if there could be only one... at DVinfo.net

Dylan Couper · October 16th, 2003, 12:24 AM

If you could only have one lens, which would it be?
Say you were going on vacation to a small out of the way part of the world, where you couldn't rent any lenses, and you only had room to bring the lens attached to the camera body, which would you pick as the best all around piece of glass to have?

Zac Stein · October 16th, 2003, 12:35 AM

A 50mm prime lens, it is almost the only lens i ever use. They are small, cheap, very fast and sharp.

I picked up a canon eos mk1 50mm f1.8 for $110 AUD, which is around $70 USD and i love it.

Zac

Jeff Donald · October 16th, 2003, 06:26 AM

Zac's suggestion of a 50mm (EFL 80mm on 10D) is a good one. However, if you want a little more versatility consider a modest zoom lens. The 28-135mm IS lens is nice. Canon used to make a 22-55mm lens that should be available on ebay for modest prices. It's performance was modest, but would work to get you started.

Imran Zaidi · October 16th, 2003, 07:28 AM

A huge part of the decision depends on what type of photography you like to do, and what type of photographer you are.

Wide angles are great for landscapes, or getting very cool and edgy closeup shots. Urban landscapes almost always require a wideangle to capture anything recognizable. But then if you're a shy photographer, a good zoom lens can be your best friend. Zoom lenses are also pretty much required if you want to capture animals in their natural habitat.

If you like to do a little bit of everything, then you've gotta shell out for a good, clear lens of varying zoom levels. But in reality, it's not that big of a deal to just have two lenses. For really fast, lightweight photography I have a compact hip bag for my camera that has two holsters attached. I can stick my SLR in the middle compartment with one wide lens attached, I can stick my trusty Tamron 75-300 zoom in one side holster, and some film and misc. stuff in the other holster. I have to do this because I don't have one style of photography I like. I'm sort of all over the place, always trying different things. For me, having the flexibility is a must.

Adrian Douglas · October 16th, 2003, 09:34 AM

Dylan,

Although I love my 50/1.4 if I was limited to only one lens and a budget I'd go for either the 28-135 that Jeff mentioned or the 28-200 for a little extra reach. The 28-135 would be first cab off the rank as it sports IS and your feet can get you to 200. However, the extra reach of the 28-200 means your lens can reach places your feet can't. The bottom line, especially if buying used is the best price, best condition as either lens will do you well.

If you want a serious lens and have a little extra cash to play with then have a look for a 35-350L. It's big, heavy and expensive but second hand versions can be had for a reasonable cost. It's a great lens and it is also a great match for your XL if you want to shoot wildlife.

John Locke · October 16th, 2003, 09:53 AM

I went back to Bic today for one last prepurchase look...and I checked out the 35-350 you mentioned. Amazing range on that lens...but it sho is heavy.

Matt Betea · October 16th, 2003, 02:00 PM

28mm AI-S 2.0

Kirk Messner · October 16th, 2003, 05:03 PM

The 28-135 is a nice all around lens. It was the first one I bought, but I just got the 70-200 f2.8L last week, and it's quickly becoming my favorite :)

Kirk

Steve Nunez · October 16th, 2003, 06:00 PM

Sigma 50-500 $890 and a great performer- 2000 Lens of the Year winner at Pop Photography Mag

Dylan Couper · October 16th, 2003, 09:32 PM

Some interesting choices for sure!

How is Sigma as a lens manufacturer. I looked at that 50-500mm, is it decent quality?

Adrian Douglas · October 17th, 2003, 12:13 AM

Personally I like to stick with the camera manufacturers lenses as not all functions are supported with 3rd party lenses. On the EOS1n/v,3, and 5 and I imagine the 1D/Ds you can temporally disable autofocus by pressing a button on the body. This can only be done with USM lenses and not with 3rd party lenses.

However, if I was going to use a 3rd party lens then Sigma would be my choice. I've used some of their lenses on a number of occasions and found them to be 80-90% of the same Canon lens.

Jeff Donald · October 17th, 2003, 06:48 AM

I guess I sort of misread this thread. The deserted island thing and all. If I could only have one lens (do they have birds on this island?) it would be the Canon 300mm F2.8 or 600mm F4. If there are no birds a good wide angle zoom like the 16-35mm.

Dylan Couper · October 18th, 2003, 03:21 PM

I'm looking at buying a 50mm lens, partialy based on Zac's feedback (for starters, then I'll save for the 28-135mm IS). Anyway, I'll soon have a Digital Rebel, and selling my film SLR, should I skip the 50mm and just get a 35mm, which would translate into 56mm in the D-SLR?

I was looking at

this 50mm lens on Ebay. If I should bother with it at all, what's a good price? On the D-SLR it will become an 80mm, but that may be good for portraits, as has been previously mentioned here.

Jeff Donald · October 18th, 2003, 03:28 PM

Try and find a clean Mk I lens rather than the Mk II. Better build quality, optical quality would be about the same. The 35mm F2 is an OK lens. But more money. I'd go with the 50mm. The 80mm length is good for portraiture.

Steven Digges · October 21st, 2003, 10:51 PM

The Canon 35-350mm F3.5/5.6 L mentioned above is the 1 lens to have. Yes it is big, heavy and slow. It is also incredibly versatile. Canon makes this super zoom, as some people call them, with the same quality as their other L series lenses. If you buy an after market lens you know you are sacrificing quality for price. If you buy an after market super zoom the lens quality goes down again. My 35-350 is a workhorse.

