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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Hi all,
I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.

I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...

Add a reply

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

or a cheaper EOS 85/1.8 USM maybe...

"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> Hi all,
> I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
> What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
> I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
>
> I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
>
>
>

Reply to Viktor

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

nice camera...

i have a 10d and also own the 50 f1.4

i love this lens for low light concert photography. i also own the 50
f1.8 but the f1.4 is so much better in my opinion. its worth the extra
$250 or so...

heres a recent shot i took with it
http://www.abellongoria.com/index.php?showimage=33

Abel.

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Viktor wrote:

> Hi all,
> I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
> What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
> I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
>
> I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...

The best value for the money of any Canon lens
for the 20D is the EF-S 18-55 kit lens. A Canon
18mm for around 100 bucks just can't be beat.
It's a decent lens too. It just isn't really fast.

The best value for your money in a 50mm lens
is the f/1.8 It's very sharp and very cheap.

The f/1.4 is a bit better optically, but a few
hundred dollars more. The extra cash also buys
a far more solid construction.

You don't say whether you have any other lenses,
but don't just go with a single 50mm lens.
You'll find it too limiting.

Get some zooms or other fixed focal length lenses.

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

A very good lens. Good place to start. Then you might want to read
this article:

http://bobatkins.photo.net/photogr [...] enses.html

and some of the reviews there.

Phil

Viktor wrote:

> or a cheaper EOS 85/1.8 USM maybe...
>
> "Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
> news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
>
>>Hi all,
>>I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
>>What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
>>I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
>>
>>I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

as money is tight I am looking to buy only 1 lens at present.
I will use it for protrais 99% of the time, so I guess the 50/1.4 is the one
to go for.

I also read that the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM is very good with the d20.

I'm a bit confuses with all this sensor size business in the eos 20d.
I know the EF-S 18-55 and 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM are designed
for the 20d in particular.

What is the down side of using a normal EF lens?

Thanks

"Jim Townsend" <not@real.address> wrote in message
news:10r8p72ljbl96ad@news.supernews.com...
> Viktor wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> > I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
> > What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
> > I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
> >
> > I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
>
> The best value for the money of any Canon lens
> for the 20D is the EF-S 18-55 kit lens. A Canon
> 18mm for around 100 bucks just can't be beat.
> It's a decent lens too. It just isn't really fast.
>
> The best value for your money in a 50mm lens
> is the f/1.8 It's very sharp and very cheap.
>
> The f/1.4 is a bit better optically, but a few
> hundred dollars more. The extra cash also buys
> a far more solid construction.
>
> You don't say whether you have any other lenses,
> but don't just go with a single 50mm lens.
> You'll find it too limiting.
>
> Get some zooms or other fixed focal length lenses.
>
>

Reply to Viktor

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Hi,

I also recently got a 20D. I got it as a kit with the EF-S 17-85mm lens and
I am very happy with it. The lens retails for about $600 I think. I love the
image stabilizer also (IS). The 17mm on the wide end is very useful because
of the 1.6x FOV crop with these Canons.

Thanks
Musty.

"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> Hi all,
> I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
> What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
> I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
>
> I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
>
>
>

Reply to musty

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Viktor wrote:

> as money is tight I am looking to buy only 1 lens at present.
> I will use it for protrais 99% of the time, so I guess the 50/1.4 is the one
> to go for.
>
> I also read that the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM is very good with the d20.
>
> I'm a bit confuses with all this sensor size business in the eos 20d.
> I know the EF-S 18-55 and 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM are designed
> for the 20d in particular.

Actually, not: They work with the 300D, too. Both 20D and 300D have the
EF-S/EF mount.

>
> What is the down side of using a normal EF lens?
>

Just size and weight. Good thing, too -- since only three EF-S
(smaller) lenses have been offered.

Phil

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

it's now between the :

EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
EF 100mm f/2.0 USM

choices chioces...
Help me choose please

"Musty" <musty@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:C0_sd.79058$g21.50284@fe1.texas.rr.com...
> Hi,
>
> I also recently got a 20D. I got it as a kit with the EF-S 17-85mm lens
and
> I am very happy with it. The lens retails for about $600 I think. I love
the
> image stabilizer also (IS). The 17mm on the wide end is very useful
because
> of the 1.6x FOV crop with these Canons.
>
> Thanks
> Musty.
>
> "Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
> news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> > Hi all,
> > I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
> > What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
> > I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
> >
> > I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Reply to Viktor

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <41b48c60$0$3101$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com>, Viktor
<pc-services@ukf.net> writes
>it's now between the :
>
>EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
>EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
>EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
>
>choices chioces...
>Help me choose please

Well, remembering that the 50mm will behave like an 80mm on a 20D, and a
100mm will feel like a 160mm, I would be concerned that I'd limited to
fairly ample shooting spaces with the 100mm, to get far enough away from
the subject.

