Looking to buy first L lens

vade · Apr 30, 2011

Hi I am getting back into photography and looking to buy my first L lens. The ones that I were looking at was the 24-70 and the 16-35 both 2.8. I use a old canon xti I was looking to upgrade but I wanted to get some nice glass first. I currently have the whack 17-55 kit lens the 50 1.8 and a the crappy 70-300 3.5-5.6. I don't get to shoot that many photos a year but doesn't mean I dont love to. I live in a big city (Chicago) and I like to do well street photography and other stuff like just walking around taking pictures. I would like yo get into nightlife photography but I don't really see that happening anytime soon. I would like to get your guys opinion on what I should get. Since it's a cropped sensor I'm not sure which to get first seeing that I would like to have both in the future. Thanks

GooniesNeverSayDie11 · Apr 30, 2011

If you can afford it, in my opinion, the most versatile "L" lens is the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. If you want a shorter focal length, I would go with a 16-35 f/2.8 or a 17-40L f/4 ( which would be the cheapest cost-wise )

vade · Apr 30, 2011

I was thinking that but I would like to shoot indoors and sometimes it gets crowded so 70-200 might be too long for my type of photography. But that is 1 of the next lens after I get my first L. And my camera isn't FF.

photocist · Apr 30, 2011

I think all l lenses are similar in quality. think about what you want to shoot, and get the lens that will fit that description until you can afford the other ones you want.

analog.universe · Apr 30, 2011

I would definitely do the 24-70 for street photography. Anything wider than like 24/28 and you won't wanna be shooting people with it unless you have to I think... For nightlife you'd probably have an easier time with a really fast prime (1.4 or 1.2) than one of those zooms, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible with a 2.8.

Even though your zoom isn't up to the quality you want, you can still use it to get an idea for which focal lengths you're going to spend most of your time on. Just go out for a few walks and try different stuff, and see if you're on the wide end or the long end more often...

Misfitlimp · Apr 30, 2011

To me honestly thats like putting a silk hat on a pig, But then again I did the same thing untill I upgraded my camera body. I love, absolutely love my 70-200 L glass it pretty much never comes off one of my bodys. I shoot portraits and all sorts of stuff with it. So I agree with the other poster when he says thats a great lens to have in the bag. On a crop body you will have some issues with that lens. One will be you will have to further from your subjects but if you shoot wide open it really tends to give you a compressed look in your shots that I love. The backgrounds look nice and creamy also. Another problem you might have with that lens is that when you put it on a body that small it throws the weight off, so you might consider buying a grip for that body to even it out. Thats what I would do. But in your case the 24-70L would probably be your best bet. Its a good lens to have and its wide enough for a crop body in my opinion. Buy the 2.8 so you arent trying to sell the F4 later on to get the 2.8 be carefull shooting portraits with this lens because you will get some distortion. Noses get bigger etc. etc. But do what I did after I posted a similar question on here some years back. READ READ READ up on what you are considering.

vade · Apr 30, 2011

Yes I do have the battery grip. I have a limited amount to spend that's why I didn't get a body upgrade. Thanks for all the advice maybe I'll rent these lenses first to see how they are.

KmH · May 1, 2011

Here is the easy way to get that L lens look:

832 | What The Duck

vade · May 4, 2011

But wouldn't the 17-35 2.8 be better since I got a crop camera?

Robin Usagani · May 4, 2011

If you are not planning to buy a lot of nice lenses I would consider 24-105mm f/4L IS. It is one stop slower but it has IS. You can probably buy it on CL for $850-950. It is a perfect all around lens.

vade · May 4, 2011

In was thinking that but I would love the 2.8

Ginu · May 4, 2011

I would second 24-70 2.8 however in order to find out what is the most used focal length I also suggest flipping through your photos to see whats the most used focal length and go with a lens which fits that focal length.

If you shoot wide then go wide if you shoot 35-50mm range then go with the 24-70. In my opinion the 24-70 would have more use then I would go 70-200

then ultra wide

Village Idiot · May 4, 2011

24 is really long on an APS-C sensor. Check out the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS if you're not planning on going full frame in the super near future. Even then, you can sell it for about what you pay for it, especially if you buy used.