Canon upgrade questions

[EJT86]

Question for the experienced guys. I'm planning to get a 5D3 kit with the 24-70 f/4 and pick up a 50mm 1.8 money is a big issue and I'm fully stretching the budget for this. Does this sound like the best use of the money or are there any other equally priced lens suggestions not planning to shoot sports or birds

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by EJT86

Question for the experienced guys. I'm planning to get a 5D3 kit with the 24-70 f/4 and pick up a 50mm 1.8 money is a big issue and I'm fully stretching the budget for this. Does this sound like the best use of the money or are there any other equally priced lens suggestions not planning to shoot sports or birds

I'd go with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. Compare at f/8 on a 5DS R at 24mm, 70mm and 105mm. IQ is the same, you save a few bucks and you have 71-105mm.

See real world comparison here:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=0&APIComp=3

With either of theses lenses (and any zoom, for that matter), shoot in Raw and use digital lens optimization to correct for geometric distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, etc., automatically, at every focal length and every aperture.

Either lens will blow you away, but I see no reason to give up 71-105mm in what will be your walk-around lens.

Also, why do you want the 50mm??? Unless you do some sort of specialty shooting, it'll provide almost nothing that the 24-105mm can't do as well. Back when I shot Fujichrome and zooms were shitty, then a 50mm f/1.2 to f/1.8 made some sense, but there's little reason to use one today. I've got a 40mm pancake in my bag and never use it.

Save money on the 24-105mm and ditch the 50mm and you'll have the money that you need for a fast 32G CF card.

Here's a few of my 24-105mm shots, almost none taken at 50mm:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_...5mm&view_all=1

Start saving for a EF 70-200mm f/4L IS.

Dave

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by breezy25

...
In this case, if budget is a super tight squeeze and you're still wanting a FF body, then I'd recommend looking further at the 6D (or the cropped 7D2) and still building a lens collection before even looking at the 5DS line or the 5D4 because either of these cameras are going to require lenses far sharper than your 70-200mm 4.0L (I currently am getting rid of my 70-200mm 4.0L for this very reason on my 5DS-R).

...

With all due respect, WTF are you talking about, my friend? The EF 70-200mm f/4L (IS and non-IS) has stunning IQ. Below is a shot from my 5DsR with the 70-200mm and the 1.4x TC-III, hand held. Looking at a pixel-level, I see no IQ issues.

My M3, in its eighth year! by David Stephens, on Flickr

Everyone should realize that the pixel-density of the 5DS and 5DS R is the same as the 7D MkII and in the ballpark with most of Canon's recent vintage crop-sensor bodies. Your old EF L-series lenses are NOT suddenly obsolete.

Since you own a 5DS R and a 70-200/f4, maybe you could show us an example of what's wrong with this lens/body combination.

Seriously, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Dave

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I'd go with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. Compare at f/8 on a 5DS R at 24mm, 70mm and 105mm. IQ is the same, you save a few bucks and you have 71-105mm.

See real world comparison here:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=0&APIComp=3

With either of theses lenses (and any zoom, for that matter), shoot in Raw and use digital lens optimization to correct for geometric distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, etc., automatically, at every focal length and every aperture.

Either lens will blow you away, but I see no reason to give up 71-105mm in what will be your walk-around lens.

Also, why do you want the 50mm??? Unless you do some sort of specialty shooting, it'll provide almost nothing that the 24-105mm can't do as well. Back when I shot Fujichrome and zooms were shitty, then a 50mm f/1.2 to f/1.8 made some sense, but there's little reason to use one today. I've got a 40mm pancake in my bag and never use it.

Save money on the 24-105mm and ditch the 50mm and you'll have the money that you need for a fast 32G CF card.

Here's a few of my 24-105mm shots, almost none taken at 50mm:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_...5mm&view_all=1

Start saving for a EF 70-200mm f/4L IS.

Dave

I figured I'd go with the 24-70 over the 24-105 because the 24-70 has 9 blades vs 8 blades and 4 stop IS vs 3 stop IS plus a little smaller and lighter will the differences be hard to notice between the two? Also the 50mm I would get for portraits and lower lighting shots the 50mm f/1.8 is only a couple hundred bucks. I'm set with everything else tho aside from a good strap. Got a Lexar 32gb 1066x for $38 last week on BH. Nice shots on your Flickr btw

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by EJT86

I figured I'd go with the 24-70 over the 24-105 because the 24-70 has 9 blades vs 8 blades and 4 stop IS vs 3 stop IS plus a little smaller and lighter will the differences be hard to notice between the two? Also the 50mm I would get for portraits and lower lighting shots the 50mm f/1.8 is only a couple hundred bucks. I'm set with everything else tho aside from a good strap. Got a Lexar 32gb 1066x for $38 last week on BH. Nice shots on your Flickr btw

The improved IS is the best reason to go with the 24-70mm; otherwise, it'll be hard to tell them apart in IQ. (Believe me, when the Series II 24-105mm comes out, I'll be all over it, mostly for the expected improved IS).

What's missing is a 70-200mm f/4L IS. To me, a 70-200mm is essential to a "complete" kit. Buy used, if you must. If you feel a need to salt with primes, do it after the kit is "complete."

The 50mm is not really an ideal focal length for portraits on a full-frame body. You'll want something longer, like in the 80-105mm range. Really. 70mm will also be superior. Also, the low-light performance of the 5D3 almost negates the advantage of the larger aperture, particularly if the 50mm doesn't have IS. (I don't know off hand). IS is really huge for night, street shooting. I use my 70-200mm for most portraits.

