LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

Hi UHH friends. Happy Holidays to all. I'm currently shooting with a 7D, but have dreams of purchasing a full frame in the future. I use a 50mm, a 17-40, and a 28-135. I like to shoot portraits (grandkids) and landscapes (travel). What suggestions would you have for my "next" lens? I prefer to stay with the EF lenses so that I can use them someday with a full frame. I keep reading about the 24-70 and the 70-200...are these the lenses I should start saving for? Thanks again for your suggestions.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

I'm using Nikon but yes, I would go for the 24-70 and 70-200 both with the 2.8 constant aperture. Depending on your budget you could consider alternative brands - my 24-70 equivenant is from Tamron (fairly pleased with it) and my 80-200 is a Tokina (old lens but fabulous results so far and only cost $200 used)

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I have been using the 28-135 for years and it is a great lens, 50mm why, when you have it all covered in a zoom.

I could understand it when zooms were carp twenty years ago but they are superb now.

LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

Thanks, folks...I am happy with my zoom, but it doesn't allow for much low light shooting. Everyone suggests that good glass is the way to go. I am happy to hear other's opinions. No, I don't have an unlimited budget either so maybe I should consider a lense other than a Canon, too.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Linda, in your travel, do you shoot
your landscapes mostly nature or do you shoot a lot of cityscapes as well? Do you shoot mostly daytime or also at night where you would need the speed of a 2.8?
Things to consider. How many more trips/shooting will you take with your current crop camera before you go FF? None of the lenses you currently have are very wide on a crop camera and you are already compromising (depending on your style) your composition. Your 17 is pretty wide on a FF but not on a crop. You may want to consider wider, if you don't need that then consider the 24-105 if you can go with f4, speed aside, much more versatile than the 24-70 lengthwise. If you will not go FF for a year or more, also look at the 15-85, it has L, IQ. Yes it's an EFs, but just unload it when you move up to FF. You could stop carrying the 17-40 and maybe the 28-135.
I personnally don't use my 70-200,f4,non IS, much except when I travel(much smaller/lighter), otherwise almost always use my 100-400 instead. Lots to ponder, but hey, it's Christmas time, and merry Christmas to you.

LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

Hi Sharpshooter. Lots of great info here. I jotted down the lens numbers to consider. Realistically, maybe I don't really need the 2.8. Nice to be able to shoot low light pictures indoors at Christmas, etc., but I like doing landscapes when traveling, architecture shots, etc. and most of those will be during daylight. It may be a year or so before I go full-frame...waiting to see how the 6D goes or maybe take advantage of the 5DMarkII prices as they go down. Lots of decisions here!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Have a great Christmas, yourself.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Linda,

I appears that most of your shooting is of landscapes. Yes, you are seeing the 70-200mm lens brought up on a lot of threads but read closely, most of them are questions about wildlife and/or nature photography.

Don't get me wrong, the 70-200mm f2.8 is a great lens, I recommend it often, but probably not the best for landscape. A wide angle lens sounds like the one you would use most of the time. Something like your 17-40mm or your 18-135mm lens covers it fairly well. You might want to look at something like the Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM which has fairly good reviews. You can read about this lens at:

http://forums.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma-18-250mm-3p5-6p3-os-hsm-macro/

Classed as a "superzoom" it might be a good all round carry lens for you.

Jim D

LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

Thanks so much, Jim. I clicked on the link you sent and read the reviews...looks like a great carry-around lens and the price is probably within my "retired" budget. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my question. Merry Christmas.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Easy, blurring the background. When taking photos of grand kids (or anyone) it's nice to have access to a wide aperture lens to eliminate the busy backgrounds often found in living rooms, yards, etc... I believe you'll hear it called the "nifty 50" which will give you around a 70mm focal length on an APS-C sensor. When you use you zoom at that length you're likely at 5.6 already for aperture yielding fairly detailed backgrounds

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

You have most of the focal lengths covered that you need - doing what you do. But you do not have longer lengths. I cannot imagine any respectible photographer not having a 70-200 and in your case F4 L . Once you use this lens, you will fully realize the image quality that is possible ! The F 4 version is much lighter and more user friendly for travel.

LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

Thanks, Imagemeister, I will check into that one, too. The weight of the 70-200 was intimidating me...to say nothing of the price! I'll look into the F4 version. Thanks.