L lens range: i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i...

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

Malcolm B Loc: Leicester (UK)

Try the search facility and put in L lenses as a starting point.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

For what it's worth, I have three L lens. The 17-40, the 24-105, and the 100-400, all on the 5D Mii full frame body. I'm pretty well covered for most situations, and have found all to be satisfactory. The only drawback is that none of those lens is very fast, which can be a small problem in some situations.

The thing about L lens is that they come in a few flavors: expensive and really expensive! Depending on your budget and specific needs, you could go the route I did, or spend more and get a faster lens in your preferred zoom range.

TNmike Loc: NW TN

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

Here is a link to the Canon L lens series lineup from B&H in the US. I'm sure they are all available in the UK. There are several ways to get from one end to the other depending on yours needs or wants. TNmike

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Lens+Series_Canon+%22L%22&ci=274&N=4293344976+4108781413

Willy Loc: Alaska

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

I have a 16-35mm f/2.8L, a 24-105mm f4L and a 70-200mm f2.8L II IS

The 24-105 is my favorite & most versatile.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

Hi billozz: I have the 70-200 2.8 usm L series glass and the 1.4 teleconverter and find I use them much less that I thought I would. I find I use my 24mm 2.8 wide angle and my 100mm 2.8 usm macro far more often. You can even throw in the 50mm nifty fifty gets more use than the L glass does. I have found on my 5D MkII I just don't get the reach I expected I would. Let me also direct you to this site on Canon lenses, it is my go to site on just about every Canon lens made. It's written for the biginner photographer and is easy to follow and understand. The site covers lens usage and quality. Hope this helps. http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html

Les White

I also have four Canon L lenses--24-105, 70-200 4L IS, 16-35 ultra wide and 100mm IS macro and love them all but will pack around the 24-105 for its versatility

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

What focal lengths do you currently shoot at more than any other?

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

If you can spend the money...the 24-70 f2.8 and the 70-200 f 2.8 are both superior instruments...and cover a bunch of turf....love 'em....with these two lenses you pretty much own the world....

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

rpavich wrote:

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

What focal lengths do you currently shoot at more than any other?

i have an 18-55 kit and that is on the cam most of the time but i have a 70-300 4.5 which i like to use for candid shots i have a 50mm 1.8 for indoors when the light isnt too good

billozz Loc: Birmingham, England

travlnman46 wrote:

quote=billozz i am looking to buy some L glass an... (show quote)

i have to thank you for that link, some brilliant info there.

Underwaterant

billozz wrote:

i am looking to buy some L glass and wondered which ones to buy to cover most eventualities, i like to take abit of everything, portraits, landscapes and some sports. i am looking for advise on how many i would need and which ones to get me from one end of that spectrum to the other
thanks
Bill

Well, I have the 24-105mm, 85mm,
70-200mm. All L.
When in the south island of
New Zealand for 8 days, 99%
of the time, I used the 24-105mm.
Very good.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

billozz wrote:

rpavich wrote:

What focal lengths do you currently shoot at more than any other?

i have an 18-55 kit and that is on the cam most of the time but i have a 70-300 4.5 which i like to use for candid shots i have a 50mm 1.8 for indoors when the light isnt too good

No...I meant...look at what you shoot...you favor a few focal lengths more than any other....that will tell you what you should buy. For example, I don't need a 300mm lens...I don't shoot wildlife or birds etc. I DO shoot a lot of head shots and chest-up portraits and environmental portraits...I use a 35mm, an 85mm and an 135mm because that's what I shoot. ONCE in a great while I shoot landscapes very wide so I keep a cheapie Rokinon 14mm handy.

So...what focal lengths do you find yourself shooting at mostly?

IF you have LightRoom...you can sort by focal length.

Brian in Whitby Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

I am afraid if you want to photograph most sports, except perhaps for tiddlywinks, you are going to need some very expensive glass. Not only will you need a long focal length, you will also need a fast lens. That combination costs MEGABUCK$.
That is one reason, I stay away from sports photography.

A very short, 10 mm type wide angle is very useful for landscapes. It does not need to be very fast because you will want a high depth of field so a small aperture is needed. I would go with a prime lens in this range. they tend to be shaper than zooms.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Bill - the US prices might not apply to your question, but the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM has been marked down to $629 USD, about half the original price. Without IS and slower speed compared to newer L models at the same length, the demand has dropped now followed by the price. At the reduced price with excellent quality, this lens is now almost a steal ... /paul