It depends on what sort of portrait you will take, but, if shallow depth
of field is a creative tool you will want to use, the wider the lens the
better.

I am hovering between the 50 and 80 myself, but may go for the 50 for
the above reasons.
--
Alan F Cross

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Thanks for the advice Alan.
I guess I'd have a similar problem with the pricy but beautiful
70-200mm f2.8L USM lens.
Would a 24-70mm F2.8L USM be more suitable?
There's just so many to choose from, I find it all a bit confusing.
Thanks

"Alan F Cross" <alanx@proaxis.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:UW1PpWRZqJtBFwEp@proaxis.demon.co.uk...
> In message <41b48c60$0$3101$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com>, Viktor
> <pc-services@ukf.net> writes
> >it's now between the :
> >
> >EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
> >EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
> >EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
> >
> >choices chioces...
> >Help me choose please
>
> Well, remembering that the 50mm will behave like an 80mm on a 20D, and a
> 100mm will feel like a 160mm, I would be concerned that I'd limited to
> fairly ample shooting spaces with the 100mm, to get far enough away from
> the subject.
>
> It depends on what sort of portrait you will take, but, if shallow depth
> of field is a creative tool you will want to use, the wider the lens the
> better.
>
> I am hovering between the 50 and 80 myself, but may go for the 50 for
> the above reasons.
> --
> Alan F Cross

Reply to Viktor

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 6/12/04 4:44 pm, in article 41b48c60$0$3101$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com,
"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote:

> it's now between the :
>
> EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
> EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
> EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
>
> choices chioces...
> Help me choose please

None of the above.

A 50mm f/1.4 will only give you a slight advantage over the far cheaper 50mm
f/1.8 - though I would bite the bullet and go for a f/2.8 mid-range zoom.

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

yes one of these two would be nice :
EF 70-200mm F2.8 L USM
EF 24-70mm F2.8L USM
but they are both very expensive.

Out of interest, which one would you go for given the choice?
Thx

"teflon" <teflon@bluebottlefly.com> wrote in message
news:BDDA546A.C221%teflon@bluebottlefly.com...
> On 6/12/04 4:44 pm, in article
41b48c60$0$3101$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com,
> "Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote:
>
> > it's now between the :
> >
> > EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
> > EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
> > EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
> >
> > choices chioces...
> > Help me choose please
>
> None of the above.
>
> A 50mm f/1.4 will only give you a slight advantage over the far cheaper
50mm
> f/1.8 - though I would bite the bullet and go for a f/2.8 mid-range zoom.
>

Reply to Viktor

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
news:41b4a347$0$3101$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
SNIP
> There's just so many to choose from, I find it all a bit confusing.

Then don't rush into it, take it a step at a time.
The 50mm f/1.4 is a very fine lens, and it will also serve you well
when you upgrade in the future to a full frame sensor camera. It also
has nice bokeh and like all the f/2.8 or larger aperture lenses also
improve focussing accuracy. A small benefit is also that it takes the
same size filters as e.g. the 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, another must
have...

Bart

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 6/12/04 6:33 pm, in article 41b4a5f2$0$3123$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com,
"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote:

> yes one of these two would be nice :
> EF 70-200mm F2.8 L USM
> EF 24-70mm F2.8L USM
> but they are both very expensive.
>
> Out of interest, which one would you go for given the choice?
> Thx
>

The 24-70 would be the better choice for a single lens - if you really need
the speed.

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

My guess is 100mm may be a bit long with 1.6x crop factor.

But why not play with the 17-85 you have and see which of 50 mm and 85
mm gives you the best compostion for typical shots -- and then decide.

Phil

Viktor wrote:
> it's now between the :
>
> EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
> EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
> EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
>
> choices chioces...
> Help me choose please
>
> "Musty" <musty@nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:C0_sd.79058$g21.50284@fe1.texas.rr.com...
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I also recently got a 20D. I got it as a kit with the EF-S 17-85mm lens
>
> and
>
>>I am very happy with it. The lens retails for about $600 I think. I love
>
> the
>
>>image stabilizer also (IS). The 17mm on the wide end is very useful
>
> because
>
>>of the 1.6x FOV crop with these Canons.
>>
>>Thanks
>>Musty.
>>
>>"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
>>news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
>>
>>>Hi all,
>>>I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
>>>What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
>>>I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
>>>
>>>I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Phil Wheeler wrote:
> My guess is 100mm may be a bit long with 1.6x crop factor.
>
> But why not play with the 17-85 you have and see which of 50 mm and
85
> mm gives you the best compostion for typical shots -- and then
decide.
>
> Phil
>
> Viktor wrote:
> > it's now between the :
> >
> > EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
> > EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
> > EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
> >
> > choices chioces...
> > Help me choose please
> >
> > "Musty" <musty@nospam.net> wrote in message
> > news:C0_sd.79058$g21.50284@fe1.texas.rr.com...
> >
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>I also recently got a 20D. I got it as a kit with the EF-S 17-85mm
lens
> >
> > and
> >
> >>I am very happy with it. The lens retails for about $600 I think. I
love
> >
> > the
> >
> >>image stabilizer also (IS). The 17mm on the wide end is very useful
> >
> > because
> >
> >>of the 1.6x FOV crop with these Canons.
> >>
> >>Thanks
> >>Musty.
> >>
> >>"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
> >>news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> >>
> >>>Hi all,
> >>>I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
> >>>What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
> >>>I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
> >>>
> >>>I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >

