Purchasing 60D Body, what lens to get?

pacificnorthwest · Apr 1, 2013

So after a long debate with myself i've decided the 60d would be the best camera for me to get right now. I'm purchasing just the body and then am possibly going to get a glidecam. I obviously need a lens so i'm wondering if you guys could give me some suggestions. I'm going to be shooting mostly urban and nature. I want to do some night shooting so I need a lens that is good with low lighting. I also like wide angle lenses. I basically just need a good all around lens to start out with that is good with what I said (nature, urban, low lighting) and also would be good for filming nature. I'm interested in these right now.

Tokina 11-16 f2.8 - Amazon.com: Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX Digital Zoom Lens (for Canon EOS Cameras): TOKINA: Electronics)

Canon 17-40 f/4l - Amazon.com: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: CANON: Camera & Photo

Canon 50mm 1.4 - Amazon.com: Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: CANON: Electronics

I'm open to any other lenses though. I'm just looking for a somewhat versatile lens that will fit my needs. My price range is around $250-$850

Thanks everyone

pacificnorthwest · Apr 2, 2013

David444 said:
I recommend the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 instead of the EF 17-40

That one would be really nice but it's a little out of my price range. Possibly used. I'll look into that, thanks for the suggestion

bratkinson · Apr 2, 2013

As an 'all around' great lens in your price range, I'm thinking the EF 24-105 f4L IS for several reasons:
1. It's an L lens. Better IQ, better 'build'.
2. At 24-105, it's got a good zoom 'range'. OK, on a 60D, it has an angle of view of a theoretical '38-168' zoom, but as I normally don't shoot 'wide', it wasn't a problem on my 60D.
3. As advertised by Canon, the IS is a couple of stops worth of hand held stability.
4. Should you ever decide to go 'full frame', the lens will work perfectly on the new camera. EF-S lenses can't be mounted on a FF camera.

On the downside..
1. f4 might be a bit slow for indoor work, and thus need an external flash. I found I could do handheld, no flash, indoors with the 24-105 at 1/60th f4-f5.6, with ISO 1600. At those speeds, subject movement eliminated roughly 50-60% of the shots from being perfectly sharp, but I still had more than enough keepers.
2. Trying to 'fit in' 8 adults shoulder-to-shoulder in a cramped space indoors where I could only be 12 feet away was impossible. The lens wasn't wide enough. So I simply had 1/2 of them sit in a chair.

I found the 24-105 a good all around fit when I had a 60D. I was able to shoot nearly everything with that lens, as the times I needed flash or 'wider' was probably less than 10%. On both the 60D and the 5D3, the 24-105 was/is the lens of choice, mounted perhaps 85-90% o the time.

Plan B would be the EF 50mm f1.4. A good, fast, sharp lens at a great price. The woman that bought my 60D when I upgraded to a 5D3 bought that lens for it and is overjoyed with the results.

Pukka312 · Apr 2, 2013

David444 said:
I recommend the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 instead of the EF 17-40

I second that suggestion if you can snag a deal on it. It's my go-to lens on my 60D. When I upgrade to the Mark, I'm keeping my 60D as a backup where this lens can permanently stay.

ducatiman1967 · Apr 2, 2013

I had a 7D and traded up to a 5DIIi but missed the crop factor. So when a too good to pass up deal on a 60D body came up I jumped on it.
A few things I like over the 7D is the higher res swing out screen plus as my wife does videos we were able to install Magic Lantern.
We have the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 and the Canon 50 f1.4 and both are awesome low light lenses and work well with the 60D.

pacificnorthwest · Apr 2, 2013

bratkinson said:
As an 'all around' great lens in your price range, I'm thinking the EF 24-105 f4L IS for several reasons:
1. It's an L lens. Better IQ, better 'build'.
2. At 24-105, it's got a good zoom 'range'. OK, on a 60D, it has an angle of view of a theoretical '38-168' zoom, but as I normally don't shoot 'wide', it wasn't a problem on my 60D.
3. As advertised by Canon, the IS is a couple of stops worth of hand held stability.
4. Should you ever decide to go 'full frame', the lens will work perfectly on the new camera. EF-S lenses can't be mounted on a FF camera.

On the downside..
1. f4 might be a bit slow for indoor work, and thus need an external flash. I found I could do handheld, no flash, indoors with the 24-105 at 1/60th f4-f5.6, with ISO 1600. At those speeds, subject movement eliminated roughly 50-60% of the shots from being perfectly sharp, but I still had more than enough keepers.
2. Trying to 'fit in' 8 adults shoulder-to-shoulder in a cramped space indoors where I could only be 12 feet away was impossible. The lens wasn't wide enough. So I simply had 1/2 of them sit in a chair.

I found the 24-105 a good all around fit when I had a 60D. I was able to shoot nearly everything with that lens, as the times I needed flash or 'wider' was probably less than 10%. On both the 60D and the 5D3, the 24-105 was/is the lens of choice, mounted perhaps 85-90% o the time.

Plan B would be the EF 50mm f1.4. A good, fast, sharp lens at a great price. The woman that bought my 60D when I upgraded to a 5D3 bought that lens for it and is overjoyed with the results.

Just researched that lens a bit and it looks really nice. Definitely considering that one. And if not as my first lens, definitely as my second. Thank you for the insight

I'll definitely take what you said into consideration.

pacificnorthwest · Apr 2, 2013

What do you guys think about the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5?

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM Autofocus Zoom Lens 202101 B&H

It looks like a really nice lens. I just worry that i'll be limited to these wide angle shots and won't get the versatility that a 24-105 f4l would give me that was just suggested. Although I feel like i'm mostly going to be shooting wide angle I still want other options. Guess I just have to decide which one I want more and get the other one next time. Maybe I could possibly purchase the 24-105 f4l and also the cheaper 50mm 1.8 instead of the 1.4 and stay within my budget. Decisions, decisions. Thanks everyone for their replies so far. Much appreciated :cheer: