Which lenses to buy? DSLR

So I just ordered the Canon EOS 5D mark 2 kit, I have not purchased any additional lenses yet. I was wondering if anyone could chime in and give their opinions on their favorites (or something to specifically avoid) and why. Please feel free to post some images too. Thanks.

 

By kit you mean it comes with the 24-105 f4 L IS lens or it's just the body? I have been using the 24-105 for a couple years now and am very happy with it. The 24-70 f2.8 L seems like a great alternative if you want something faster and don't mind no IS.

Depending on what types of shots you like to take the 70-200 L is a great lens to have around and isn't ridiculously large. If you don't mind a large lens the 100-400 4.5-5.6 L IS seems like a great match for the 5D Mk II. Probably not something you will want to carry around much though.

 

Dude, you dove in big time for your first camera. Good for you. I'm a Nikon guy and some Canon folks may know better but I would say a 17-55/2.8 IS USM at $1050 for general use and land/cityscapes. And a 70-200/2.8 IS USM telephoto zoom at $1700. I have the equivalent Nikon lenses and most pros do too.

You already spent that much on the camera, now you can't hold back on the glass.

 

16-35
70-200
maybe an extender for the 70-200
and keep your 24-105 (it's the lens I use most)


Unless you get into very specialized stuff like sports photography or birding (requiring long, heavy, fast glass), that will cover you.

 

As he said... you don't want to hold back on the glass. Here is a shot I took a couple days ago of Saddam's "Victory Palace" in Baghdad. This was with the 70-200, altitude is ~20k feet. Not a great picture but there is no way to get what detail can be seen without using top quality stuff.
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Bear bomber/patrol aircraft belonging to the Indian Navy. Shot with the 24-105... not sure it would have come out any different with the 24-70
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Just wanted to mention that the 17-55 is only for use on the crop sensors and since the 5d mk2 is full frame it won't work on it.

 

That's why I said we would need you Canon guys.

 

I've borrowed the 24-70 for a couple shoots (wanted the extra stop). Superficially, it seems a little sharper at the wide end.

 

I have heard there is a big disparity in the quality of the 24-70, some are great, others not so much. I think I would still have to get one if I went full-frame, its just not wide enough on a crop.

 

Thanks guys, and yes by kit i mean the 24-105. I decided to jump in with both feet because I never really flake on myself, meaning I know that I'll grow into this camera and not just have it be my "hobby of the week", I'll use it for years to come. I was planning on staying in the "L" series of lenses, I don't think it makes sense to buck up for the camera and then shave on lens quality.

I was thinking of the 85mm 1.2, my buddy has it as raves about it (portraits).

anyone have a tilt-shift lens? are they cool or just gimmicky?

 

got my camera, no card yet. what a tease.

 

Oh man, you could get a card somewhere. Best Buy, Staples. Even a throw away to get started.

 

Congrats! The 24-105L is an excellent lens. I used it 90% of the time. The other 10% was either my 50mm F/1.4 or my 100-400L.

My planned lenses had I kept the 5DII was:
More primes - 85L
Wide - 17-40L

Also... make sure you get a decent sized card. Those file sizes and video take up a lot of space. (P.S. hope you have lots of ram and tons of hard drive space as well.)

 

For sure. Even with only my 40D, I use tons of space. When I'm traveling, I shoot about 1GB/day.

 

the Nikon 18-200 is great all around lens to have on if dont want to carry around several lens....
i have a 70-200, 18-50, 10-24,100-400 and 18-200.....

 

i agree: this is lens is the ultimate, all around lens!

 

i have a canon, but thanks.

 

Do you have to get Digital specific lenses for the new DSLR cameras, or can you use the old, manual focus lenses from the days of film to take pics with the new digital cameras? I ahve a few nice lenses from my old Canon A-1 that I would love to be able to use if I bought a Digital Canon.
Obviously an amateur question, but I don't know the answer.

BT

 

The high end Canons like the 1D, 5D should be able to handle film lenses old and new - please confirm this with your neighborhood photo store.

 

For you, to cover all focal ranges, I'd recommend:

17-40mm L
your kit lens
70-200 L 2.8 IS (or F/4 IS)

I'm running a 10-22, 50 prime, 70-200, and soon to be added 17-40L