Which lens to pack to Rose Bowl Parade? (Page 2): I too was so glad to get a second body and the dual camera harness - the $150 for the body and $30 for the harness made the use of my...

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I too was so glad to get a second body and the dual camera harness - the $150 for the body and $30 for the harness made the use of my 18-55 and 100-300 so much easier.
Now if I could just come up with the Mega $$$ for one of those 18-250 for single camera use I would be a Happy Cameraman.

SteveR wrote:

Jerry....Before I had two cameras, my loving wife was very helpful on our vacation through Monument Valley and Grand Canyon as I was constantly switching lenses. I couldn't have done it without her. :-D :-D :-D

;)

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Harvey wrote:

I too was so glad to get a second body and the dual camera harness - the $150 for the body and $30 for the harness made the use of my 18-55 and 100-300 so much easier.
Now if I could just come up with the Mega $$$ for one of those 18-250 for single camera use I would be a Happy Cameraman.

;)

I agree wholeheartedly.
Having that second body/lens on a harness has made a world of difference. Especially when I have problems with one body/lens, I can transition to the other real quick.

Rambun79 Loc: Southern California

Yes, I am going both events. Thanks everyone. Wishing all of you & your family a Happy New Year! 😃😃😃

Effate Loc: El Dorado Hills, Ca.

Definitely the 18mm as I can't imagine the 24 on a crop body will be wide enough to capture a whole float. I would opt for composition over slightly better sharpness.

missletoe Loc: Tujunga, CA

Rambun79 wrote:

I have a Canon 60D with the following lens:
1. Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
2. Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MARCO OS HSM
3. Canon 50mm f/1.8

I just brought the L lens. I don't know if this lens is wide enough & long enough. I do know this lens is better than the Sigma.

Thanks in advanced for you help.

go wide as you can some of those floats are really long. after the parade they park the floats on Sierra Madre Boulevard if I'm not mistaken there you can take all the close up you want. they do charge a small fee to get into the viewing area where there parked at. I live about 15 minutes from Pasadena and the Rose Parade. it's pretty cool in the mornings but really warms up in the afternoon

Rambun79 Loc: Southern California

Thanks Effate & mistletoe. I will bring a jacket & my Sigma.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Living in New Orleans, I've shot many parades. You have to consider the crowd, and security when shooting such a public event. Your lens choice should follow these lines, or you may be very disappointed. I New Orleans, during the Mardi Gras, there are hundreds of parades. I've found shooting them is best at the very beginning, as the floats and bands make their first turn onto the route. Here the crowds are sparse, and getting that "shot" is easy. On the other hand, shooting a parade on Canal Street, is impossible no matter what lens you use. Here the crowd is 20 people deep, a solid mass of humanity, pushing and shoving for their view of the parade. So, enjoy the parade, have fun.

u02bnpx Loc: NW PA

Wall-E wrote:

Are you:
1)getting on the street or into the construction areas?
2)Or are you in the stands along the parade route?

#1 would suggest the 24-105. Used mostly at the wide end.
#2 requires the reach of your 18-250. And you may feel that it doesn't reach far enough, depending how far up in the stands you are.

Correct. It depends on where you will be while watching the parade. I've been to two of these. First time, literally on the curb, since I was renting a house in Pasadena half a block from the parade. At a later parade, I purchased bleacher seats in advance . This was all before I had a Canon DSLR and wasn't doing much photography. But now my lens of choice for 75% of my shooting is the Canon 24-105. By the way, I'm able to mount a 1.4x Kenko converter on this lens and it works fine...even though Canon doesn't list it as one of the lenses that will accept a converter. I called Canon tech about this, and all the fellow could say was, "Damn, I didn't know that." Enjoy the parade. Are you going to the game at the Rose Bowl as well?

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

Rambun79 wrote:

I have a Canon 60D with the following lens:
1. Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
2. Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MARCO OS HSM
3. Canon 50mm f/1.8

I just brought the L lens. I don't know if this lens is wide enough & long enough. I do know this lens is better than the Sigma.

Thanks in advanced for you help.

The Sigma is probably the more versatile lense for this circumstance. If you are standing curbside you will want the wider angle. If you are in the stands you will want the greater length. But the 24-105mm L is a great lens. I'm sure it will beat the Sigma in both clarity and color. Can't you bring them both so you can change them as you see fit?

Rambun79 Loc: Southern California

Yes, I am going to the game too! I went online to search Kenko and found 'Kenko 1.4x PRO 300 Telecoverter DGX for Canon EOS Digital DSLRs. Is this the right one? I am newbie to digital DSLR and have not use Telecoverter. What is the pro & con? Thanks.

u02bnpx Loc: NW PA

Rambun79 wrote:

Yes, I am going to the game too! I went online to search Kenko and found 'Kenko 1.4x PRO 300 Telecoverter DGX for Canon EOS Digital DSLRs. Is this the right one? I am newbie to digital DSLR and have not use Telecoverter. What is the pro & con? Thanks.

That's the one. Pros: you get a longer reach than 105mm...somewhere around 147 mm. That's good, but certainly not good enough to shoot wildlife or closeup details on most things. You shouldn't have to focus manually; I don't when I use this combination. Cons: You'll lose about one f stop of light, and the image will be ever so slightly degraded.

Whatever you do, if you buy the Kenko, have a firm understanding with the seller that it's returnable because....make up a reason, such as, "it degrades my image too much." It may be that the newer Kenkos just won't work as mine does, and I wouldn't want you to get stuck with a paperweight.

Rambun79 Loc: Southern California

Thanks. Happy New Year to you😃

Dave Johnson Loc: Grand Rapids, Michigan

I use the 24-105 with my 5D but I took a lot of good pictures with my T3i and Sigma 18-200. Your 18-250 is a good match for the 60D and would be my choice for the parade. If you could borrow or rent a 70-200 f2.8 that would be ideal.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

u02bnpx wrote:

Correct. It depends on where you will be while wat... (show quote)

Kenko states that both the 1.4 converters they offer are for EF lenses only. They won't work on the EF S lenses. That Sigma is an EF S compatible lens. If you are going to use the converter, take the Sigma lens instead. The converter will degrade the IQ enough that the Canon lens won't be much better than the Sigma lens without the converter. In addition, your 28-105 Canon will end up around a 40mm to 147mm with the converter. There is no advantage with the converter in your situation.

fstop11 Loc: Huntington Beach Ca

I hope the weather didn't cause any delay for your return trip or you may still at LAX camping out. Some passengers are waiting to fly home Sunday?