What lens to get ?
 

I will soon be getting a Canon 400D DSLR i think, but i am a little unsure which lens to get, i am thinking of the 24-105 F4 IS as it is a nice range and i can use it on holidays etc as a walkaround lens. I don't really want to go down the 70-200 road if i can help it.

Any pointers would be welcome.

I don't like the 400, I prefer the twin screen 350.
A mate at work has a 400, it's big screen seems a bit gimpy, it would be an advantage if your vision is not too good as the characters on the display are MASSIVE.

Thanks for the info, but its really what lens to get, i have had plenty of Canon dslr bodies before, i am just wondering if i will be able to cover must things at 105mm

The EFS 17-85 may be more suitable. For general stuff I just use the cheapo 18-55, which is good, but if cash was no option it would be the 17-85 for the spoon stuff.

With the small sensor size you really need to get down to 17 or 18 to get wide angle stuff.

If you want a go with a 70-200L just come and see me or Jimmy, I have a little one and Jimmy has a big one.

I use to do motor racing photography semi pro, so had the 300mm f2.8 and the 70-200 f2.8 IS but you need these as you were a long way fom the action, with buggy racing you can get a lot closer so do you find you can fill the frame with the 17-85 ?

I don't mind spending the money on some decent glass, just want to spend it wisely lol, but i just want one lens which i can cover most stuff with.

I have used the 17-85 for two years on my 20D, as a one lens travel setup and it has served me well. As Stu says you may miss the wide angle with 24 and a crop sensor, I know I would.

The 24-105 will hold its value well. Would work well on a 5D !

the 24-105 F4L is a spectacular lens - one of the bets Canon have made in a long time. its idea for RC and general walk about photography. the 17-85 is too short for most tracks with more and more of them limiting your ability to get close to the action for safety reasons.

Neil.

Why are all these lenses so spenny :( Would love a nice mid range zoom but canny afford / justify it really. I am using my 50mm 1.8 cheapo lens a lot more recently, have to almost rub the camera on the cars though.

Jimmy when i get a lens i will let you borrow it :D but it is looking like the 24-105 at the moment.

just been looking at it, does look nice.

And its a 'L' lens plus the IS which i have always found to be good, and i could shoot 2 to 3 stops lower with it.

Will the range of that lense be enough for R/C stuff, even with the crop-factor of the small sensor?
I would have thought that it would be too narrow for 'walk-about' stuff, but not enough for 10th cars? You really would have to get on ya belly trackside (not that we haven't been doing that anyway).

It would be an ace 'walk-about' lense on a 5d or 1d, if you were inclined to go 'walk-about' with one of them.

I've found I need 'walkabout lens 18-55' & 'action shot lens 70-200', 50mm is always a compromise.

I am not 100% sure, looking on the exif data what are most people shooting at? , or do people just crop there images ? I don't really need anything wide to be honest.

Not sure what length, all I can say is between 70 & 200.
When light is good Jimmy will use the 1.4x extender on the 1d to get a bit more reach, makes it like useing an F4 lense on the small sensor.

I used the 50mm on the 1d a bit, and its a decent walk around lens, gets fantastic shots but it is quite a narrow field of view - still, you just have to compose your shots in a different way I guess. indoors its not really very good since you can't control where you can be (cant get far enough away to fit things in the view)

If I were taking a camera on holiday, I would take my Nikon with the 18-70 lens as it does it all. When I go out, sometimes I will just take the nikon with the fisheye though, its fast (F2.8) and gets EVERYTHING in the shot - plus its a mad lens, which is funny.
Nikon make a 18-200 VR which is supposed to be very good, but I don't think there is a canon lens like that.

Tamaron do one, but is about F5million at 200mm.

I think what ever i get it will be lacking in some area, i just don't want a bag full of lens again, just one to cover most options hopefully :)

I used to use just the 18-70 for action shots, ok, I had to get close but it wasn't overly bad. I beleive Neil (@domino) only has the 24-105 for his camera and he gets some good shots.

The best lens I ever used was the 35-350, it was magic.

I second the 35-350, super lens for the range, much better than any of those 28-200 or 28-300 that tamron/sigma came up with. Only thing is it aint cheap..

I think what i am going to do is get the 400D with the kit lens, i only save £30 if i just have the body so i might as well have the lens, which will give me something wide if needed, then get the 24-105.