Upgrading camera body, need help with lenses

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

So I am going to be upgrading to a 5d from my xsi in a couple months...

I am going to have to replace my kit lens with something better and I'd like it to be faster (2.8 or so). I am also considering whether or not I should sell my Sigma telephoto lens since I very rarely use it...

Any suggestions on a good lens to replace the kit lens?

Thoughts on whether I should keep the Sigma or not?

IgsEMT · Jul 21, 2011

what are you shooting?
Sigma telephoto - be a bit specific.
Mama lens: 24-70 comes to mind, but your budget needs to be considered.

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

Ohh, woops! didn't know I didn't have my signature set up over here!

I'm shooting portraits mostly. I do some nature and other stuff in my free time for me...

Sigma lens I have is 70-300 f/3.5-5.6 APO DG Macro

I think I'm dreaming, but I'd like to keep it around $500 or so for the lens... I have a total budget of about $2000 (depending on how much work I get over the next 2 months) and the camera body itself is about $1300 used

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

And another $400 of the budget is going to a used 580ex II flash

And I know my numbers aren't adding up to $2,000, but like I said, my budget is only going to go up a little from there and it all depends on how much work I book over the next couple months.

ghache · Jul 21, 2011

for 500$ i would have a look at the tamron 17-50mm F2.8 non vc

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

I was looking at a tamron 17-50 f/2.8, but it said it wasn't compatible with sensors larger than 24x16mm and the 5d is a full frame sensor...

here's what I was looking at, maybe it's something different?

AF016C Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II LD Aspherical (IF) Standard Zoom Lens for Canon EOS, 6 Year USA Warranty

IgsEMT · Jul 21, 2011

Look into 3rd party lenses and primes.

ghache · Jul 21, 2011

JeffieLove said:
I was looking at a tamron 17-50 f/2.8, but it said it wasn't compatible with sensors larger than 24x16mm and the 5d is a full frame sensor...

here's what I was looking at, maybe it's something different?

AF016C Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II LD Aspherical (IF) Standard Zoom Lens for Canon EOS, 6 Year USA Warranty

oh my bad. i didnt notice you were buying a 5d...

too bad because it is agood lens ;p

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

Yeah, I saw sample photos on POTN and was IN LOVE!!!!

Then I read the description more thoroughly and bam! No lens for me!

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

Then there's this one which is compatible with full frame... but for some reason, I decided against this one... I don't remember why :/ help!!!!

lol

AF09C700 Tamron SP 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD-IF Autofocus Zoom Lens for Canon EOS - U.S.A. Warranty

Geaux · Jul 21, 2011

Business taking off? Haven't seen you here in a while, good luck on the new upgrade!

JeffieLove · Jul 21, 2011

Not really taking off, I've just officially gotten fed up with the lack of ISO performance with the XSi... I shot outdoors with natural light, reflectors, and fill flash as needed at ISO 400... Histogram said the pictures were "correct" and they were still COVERED in noise! (I put it like that because I've been told that noise is more prevalent when the photo is underexposed or something... so I figure photos that are properly exposed shouldn't really be all that noisy... Wrong!) That's not going to work for me when I DO start really making money (still a ways off I think though)...

gsgary · Jul 21, 2011

If you don't buy quality lenses you are waisting your money changing bodies, if you learn how to use flash you could keep your body and get studio lights if done right you would never know it was not natural

Geaux · Jul 21, 2011

Why were you shooting at iso400 outdoors in daylight? Especially with fill flash and reflectors. My camera rarely goes above 100-200 during the day outdoors.

so I figure photos that are properly exposed shouldn't really be all that noisy... Wrong!)

Very wrong lol. You could properly expose a shot with 64000 ISO and it be crap.

On a side note, have an example of the 400iso shot? A camera during the day shouldn't be littered with noise, even with 400iso.

IgsEMT · Jul 21, 2011

I'm not THAT familiar on Canon consumer bodies but if its younger then Nikon d70s Nikon D70 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (scroll down for time-line) you shouldn't have noise at iso 400. 500 and up was a nightmare for me but 400 was PERFECTLY acceptable.
One thing I learned a while ago - you get what you payed for. I used to use 18-200 (opposed to 28-105) for VERY long time and was contempt with results. Clients likes it (so I liked it), until I put out 2k and got 24-70 and now its the primary lens. Since I'm not shooting full frame, I use 17-55 for wider, 10-24 for ultrawide and 85 prime for headshots. I haven't used 28-105 in over 2 yrs, yet it was my PRIMARY lens on 35mm (& not even talking about med format).