Steve

October 16th, 2003, 12:24 AM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	if there could be only one... If you could only have one lens, which would it be? Say you were going on vacation to a small out of the way part of the world, where you couldn't rent any lenses, and you only had room to bring the lens attached to the camera body, which would you pick as the best all around piece of glass to have? __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 16th, 2003, 06:26 AM	#3
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Zac's suggestion of a 50mm (EFL 80mm on 10D) is a good one. However, if you want a little more versatility consider a modest zoom lens. The 28-135mm IS lens is nice. Canon used to make a 22-55mm lens that should be available on ebay for modest prices. It's performance was modest, but would work to get you started. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 16th, 2003, 09:34 AM	#5
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Dylan, Although I love my 50/1.4 if I was limited to only one lens and a budget I'd go for either the 28-135 that Jeff mentioned or the 28-200 for a little extra reach. The 28-135 would be first cab off the rank as it sports IS and your feet can get you to 200. However, the extra reach of the 28-200 means your lens can reach places your feet can't. The bottom line, especially if buying used is the best price, best condition as either lens will do you well. If you want a serious lens and have a little extra cash to play with then have a look for a 35-350L. It's big, heavy and expensive but second hand versions can be had for a reasonable cost. It's a great lens and it is also a great match for your XL if you want to shoot wildlife. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

October 16th, 2003, 09:53 AM	#6
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	I went back to Bic today for one last prepurchase look...and I checked out the 35-350 you mentioned. Amazing range on that lens...but it sho is heavy. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

October 16th, 2003, 06:00 PM	#9
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	Sigma 50-500 $890 and a great performer- 2000 Lens of the Year winner at Pop Photography Mag __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

October 16th, 2003, 12:35 AM	#2
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	A 50mm prime lens, it is almost the only lens i ever use. They are small, cheap, very fast and sharp. I picked up a canon eos mk1 50mm f1.8 for $110 AUD, which is around $70 USD and i love it. Zac

October 16th, 2003, 07:28 AM	#4
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	A huge part of the decision depends on what type of photography you like to do, and what type of photographer you are. Wide angles are great for landscapes, or getting very cool and edgy closeup shots. Urban landscapes almost always require a wideangle to capture anything recognizable. But then if you're a shy photographer, a good zoom lens can be your best friend. Zoom lenses are also pretty much required if you want to capture animals in their natural habitat. If you like to do a little bit of everything, then you've gotta shell out for a good, clear lens of varying zoom levels. But in reality, it's not that big of a deal to just have two lenses. For really fast, lightweight photography I have a compact hip bag for my camera that has two holsters attached. I can stick my SLR in the middle compartment with one wide lens attached, I can stick my trusty Tamron 75-300 zoom in one side holster, and some film and misc. stuff in the other holster. I have to do this because I don't have one style of photography I like. I'm sort of all over the place, always trying different things. For me, having the flexibility is a must.

October 16th, 2003, 02:00 PM	#7
Matt Betea Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: detroit, mi Posts: 187	28mm AI-S 2.0

October 16th, 2003, 05:03 PM	#8
Kirk Messner Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fowlerville, MI Posts: 51	The 28-135 is a nice all around lens. It was the first one I bought, but I just got the 70-200 f2.8L last week, and it's quickly becoming my favorite :) Kirk

October 16th, 2003, 09:32 PM	#10
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Some interesting choices for sure! How is Sigma as a lens manufacturer. I looked at that 50-500mm, is it decent quality? __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 17th, 2003, 12:13 AM	#11
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Personally I like to stick with the camera manufacturers lenses as not all functions are supported with 3rd party lenses. On the EOS1n/v,3, and 5 and I imagine the 1D/Ds you can temporally disable autofocus by pressing a button on the body. This can only be done with USM lenses and not with 3rd party lenses. However, if I was going to use a 3rd party lens then Sigma would be my choice. I've used some of their lenses on a number of occasions and found them to be 80-90% of the same Canon lens. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

October 17th, 2003, 06:48 AM	#12
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I guess I sort of misread this thread. The deserted island thing and all. If I could only have one lens (do they have birds on this island?) it would be the Canon 300mm F2.8 or 600mm F4. If there are no birds a good wide angle zoom like the 16-35mm. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 18th, 2003, 03:21 PM	#13
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I'm looking at buying a 50mm lens, partialy based on Zac's feedback (for starters, then I'll save for the 28-135mm IS). Anyway, I'll soon have a Digital Rebel, and selling my film SLR, should I skip the 50mm and just get a 35mm, which would translate into 56mm in the D-SLR? I was looking at this 50mm lens on Ebay. If I should bother with it at all, what's a good price? On the D-SLR it will become an 80mm, but that may be good for portraits, as has been previously mentioned here. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

October 18th, 2003, 03:28 PM	#14
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Try and find a clean Mk I lens rather than the Mk II. Better build quality, optical quality would be about the same. The 35mm F2 is an OK lens. But more money. I'd go with the 50mm. The 80mm length is good for portraiture. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 21st, 2003, 10:51 PM	#15
Steven Digges Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,828	The Canon 35-350mm F3.5/5.6 L mentioned above is the 1 lens to have. Yes it is big, heavy and slow. It is also incredibly versatile. Canon makes this super zoom, as some people call them, with the same quality as their other L series lenses. If you buy an after market lens you know you are sacrificing quality for price. If you buy an after market super zoom the lens quality goes down again. My 35-350 is a workhorse. Steve __________________ www.CorporateShow.com Been at this so long I'm rounding my years of experience down...not up!