Reply to arthurw

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"AbelLongoria.com" <alongoria@ssci-houston.com> wrote in message
news:1102340043.084699.35040@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> nice camera...
>
> i have a 10d and also own the 50 f1.4
>
> i love this lens for low light concert photography. i also own the 50
> f1.8 but the f1.4 is so much better in my opinion. its worth the extra
> $250 or so...
>
> heres a recent shot i took with it
> http://www.abellongoria.com/index.php?showimage=33
>
> Abel.

Abel, bato, this is an outstanding shot using available light. Good lens,
good camera body.

Clyde Torres

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
news:41b45dea$0$3137$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> or a cheaper EOS 85/1.8 USM maybe...

Yes; very highly regarded lens. I was at a trade show the other day,
though, and heard someone complaining that it was "too sharp for
portraits"...

(Myself, I can always *reduce* the sharpness if I want to; I want sharp
lenses!)

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Michael A. Covington wrote:

>> or a cheaper EOS 85/1.8 USM maybe...
>
>Yes; very highly regarded lens. I was at a trade show the other day,
>though, and heard someone complaining that it was "too sharp for
>portraits"...
>
>(Myself, I can always *reduce* the sharpness if I want to; I want sharp
>lenses!)

I agree. You can always take away from an image, but you can't really
add to it with the same level of integrity.

Reply to bill

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I am trying to work this out too.

Currently (came with the 18-55mm kit lens) and thinking of:

EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 100mm f/2.8 MACRO USM

Decided that 85mm is very close to 100mm so 135mm would be good but not sure
which of the two to go for.

"Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
news:41b48c60$0$3101$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
> it's now between the :
>
> EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
> EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
> EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
>
> choices chioces...
> Help me choose please
>
> "Musty" <musty@nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:C0_sd.79058$g21.50284@fe1.texas.rr.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I also recently got a 20D. I got it as a kit with the EF-S 17-85mm lens
> and
>> I am very happy with it. The lens retails for about $600 I think. I love
> the
>> image stabilizer also (IS). The 17mm on the wide end is very useful
> because
>> of the 1.6x FOV crop with these Canons.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Musty.
>>
>> "Viktor" <pc-services@ukf.net> wrote in message
>> news:41b45c69$0$3129$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...
>> > Hi all,
>> > I finally got myself a Canon 20D digital SLR.
>> > What would be the best value for money lens to suite it?
>> > I will mainly be using it to practise portraits.
>> >
>> > I was thinking of a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

By the way the 50mm/f1.8 and 28mm/f2.8 have better stopped down performance
than the 50mm/f1.4 and 28mm/f1.8 but the latter have USM AF actuators.

Is the USM very much better than the AFD on the slower lenses

"> Viktor wrote:
>> it's now between the :
>>
>> EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
>> EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
>> EF 100mm f/2.0 USM
>>
>> choices chioces...
>> Help me choose please
>>
>

Reply to Anonymous

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <41d19134$0$15199$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>,
"Lester Wareham" <nospam@please.co.uk> wrote:

>By the way the 50mm/f1.8 and 28mm/f2.8 have better stopped down performance
>than the 50mm/f1.4 and 28mm/f1.8 but the latter have USM AF actuators.

A similar compromise can be found when comparing to other brands. Sigma
makes a 50mm Macro that is optically better than the Canon 50mm lenses,
and Tamron's 90mm and 180mm Macros are much sharper than Canon's 100mm
and 180mm offerings, but none can hold a candle to Canon for quiet and
fast auto-focusing.

I own the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro Di, and it is by far the sharpest lens
in my collection, which includes a few 'L' lenses. It is as sharp as
the 20D sensor can deliver even with a 2x teleconverter, with 2-pixel
(3-inclusive) black/white transitions. I have no doubt that this lens
would justify a 100MP full-frame sensor.
--

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
John P Sheehy <JPS@no.komm>
><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>><

Reply to Anonymous

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