MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Hi All
I'm looking at upgrading the kit lens on my 600D, and can't quite make my mind up about what to buy as a walk around lens. I'd like something fast and with a decent range, but that obviously means big £££. So the current thought that I'm having is to get something fast with a similar range to the 18-55, and then also get a Canon 85mm f1.8 prime.
Does anybody have any experience of using the 85mm for mountain biking shots? I figure that it might be quite good to get some nice shots from a reasonable distance, and the f1.8 could be great for use in the woods...
Cheers
With the 600D crop of 1.6, that'll make it a 136mm equivalent, which is kind of long for a one-lens-fits-all
I use an 18-105 a lot. Or my big glass is a 28-70 2.8 for most MTB action
I use canons "nifty fifty". 50mm f1.8. Cheapest lens in the range. Its the one lens i cant be without. On my 350d it scales to an 80mm prime due to the sensor size. It's 50mm on 35mm film and full size sensors. I think 85 would be too long. I rarely use any other lens. It shoots low light beautifully. I'm sure you can find somewhere to hire a lens for a few days.
I also think 85mm is pretty tight for capturing biking - if you look at people like seb rogers and others they are using pretty wide angle lenses a lot of the time.
I don't know what your budget is but the 24-105mm f4 IS is pretty good for an all-round lens - not that fast though obviously, but the IS can help counteract that in some ways (not so much for fast action). There is also the 17-55 2.8 IS which I've not used but is meant to be great and gives you a wider angle. Both can be picked up second hand but still a reasonable amount of cash. talk photography classifieds or MPB Photo are good for second hand stuff.
Also look into a cheap manual flashgun and some wireless triggers if you want to get properly into it. 🙂
Perhaps have a look at the Canon 15-85 IS, would give a good range on your camera and cheaper than the 17-55mm although not that fast.
Also worth a mention is the Sigma 17-70 OS, f/2.8 at the wide end and not overly expensive
Also worth a mention is the Sigma 17-70 OS, f/2.8 at the wide end and not overly expensive
That's what I use. I bought it mainly because it's faster then the Canon equivilant and I shoot under tree cover a lot. I also have the 50mm F1.8 which is fantastic (Especially as a portrait lens) but I rarely use it for MTBing because you have to move quite a long way from the action for a good shot.
Cheers for the feedback so far.
I'm also thinking of getting something such as a Canon 17-50 f2.8 or the Sigma 17-70, but I saw the 85mm f1.8 and all of the positive reviews around it, and wondered if anybody uses it successfully for bike related shots.
Maybe I'll give it a go with my 50mm 1.8; at least the camera will pack quite small in my Camelbak.
Cheers
I used to have the 85mm 1.8, it's a really nice lens and focusses quite fast so you should be ok there for action - but as above it's pretty long on a crop body. Nice for portraits if you are using it for non-bikey stuff too.
A 50mm fast prime is a really flexible and handy lens to have (used to be the standard 'kit lens' on old film cameras etc), but on a crop body you would really need a 35mm instead to get the same 'standard' focal length. Gives you nice flexibility to either go in close or get a bit wider IMO.
I think I'd have to concur that 85mm is a bit long for MTB stuff, especially if you're looking at busy / forested trails where you might not get enough notice or depth of field to get someone bombing by.
I don't own any EFS lenses but the 17-55 f2.8 is unofficially acknowledged as a L lens in EFS guise.
[url= http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod66.html ]Not cheap[/url] but decent glass unfortunately isn't.
I would go for as wide a zoom range as you can manage for biking, because a) you are often limited in where you can stand, b) you don't want to be carrying loads of kit when biking and c) you don't want to be faffing around changing lenses, d) your mates don't want you to be faffing around changing lenses 🙂
As its a cropper have a look at Canon 15-85mm (not 17-85) or sigma 17-70 both of which have already been suggested, the best of the bunch would be the 17-55 but may be a little short for me personally, I am biased as I have the 15-85
Or if you think you won't use the wide end too much the 24-70 is a great lens
A 24-70 would be great but is too much like mega money for me!
I have the 85mm, on a FF its prob not bad but on a crop sensor too long I'd say.
For low light the nifty fifty is great and about 85mm on your camera, but may still be a bit long. But 1.8 is shallow...you would have to be awesome to get exactly what you want in focus, esp when it's going some!
I'd say f4, high iso and a flash....something off camera if you want a more pro looking shot. Speedlight on a tripod...transmitter on the cam or a sync lead depending on the logistics.
Shoot RAW...
Noise ninja/Noiseware pro will help with noise processing.
Edit, for what you are doing a zoom is prop better than a prime portrait lens, you might need the zoom to get in the position you want to be in....17-40?
bamboo - MemberA 24-70 would be great but is too much like mega money for me!
Plus you'd need the battery grip (if you don't already have one) to offset the bulk of a f2.8 24/70.
Mifsuds are also good for 2ndhand kit http://www.mifsuds.com/ and I can thoroughly recommend Lenses For Hire if you want to well, hire a lens - http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/index.asp
Well I just picked up a 17-70 sigma on the bay.... I figured that if I didn't get on with it, then I can probably sell without losing too much, and it might be the step up from the kit 18-55 that I need to scratch my itch...
If you haven't seen it.....
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-17-70mm-f-2.8-4-DC-Macro-OS-Lens-Review.aspx
If you don't like it....
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
🙂
I love my combo of Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 and the Canon 100mm F2 (pretty much the same as the 85mm, just slightly longer) on a crop camera. The 85mm is certainly not a walkabout lens though.
I did spot that review but thought I'd take a risk... I'll hopefully recover most of my money back if I sell it on, the Canon is likely to cost double the Sigma, even 2nd hand. I'm going to borrow a Canon 15-85 from a colleague, so I'll do a compare and contrast. To be honest, I think I'll get more out of my photos by improving my technique!
Cheers for the info though, it is all good reading