (example of this is the 10.1mp 1D Mark III for $3,999 the specs do not make it look attractive compared to the T2i, but this model beats out the 5d by a long shot)  Read this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EOS it is very informative. When you get ready go to the canon website and read thru the owners manuals (not the specs)  http://usa.canon.com/cusa/categorySiteMap.action?pageKeyCode=categorySiteMap&nodeCid=0901e02480069fb... 

Hope this helps you, good luck.

Amature photographers reading this should disregard the pro models unless they just have the cash to spend, In order to use these camera's you must be strong in photography and they are not designed for beginner use!!!

[hiblet]

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents to the discussion, in case someone is searching the forums for experiences with the products that have been discussed...

My primary focus is sports photography - football, rugby, lacrosse, baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. I also shoot events (generally candids without a flash). I've had to deal with a lot of challenging lighting situations across all of these experiences, so I can relate to other posters' descriptions. Generally I shoot in manual mode - I like having the control over shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. 

I've had the Canon 7D for about 18 months and love this camera body. The 18MP resolution is important for me, because I need the ability to crop many of my sports photos. With a fast-moving game like hockey, I often don't have time to zoom in as close to the action. With this camera, I can crop the photo and still have a high-resolution result. I also particularly like the fact that there are a range of auto-focus options (e.g., single point, zone, 19-point) - and with 19 focus points, you can get very precise focusing. Depending on the sport, I either shoot in One Shot autofocus mode or AI Servo (continuous tracking) focus mode. The 7D also has an option to automatically shift from One Shot to AI Servo focus mode, which is a great feature. 

Probably the best feature of this camera is that you can get fabulous pictures in full auto mode, too. This enables someone new to DSLRs to enjoy the results of this great camera from the beginning, while building skills at his/her own pace. However, this camera has a lot of capabilities - if you aren't planning to take advantage of most of them eventually, it's probably not worth it to spend this much money on a camera. A Rebel series will likely serve you just as well. It doesn't make sense to pay for bells and whistles that you'll never use.

In terms of lenses... I've made my way through many lenses since I bought the camera. I started with basic kit-level lenses. As my proficiency grew, I began upgrading my lenses. Right now I own a 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens and a 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS USM. The 70-300 is a relatively new offering by Canon (I think it was introduced about 6 months ago). There is some controversy with this lens because of the variable aperture. However, since most of my long-lens work is done outside, the 5.6 aperture at the 200-300mm focal lengths isn't an issue. I previously had the 70-200 f/4L, but found it wasn't long enough for field sports. I tried adding a 1.4x extender, but wasn't happy with that. Also, with an extender, you lose a couple of f-stops anyway.

When all my camera equipment was stolen a few months ago, I knew I would get another 7D. However, I spent a lot of time thinking about the 24-105 and 70-200 combination. I considered replacing those two lenses with the 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L IS USM lens. I really wanted that extra reach. However, that is a VERY heavy lens and I didn't like the idea of hauling that much weight around when I didn't need the long reach. When I discovered the L-series 70-300, I decided to purchase that lens instead of another 70-200. I am SO happy I did. I haven't shot any outdoor field sports with it yet, but it worked beautifully when shooting indoor hockey games. 

Together, the 24-105 and the 70-300 provide me with virtually all the focal ranges I need to shoot sports. Combined with the 7D, I am incredibly happy with the camera kit I've put together! 

One warning - going into L-series territory is a slippery slope! Once you have one, you won't want to use anything else! 

~hiblet

p.s. Sorry to go on so long - looks like my "2 cents" ended up going on for about 20 cents! 

[hiblet]

I would just add one tip to Allan's great post with lens information...

The FIRST thing you should do when you take a new lens out of the box is to immediately put a high-quality UV filter on the lens.

A UV filter helps reduce haze, which can result in a bluish cast to photos. This helps photos appear sharper, with more contrast. It does not change the overall color balance of the photo and is clear in appearance.

The major benefit of a UV filter, though, is that it provides protection (from dust, moisture, and scratches) to the glass of your lens. It's much cheaper to replace a filter than lens glass. 

A multi-coated filter is preferred because it is more resistant to scratches and makes for easier cleaning. A metal (often brass) ring is more durable - the threads stay true longer and are less likely to get stripped.

If you ever go to sell your DSLR lens, you'll find that one of the first questions a buyer asks is whether the lens has always had a filter on it. I highly recommend this $25-$100 investment!

~hiblet

[fullframegeek]

Hi, does anyone know if I can order a tilt-shift lens.  I know it is available via BBYB but not the consumer website.  Is there a way we can order it via bestbuy.com or in store?  I am learning to shoot architecture photos.  Thanks!