What’s Your Preference?

Enishi · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 08:14 PM

Hey Guys,

I've got the T1i for a while, been using the 17-55 for a year now and it's an amazing lens. I've been tempted to buy an L lens for a while now, and slowly but surely, narrowed it down to the 24mm 1.4L. Do you guys think it's worth the upgrade from my current lens? or am I just being gear greedy now haha.

I mainly use my camera casually except when I go on vacation, that's when I shoot the most. Next trip is a Cruise so I'm trying to think if the 24mm will be more suitable there or the 17-55 with the zoom flexible will be a lot more convenient.

Thanks!

OsmosisStudios · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 09:05 PM

Why 24? You have to have some pretty specific reasons for wanting that focal length, with that aperture. The EF 24mm f/1.4L is currently just under $1500. I can think of a lot of different things to do with at kind of scratch.

RichardTaylor · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2011, 09:07 PM

Take the 17-55. It will be a lot more versatile.

Preeb · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 03:57 PM

I don't really understand the point here. You have a 17-55 f2.8 (I'm assuming that is the lens you are referring to, and not the 18-55 kit lens) which is one of the best lenses available for a 1.6 crop body, and you want to replace it with a 24 mm prime which gives little flexibility, it's barely into the wide angle field of view for a crop camera (38mm equivalent for a full frame), and it costs more than the 17-55 does new.

You would never get my 17-55 f2.8 away from me while I'm alive and it's still working. I had a 17-40 f4 L and sold it so I could get the 17-55. In my opinion there is no better lens for your camera, especially if you are only going to have one lens with you. It covers the whole field from a solid wide angle to a portrait telephoto, has crazy IQ, IS, USM and f2.8 speed. I can't imagine another single lens I would take on such a trip with my T1i.

Enishi · #5 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the replies guys! Appreciate the feedback.

Yes, it is the 17-55mm f2.8 that I currently have. I forgot to mention that eventually, I will be upgrading to full frame which is why I'm actually considering a EF lens. But you guys are all right, kind of no point in buying a new lens when my 17-55 is a lot more versatile for this trip. Just needed some sense talked into me hahaha.

ceremus · #6 (**permalink**) 12-13-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enishi

Hey Guys,

I've got the T1i for a while, been using the 17-55 for a year now and it's an amazing lens. I've been tempted to buy an L lens for a while now, and slowly but surely, narrowed it down to the 24mm 1.4L. Do you guys think it's worth the upgrade from my current lens? or am I just being gear greedy now haha.
...

Uh, depends what you mean by "upgrade." Being a f/1.4 it's certainly a speed / max aperture advantage. Beyond that it's not going to give you much more. While it does have a wide aperture that can help create a shallow DoF and blurred background, it's a relatively short focal length which won't be optimal for portraiture, and the framing on a crop sensor camera compounds that problem, (not to mention it's not true wideangle on a crop camera either). The 17-55 has UD elements and it's effectively already "L" glass in terms of sharpness, chromatic abrasion, and overall IQ. Not to mention the 17-55 is very sharp wide open, while the 24mm will be soft when shot wide open. Effectively with the 24 you will have to stop down to f/2 or f/2.8 to get sharp results, at which point you've lost any effective speed advantage over the 17-55 f/2.8.

Basically unless you have future plans on ditching your current camera for a full frame 5D or 1D/1Ds, this seems like a redundant purchase.

And +1 to Preeb, here.

Quote:

I don't really understand the point here. You have a 17-55 f2.8 (I'm assuming that is the lens you are referring to, and not the 18-55 kit lens) which is one of the best lenses available for a 1.6 crop body, and you want to replace it with a 24 mm prime which gives little flexibility, it's barely into the wide angle field of view for a crop camera (38mm equivalent for a full frame), and it costs more than the 17-55 does new.

gturner · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2011, 07:27 PM

the 24-70 2.8 or 24-104 F4 would be my choice. If you go full frame, then look at adding a cheap prime later.

the 17-55 is as good as any lens on the market. Make use of it.