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[Hill Country Hack]

There is some Christmas bonus money left over and I'd like to add to my gear.

I prefer taking photos of things outside. Mostly landscapes/cityscapes (day and night), sports/action, wildlife. I don't shoot people indoors except for family gatherings. Or even today at the zoo for the indoor exhibits.

I am thinking of a wide angle lens. I have a crop body and I've narrowed it down to these...24-70mm f2.8, 20mm f2.8 or 28mm f1.8

I can get one of the last two now or continue to save for the 24-70

The other choice is a speedlight 580 EXII

Comments and suggestions please

[Tzetsin]

I have to say that if you want those really nice wide angle style shots, a 24mm lens isnt going to do it for you. 24mm on a crop body is damn near a "normal" lens, which means that it isnt going to distort your forground, or background very much.

Those super great wide angle landscapes you've seen with great forgrounds and sprawling backgrounds are taken with 10-24mm lenses, which isnt available to you with the lenses you've listed on a crop body.

There are some decently wide EF-S lenses out there that will help you get these wider shots, but the reality is that ultrawide focal lengths are the sole province of full frame cameras, and one of the few major drawbacks of a crop sensor camera.

[Tzetsin]

Also wanted to add that the cost of the 580 isn't very effective for you. I've never used a 580 to be honest with you, but i do have 2, 430exii which have never let me down.

I was thinking that swapping out a 430 for the 580 would allow you the extra cash to buy:

Canon 430EX II Flash $329.95
Cactus Wireless Flash Trigger Kit $99.95
Cameron Quick Set Stand $59.95
Promaster SystemPro 45-inch Convertible Umbrella $49.95

Total
$539.80

Canon 580exii $549.95

I know you said that you don't do portraits, but I do landscape all the time and I almost never use a flash outside, so having the 580 isn't going to gain you all that much, but the off camera flash setup I put there with the 430 will allow you to do a whole lot more than what your doing now.

[ceremus]

+1, on a crop body you have to go 20mm or less to be considered truly wide angle. If you want a lens strictly for wide angle work I'd strongly consider the Canon 10-22mm. Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens Review

There are 3rd party lenses by Sigma and Tokina in that same range that are worth considering as well.

Or, if you'd like something of an upgrade to your kit lens, there's the EF-S 15-85mm. Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens Review

Not an especially fast lens, but sufficient for most all kinds of work. If you're accustomed to the apertures on your kit, it will be familiar enough. For doing landscapes in the daylight, or long exposure nightscapes on a tripod, it will do just fine. It's quite sharp wide open across most of its focal range, so in terms of the IQ it's a nice step up from the kit.

[PhotoRebel4]

On a crop body, the 20mm is really the only wide angle, at an equivalent to 32mm (if you're considering 35mm or less as wide angle). But I've heard that the lens can be soft, especially wide open.

What other lenses do you have to shoot with?

[PhotoRebel4]

Originally Posted by Tzetsin

Also wanted to add that the cost of the 580 isn't very effective for you. I've never used a 580 to be honest with you, but i do have 2, 430exii which have never let me down.

I was thinking that swapping out a 430 for the 580 would allow you the extra cash to buy:

Canon 430EX II Flash $329.95
Cactus Wireless Flash Trigger Kit $99.95
Cameron Quick Set Stand $59.95
Promaster SystemPro 45-inch Convertible Umbrella $49.95

Total
$539.80

Canon 580exii $549.95

I know you said that you don't do portraits, but I do landscape all the time and I almost never use a flash outside, so having the 580 isn't going to gain you all that much, but the off camera flash setup I put there with the 430 will allow you to do a whole lot more than what your doing now.

Or better yet, 430EX II from B&H for $255 right now..

I left for dinner in the middle of typing my reply and come back you guys all beat me to it, lol.

[Tzetsin]

Originally Posted by PhotoRebel4

Or better yet, 430EX II from B&H for $255 right now..

SHEESH! I think I could use a few more of those at that price...

[cyber3d]

Friend, get the 10-22mm. I love this lens. The image below was at 10mm.




Camera Model Canon EOS 60D
Firmware Firmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time 11/04/11 05:49:16
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/4
Av( Aperture Value ) 22.0
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 100
Auto ISO Speed OFF
Lens EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Focal Length 10.0mm
Image Size 5184x3456
Image Quality RAW
White Balance Mode Daylight
AF Mode One-Shot AF
AF area select mode Automatic selection
Picture Style Standard
Sharpness 3
Color Space sRGB
File Size 21580KB
Drive Mode Single shooting
Live View Shooting OFF

[Hill Country Hack]

Thanks to all who replied. It has given me a lot to think about. Tzetsin, I seriously doubt I would ever use a light stand and such. I was thinking more along the lines of shoe mount with black foamy thingy for the rare times I'm shooting people indoors/zoos and fill flash. The 430 would fit the need and leave some left over to save for another lens.


Having come to THAT conclusion, after landscapes my second love is sports/action. There is only a $200 US difference between the 70-200 f4 IS USM L and the 70-200 F2.8 USM (no IS) L and for only another $100 I could get the 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM. I could always use the reach, but I know the f4-5.6 would not be as handy shooting sports at night under the lights or lower light wildlife. My thinking is, I could get sharp wildlife (non birding) and sports panning images hand held with the f2.8 and crop down.

I am fully aware the f2.8 is not a panacea, but it would give me more opportunities. Thanks again for all who responded and allowing me to talk this though.

[sk66]

get the 2.8.... The IS of the f/4 will give worse results for sports.
I get quite good results/performance with a 2x tc on my 70-200 2.8 which is then a 400mm f/5.6. Or better results with a Kenco 1.4TC @ 280mm f/4...It's more options with better/equal performance.