Travel Lens - Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Mar 21, 2012 15:50:10 #
I am planning a 3 week trip by car from Dallas to San Diego and back. I have a Canon 50D with EFS 17-55mm f/2.8, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. I want a lens I can put on and keep on most of the time without having to carry a lot of weight around or have to change lens. Any thoughts or experience on the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens? Nikon users, while I am sure you have good info I am not looking to change brands so please do not reply unless you have eperience with Canon.
Mar 21, 2012 16:20:10 #
Mar 21, 2012 16:24:24 #
If I had your glass and it were me...that wouldn't be my first choice.
I'd keep the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM on while in the car as the shots are likely to be landscape distant shots but not typical landscape wide angle shots.
I'd probably pack them all. :)
The reason I say this is that I like lower f/stops if I can help it...and I'd choose an L lens over a normal one also.
That's my thoughts.
I'd keep the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM on while in the car as the shots are likely to be landscape distant shots but not typical landscape wide angle shots.
I'd probably pack them all. :)
The reason I say this is that I like lower f/stops if I can help it...and I'd choose an L lens over a normal one also.
That's my thoughts.
Mar 21, 2012 16:28:56 #
Thanks to both of you. My thoughts are to take all the lenses to use as needed but I will be doing a lot of walking sightseeing so I wanted a"general purpose" lens so I would not have to carry the other glass around. I am wondering if the 18-200 quality of picture is worth not having to carry around 1 or more extra lenses while out walking.
Mar 22, 2012 08:57:10 #
I have the 70-200 2/8 L series lens and that has been my go to lens since I purchased it. Yes, it is heavy, but for me, a slight built female, I would rather get the work out it requires and to enjoy the results for the rest of my life. For those who can bench press more than I, my guess is it is a no brainer. For me I'm working out before I shoot to make it less of a work out while I shoot. ;-)
Mar 22, 2012 12:11:09 #
papakatz45 wrote:
I am planning a 3 week trip by car from Dallas to ... (show quote)
When I bought my Canon 50 D I also purchased it with the kit lens EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. I think it is a good general purpose lens to have during the daytime hours for the flexibility of wide angle and telephoto shots. I have added several more lens to my collection but still use the EF-S 18-200mm a lot of the time. A few sample pictures included.
Mar 22, 2012 12:42:25 #
realgeorge1947
Loc: Huntington Beach CA
I just spent 3 weeks in San Diego with my grandchildren. I normaly use the 24-105 L as me walk around but in the bay area to get shots of the Midway,Sailing vessels, US and Soviet Subs I had to go to the 10-22. Don't miss the statue of the sailer and nurse kissing and the Bob Hope exibit to the left of the Midway. Also the wide angle is needed to isolate air planes on the deck of the Midway.
GRAYMOND@socal.rr.com
GRAYMOND@socal.rr.com
Mar 22, 2012 13:06:46 #
papakatz45 wrote:
I am planning a 3 week trip by car from Dallas to ... (show quote)
I am a Canon person...take them all...the lens that stays home is the one I will need on occasion. I would start the trip with 70-200 mounted and see how it goes. You have a good stable of L glass...don't leave home without L
Mar 22, 2012 21:19:53 #
Thanks for all the input. I think I will go with using the 70-200 as my "walk-around" and take the others and use as needed. If it gets too heavy I will switch to the 24-105.
Mar 23, 2012 00:34:09 #
papakatz45 wrote:
You're looking for a jack of all trades - master of none!Thanks for all the input. I think I will go with using the 70-200 as my "walk-around" and take the others and use as needed. If it gets too heavy I will switch to the 24-105.
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http://www.juzaphoto.com/article.php?l=en&article=35
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If you search for Travel Lens here on UHH - you'll find many posts.
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I got the Canon 18-200 - it's on my 7D 85% of the time. At the last minute - I stuck my Tokina 12-24 in the bag as well - - might as well have left it home as I didn't use it once !!
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I SOLD my 70-200 f/4L after I got the 18-200 because I just didn't use it any more !! The Pro's of the 18-200 out-weighed the cons FOR ME - in walk-around use over the 70-200.
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There will ALWAYS be a few situations where you would have liked to have something just a little wider, or just a little longer, or 1/2 a stop faster - - but IF you can ONLY have ONE - - the 18-200 gives you great range, reasonable aperture, good IS, fairly sharp, light weight, seems to strike the best balance between all of the trade-offs.
Mar 23, 2012 10:07:43 #
Mar 23, 2012 11:23:04 #
Merlin1300 wrote:
quote=papakatz45 Thanks for all the input. I thin... (show quote)
I hope never to just buy a "fairly sharp" lens. Seems a waste of time to take a "fairly sharp" photo as vast majority of places I travel, I do not expect to return. Perhaps I mis-interpreted your comment. My first kit lens was fairly sharp, but not very impressive.
Mar 23, 2012 16:05:13 #
pdwoodswood wrote:
Given the parameters in the OP - she wanted a SINGLE lens that would "DO EVERYTHING".I hope never to just buy a "fairly sharp" lens. Seems a waste of time to take a "fairly sharp" photo as vast majority of places I travel, I do not expect to return. Perhaps I mis-interpreted your comment. My first kit lens was fairly sharp, but not very impressive.
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You may thumb your nose at utility lenses - but for what the OP was interested in - go ahead - suggest something else - - watch ME pick it apart! You suggesting she take a 24-105 at a THOUSAND BUCKS - and WON'T Cover EITHER the Wide or the LONG ?? Got something else?? She is NOT interested in changing lenses - do don't even suggest she take TWO.
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Lens is in your court!
Mar 24, 2012 11:29:20 #
Merlin1300 wrote:
quote=pdwoodswood I hope never to just buy a &quo... (show quote)
First I did not suggest the 24-105. Second the OP was asking for recommendations for a lens to keep mounted "most of the time". She is traveling by "car" so why not take all her lens, L glass is good. Thirdly did not read she was not interested in changing lens. So feel free to "pick apart"; first you might want to re-read the OP. Seems you are interpreting with your own mental pre-sets.
Mar 24, 2012 12:07:32 #
Quote:
Any thoughts or experience on the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens?
I think it would depend on what you wanted to do with your photos. The EF-S 18-200mm gives very soft images, the focusing motor tends to noisy and slow, and lens creep is an issue. The build quality is mediocre at best.
From looking at the other lens you have, you probably would not be satisfied with the results from this particular lens. I have also been looking for the 'perfect' carry-around lens for the small-frame Canon bodies. I have settled on the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM as my main lens. I know I don't have much wide-angle coverage but that really hasn't been much of a problem for me.
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