Lens Question for my Canon40d

[kamikaze_productions]

I am currently shooting with a Canon 40D. I primarily use a 50mm f/1.4, but I also use the kit lens occassionally. My question has to do with getting wider shots. The 40d has a crop factor of 1.6, so I find myself having to back up quite a bit to get the shots I am looking for. If I want a true traditional 35mm shot, what would be the best lens to get? What is affordable given somewhat of a limited budget?

What about a lens if i want a clean 50mm shot?

[Cardiiiii]

I guess you'd have to go for a 10-22 if you want wide on a crop body, or the 15-85.

[inkista]

Depends on what you mean by "true traditional 35mm shot".

If you mean you want a shot with the same perspective/power/magnification as taken by a 35mm lens, then use a 35mm lens. Focal lengths don't change with sensor format. All that's happening is that your sensor being smaller, you're cropping off the edges of the image circle the lens projects.

If you mean you want a shot with the same field of view as a 35mm lens on 35mm film, then use your crop factor: 35/1.6 = 21.87mm. So, a 21mm lens will probably be close enough on your camera to the same framing as a 35mm lens on a full-frame.

If you mean you want a shot that looks like it was taken on a 35mm-format camera, then get a full-frame sensored digital body.

An ASP-C sensor body is never going to look quite like a full-frame in the same way that 1/2.3" sensor never quite look like ASP-C sensors, 35mm film never quite looks like medium format, and medium format never quite looks like large format. DoF, working distances, and focal lengths all change to accommodate the size of the image plane.

If you're looking for a lens that will be normal both in field of view and power on an ASP-C crop body, forget it. 50mm is a short telephoto with normal power, and ~30mm is normal field of view but not normal power. You can have one or the other, not both together like we did with 50mm lenses on 35mm film.

On Canon, the three lenses that come closest to being a fast "normal on a crop" prime (field of view-wise) are probably the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM, and the EF 35mm f/2. Canon has yet to come out with an EF-S 35mm f/1.8 USM equivalent to Nikon's AF-S 35mm f/1.8.

[kamikaze_productions]

Wow thanks guys.

Inkista - i never thought about it from that many aspects. I think the next body I buy will be a full frame but those run pretty expensive, no?

I think my main goal is to get more of a wide angle. Meaning, if i'm in a close space where i can't back up as far as i want, I want to switch lens from my 50mm to a lenses that can capture more of the scene. In that case would the 10-22 or 15-85 be better choices?

[RichardTaylor]

The 10-22 will capture the most of a scene.

Have a look at the example pics here:

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens Review

Here is something similar for the 15-85

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review

Keep in mind none of the above lenses will fit a full frame camera.
Brand new full frame cameras can be a lot more than a camera with a smaller sensor. Also you may find to get the most out of them you will need good lenses.

[kamikaze_productions]

are there any lens in the depth range with faster apertures...i like to really get the bokeh to pop, and I'm in love with the bokeh from my 50 f/1.4, anything like that in the focal length?

[RichardTaylor]

Primes, from Canon, especially the L versions may meet your needs..

Canon Lens Reviews

All my wide angle primes are consumer lenses so I can't comment on performance of the L's although the reviews make them look pretty good.

Keep in mind that if is wide enough the Canon 24-70 may also meet your needs.

PS:
I like the pics in your flickr stream.

[JeffSmith]

Bokeh is depended more on the distance between the lens and the subject; the closer you are to the subject the more bokeh you'll have.

Wide angle lenses, such as the 10-22mm have very little bokeh even wide open aperture and close to the subject; I owned both camera and lens.

It sounds to me like you want it all but you don't want to pay for it all, join the club

I suggest you think long-term. Buy L series glass and you'll keep it forever and it will fit the full frame cameras like the 5D MKII when you upgrade your body.

EF-S lenses, like the 10-22mm will not fit full frame cameras and you'll have to replace all your kit again when you go full frame.

In brief, save up your dollars and buy L glass, expensive now but the results are stunning and much cheaper in the long run. You can buy a used EF 17- 40mm L f/4.0 on eBay for around 450.

[kamikaze_productions]

Originally Posted by JeffSmith

Bokeh is depended more on the distance between the lens and the subject; the closer you are to the subject the more bokeh you'll have.

Wide angle lenses, such as the 10-22mm have very little bokeh even wide open aperture and close to the subject; I owned both camera and lens.

It sounds to me like you want it all but you don't want to pay for it all, join the club

I suggest you think long-term. Buy L series glass and you'll keep it forever and it will fit the full frame cameras like the 5D MKII when you upgrade your body.

EF-S lenses, like the 10-22mm will not fit full frame cameras and you'll have to replace all your kit again when you go full frame.

In brief, save up your dollars and buy L glass, expensive now but the results are stunning and much cheaper in the long run. You can buy a used EF 17- 40mm L f/4.0 on eBay for around 450.

it looks like that lens is running closer to $700 but I guess its time to bite the bullet and invest. if you have a link to something cheaper, drop it in here. lol

So you are saying with L series glass i can achieve the bokeh and quality i'm looking for essentially?

[kamikaze_productions]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

PS:
I like the pics in your flickr stream.

thank you very much