That Lexar card is great. I use those.

My kit is built around the 24-105mm and 70-200mm zooms. I've got the excellent EF 14mm f/2.8L II, thanks Alex, for the ultra-wide end and the 500mm for the super tele lens (most people have no need for a super-tele. If you stay serious, then I think that ultra-wide zooms or prime comes next after the 70-200mm. However, the ultra-wide and ultra-long don't make sense for everyone. You have to know how to use them and have a reason to spend all that money.

You can't go too far wrong with anything that you're considering. We're into nit picking territory.

Dave

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The improved IS is the best reason to go with the 24-70mm; otherwise, it'll be hard to tell them apart in IQ. (Believe me, when the Series II 24-105mm comes out, I'll be all over it, mostly for the expected improved IS).

What's missing is a 70-200mm f/4L IS. To me, a 70-200mm is essential to a "complete" kit. Buy used, if you must. If you feel a need to salt with primes, do it after the kit is "complete."

The 50mm is not really an ideal focal length for portraits on a full-frame body. You'll want something longer, like in the 80-105mm range. Really. 70mm will also be superior. Also, the low-light performance of the 5D3 almost negates the advantage of the larger aperture, particularly if the 50mm doesn't have IS. (I don't know off hand). IS is really huge for night, street shooting. I use my 70-200mm for most portraits.

That Lexar card is great. I use those.

My kit is built around the 24-105mm and 70-200mm zooms. I've got the excellent EF 14mm f/2.8L II, thanks Alex, for the ultra-wide end and the 500mm for the super tele lens (most people have no need for a super-tele. If you stay serious, then I think that ultra-wide zooms or prime comes next after the 70-200mm. However, the ultra-wide and ultra-long don't make sense for everyone. You have to know how to use them and have a reason to spend all that money.

You can't go too far wrong with anything that you're considering. We're into nit picking territory.

Dave

Yea I guess the nitpicking is what I was asking for. I'm sure it's hard to go wrong with L series lenses just curious if I was maximizing my return for the money I'd be spending. Down the line id love an ultra wide I was looking at the 16-35 2.8 and the 17-40 for the future. No the 50 doesn't have IS I figured it would have some usefulness plus used on Adorama is $125 so figured it would be worth trying sample pics I'd seen seemed to have a decently soft background. Do you bother using the SD card also? I know it's only as fast as the slowest card but doesn't seem super necessary if you have backup drives. Other than BH and Adorama are there any other good online places to shop without the risk of getting screwed with grey market stuff?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by EJT86

Yea I guess the nitpicking is what I was asking for. I'm sure it's hard to go wrong with L series lenses just curious if I was maximizing my return for the money I'd be spending. Down the line id love an ultra wide I was looking at the 16-35 2.8 and the 17-40 for the future. No the 50 doesn't have IS I figured it would have some usefulness plus used on Adorama is $125 so figured it would be worth trying sample pics I'd seen seemed to have a decently soft background. Do you bother using the SD card also? I know it's only as fast as the slowest card but doesn't seem super necessary if you have backup drives. Other than BH and Adorama are there any other good online places to shop without the risk of getting screwed with grey market stuff?

The investment in the 50mm is small, but, if you really want some bokeh in a prime, portrait lens for full-frame, then an 85/f1.8 would be a better choice. It cost a bit more, but it's really more flattering for portrait and will throw nice bokeh. Some time down the road you can move up to the 85mm L.

I only use one card at a time and actually now use the Lexar 2000x 300/MBsec SD as my primary card and keep the Lexar CF as backups. I've gone to 64GB, mainly due to the 80MB files of the 5DsR. The practical speed of the 2000x is not really significantly faster. I can't really detect it, so I think that the processor is at its limit with either card.

I don't know of any better sources. I used to shop at Camera Canada, with excellent results, saving around 25% over BH, etc., but Canon raised prices in Canada to get rid of the exchange rate advantage. They really screwed our Canadian friends in order to keep their US dealers happy. I may continue to shop CC, just because they offer great service, but so do BH and Adorama, etc.

Dave

[P1]

I have the 50mm f/1.8 and on my 5D Mark III it was fine, until I bought the f/1.2L and I was blown away. Insane difference between the two.

[grazamataz]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The investment in the 50mm is small, but, if you really want some bokeh in a prime, portrait lens for full-frame, then an 85/f1.8 would be a better choice. It cost a bit more, but it's really more flattering for portrait and will throw nice bokeh. Some time down the road you can move up to the 85mm L.

Dave

I'll second this. I have the 50 f/1.8 STM and the 85 f/1.8...barely use the 50 at all. The 85 is almost L good (though I haven't shot the 85 f/1.2L so I can't compare that), and the focus catches almost instantly, even in low light. I used it almost exclusively on a wedding I shot in May. I also have a 35 f/1.4L I that I use for anything wide.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by grazamataz

I'll second this. I have the 50 f/1.8 STM and the 85 f/1.8...barely use the 50 at all. The 85 is almost L good (though I haven't shot the 85 f/1.2L so I can't compare that), and the focus catches almost instantly, even in low light. I used it almost exclusively on a wedding I shot in May. I also have a 35 f/1.4L I that I use for anything wide.

I have both the 35 f/1.4 and the 85 f/1.8 and it's a great combo. I couldn't justify the price difference for the 85 f/1.2L since I am not a professional, but I have been very happy with the 1.8. At that price, at least for me, it was a steal.

[Daftasabrush]

As an update, I've just caved and bought a 5D mk4, looking forward to delivery now, my first full frame camera.

[san~man]

Can't go wrong with that choice!