Bang for Buck Lens for Landscape

[Khaos05]

I've searched on the forums, but can't find the answer I'm looking for. Right now, I have a Canon XS, Canon 50mm 1.8, and Canon 55-250mm 4-5.6 IS

I like the 55-250 because of the reach and even though it's not a very fast lens, in most outdoor situations it's ok. I love using the 50mm 1.8 because of the low f-stop - very fast and I like using shallow dof.

However, I am becoming very interested in doing some landscapes. Now, I would LOVE to go buy a Canon 1D Mk4 full-frame, and a $1500 Canon L wide angle or wide zoom lens, but I just can't.

What is a good alternative? I'm looking at either Canon 28mm 2.8 prime or Sigma 18-50mm OS HSM (stabilized and somewhat equivalent to USM). Would you recommend either of those lenses?

Like I said, I would love to have about $10,000 to get a full-frame canon and 3-4 lenses and some gear. However, at the moment it's just a hobby so my budget is very limited.

p.s. I'm also going to order cokin filter holder as well as some ND and Grad ND filters

[OsmosisStudios]

2 things:

Before Inkista mentions it, the 1D series is a x1.3 crop, not full-frame. You'd need the 1Ds series for that.

Second: 28mm on a cropped sensor isnt really wide (45mm equiv). The 18-50 is wider, but likely not what you're looking for.

Best bet on a crop sensor? Canon's 10-22 or Sigma's 10-20.

[Khaos05]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

2 things:

Before Inkista mentions it, the 1D series is a x1.3 crop, not full-frame. You'd need the 1Ds series for that.

Second: 28mm on a cropped sensor isnt really wide (45mm equiv). The 18-50 is wider, but likely not what you're looking for.

Best bet on a crop sensor? Canon's 10-22 or Sigma's 10-20.

And aren't those expensive?

[Khaos05]

P.s. my shortest lens atm is that 50mm 1.8 prime. As of now it sounds like I'm working with an equivalent range of 80mm-400mm so maybe 45mm-80mm may be just wide enough.

And cheapest 10-20mm Sigma is $480 which unfortunately is still out of my price range.

These are 4 photos I shot a few days ago with my 55-250mm (because I had to be quite a ways off from what I wanted to frame) - Flickr: AHartzell87's Photostream

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Khaos05

And aren't those expensive?

Those are cheap. Especially for wide-angle. The full-frame lenses you'd need for a 1D series are at least twice that (the cheapest likely being a 17-40 from Canon).

[ElCapitan]

If $480, is out of your price range, then you may want to hold off for the time being. For landscape, you want the ability to shoot wide. Unless you need it right now, save up for a lens that is worth spending the money on.

[Khaos05]

Well, I guess I'll wait on the landscape gear and go another direction for now. I'm really wanting to get into photography in landscape, portraits, candids, and sports, but right now I feel like I'm unable to. Kind of like trying to go wake boarding without a boat or wake board.

I have a huge 2 sided reflector and the 2 lenses that are listed above. Maybe with that and a few other pieces of gear I can do some natural light portraits, candids, and sporting events (niece and nephew) and hopefully build up to getting better gear.

Sometimes I just don't see how people just go out and buy a $4,000 body, 2-3 $1500 lenses, and an additional $5000 worth of gear/accessories with it just being a hobby. I've even tried to find used gear on ebay and craigslist with no luck.

[OsmosisStudios]

My photography is a hobby. I do some paid work, but generally that;s become a rarity. That being said, I've spent close to $7500 (if not more) on photography equipment over the years. You're not going go out and drop that kind of money all of a sudden (unless you've got a ton of money). It takes time.

You have to pick and choose. I work mainly on events, portraits, and landscape work. So, I have flashes (x3), lenses appropriate for landscape work (a 10-24), and accessories suitable for those kinds of things (a vertical grip, wired remote, filters). But I didn't just go out and buy them at once. The only thing I really do need to look into is a good tripod and graduated filters for my landscape work. I also have to get some more light modifiers and stands.

You really do have to pick and choose when you cant do it all, and place your emphasis accordingly. That WILL mean saving your pennies and doing your research.

[inkista]

Khaos, just me, but... why buy a new lens? Learn to pano stitch (and stop down) the lenses you have. Or how to compose landscapes with a normal-to-telephoto. Some folks choose to shoot landscapes with telephotos--you don't have to have an ultrawide. And while panostitching won't be the same as getting a wide angle, it can still do some amazing things. Look at Max Lyons's website. Hugin is a great open source application for panostitching.

[Khaos05]

Well, the pics I took (link posted above) were taken with my 55-250mm so it obviously can be done.

I always try to look for used gear (unless i'd rather know how it's been treated previously for certain), but without the "correct" gear, I feel like I'm cutting corners and won't get the great results I'm looking for.

I'm trying to decide whether I need to get some filters(ND and Grad ND) and some other accessories in order to focus on landscapes OR if I should invest in a flash and other accessories in order to focus on portraits, candids, etc. using natural light with fill flash and/or reflector (which I already have). Just want to do both :-)

My goal is to eventually have a full frame canon, 3-4 L lenses, filters, nice tripod, on cam flash, and nice studio setup (strobes and power pack, backgrounds, softboxes, grids, etc) - 90% chance it will still be a hobby, but I would love to shoot photographs of family and friends and also to travel and shoot amazing landscapes...eventually :-)