I'm one of those neophytes that need help from you pros.  I have a Canon digital Rebel that is several years old and 3 Tokina "Pro"f 2.8 lenses---16-35mm, 28-70mm, 70-200mm.  I'm looking to upgrade to the Canon L lenses and would like to know what would be recommended for routine action shots (school sports in a gym) and general photography.  I hope to eventually get the Canon 5D.....right now will go with the lens upgrades. Rick S--if you're listening----I got your Complete Guide to Digital Photography book and it is awesome!!  What Canon Ls would you recommend? Thanks, Rick Hunter

an EOS 5D would be way cheaper than replacing that line up with Canon equivalents; to get the ƒ2.8 you would need to buy L series lenses.

Thanks for the reply-- I would think waiting until the 5D comes down in price some and upgrading lenses now would be the way to go (especially with the rebate going on).  I just wonder what would be the 2, 3, or 4 Canon L lenses someone would carry for general photography.  My son is a freshman in high school on the wrestling team, soon, I understand, no flashes will be allowed.  Hard to get an action shot that way!  Rick

FYI.....

I can't remember which camera only accepts L glass...either the 5D or the Mark IIN.  Maybe both.  Just check it out before you buy.

stephie

I don't know of any that will only accept L glass however the full frame camers will NOT accept the -S lenses. They will work on the small sensor bodies only.

Thanks,  What 3 lens lengths would you recommend for general purposes including sports?  Rick

 

Not a sports photographer so I can't help with the lengths. What I can advise is to get only Canon glass. While third-party lenses are sharp, you'll never get a compatibility problem with a Canon lens. I've seen a new-out-of-the-box Tamron lens give a Canon 20D a "ERR". We put a Canon lens on the same body and viola! no problem. I believe Canon withholds some information it supplies to vendors so that the Canon brand will never have issues. This makes third-party lens and flash manufacturers pay catch-up. I had this happen with a Metz flash - a 5-year old Canon flash worked with a new camera model but a new Metz did not. Clearly there's some sort of electronic signal that Canon knows about that it doesn't tell others (it's their right to do that, by the way). Metz did, in about 9 months, come out with a new update that fixed the problem but clearly Canon didn't reveal everything.

Any EOS camera will mount any EF lens, L series included. EF-s lenses will only mount on the 20D, 30D, and the Digital Rebel cameras.

 

Rick Hunter:

I'm one of those neophytes that need help from you pros.  I have a Canon digital Rebel that is several years old and 3 Tokina "Pro"f 2.8 lenses---16-35mm, 28-70mm, 70-200mm.  I'm looking to upgrade to the Canon L lenses and would like to know what would be recommended for routine action shots (school sports in a gym) and general photography.  I hope to eventually get the Canon 5D.....right now will go with the lens upgrades. Rick S--if you're listening----I got your Complete Guide to Digital Photography book and it is awesome!!  What Canon Ls would you recommend? Thanks, Rick Hunter

Fun question Rick.  It is always fun to spend someone else's money for them.  I'd start with the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS.  You cannot go wrong with that lens for the application you are describing.

Next I'd suggest the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens for anything that didn't need a zoom.  You won't be able to use this lens on your future 5D, but don't make the mistake that many people make and rule it out because of that.  Before you do, consider the following...

1.  You can always sell it for most of what you have into it, maybe you would lose $200 on a $1,000 investment.  (Get the lens hoods, ALWAYS get the lens hoods.)

2.  Are you REALLY gonna get rid of your Rebel when you get the 5D?  Most people keep their original camera as a backup.  If you ARE going to sell the camera, then adding a lens for sale as well is no big deal. 

Now comes the fun part, what to get for your third lens.  You've got good solid L quality glass (EF-S lenses have L glass in them, they just don't get a red stripe or sealed body) for most of your focal ranges.

My suggestion would be to try those two lenses for starters, and then see if you can find a subject that you aren't shooting with those two lenses and see what you need.  Maybe an EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 for perspective distortion?

EDIT: P.S.  This question would get a lot more action in the Digital Photography section. 

 

stephie:

FYI.....

I can't remember which camera only accepts L glass...either the 5D or the Mark IIN.  Maybe both.  Just check it out before you buy.

stephie

All the digital Canon cameras use the same mount "EF" the rebel and the 20d / 30d can use the "S" type EF lens.

The 24-70mm f/2.8 is a nice lens !

Hey Rick,

I shoot mostly all sports action and currently have the Mark IIn.  Not sure about three lens but here's where I would start for sports action.

My first lens would be the 70-200L f/2.8 IS lens, which should be usefull in just about any sports situation, including indoors with basketball.  I would then add the 1.4x converter to boost the range on the 70-200 above.  As for a second lens, I just recently purchased the 24-70L f/2.8 lens to give me full range for about any shot I'll have to take.  Other then some prime lens, I think the lenes above should set you up pretty good.

Jim

You would lose a stop of speed and trash the tack-sharpness of the 70-200 f/2.8L if you added a teleconverter. And I know of few people that can hold a 400mm lens, especially if you have a mag factor.

homer:

Hey Rick,

I shoot mostly all sports action and currently have the Mark IIn.  Not sure about three lens but here's where I would start for sports action.

My first lens would be the 70-200L f/2.8 IS lens, which should be usefull in just about any sports situation, including indoors with basketball.  I would then add the 1.4x converter to boost the range on the 70-200 above.  As for a second lens, I just recently purchased the 24-70L f/2.8 lens to give me full range for about any shot I'll have to take.  Other then some prime lens, I think the lenes above should set you up pretty good.

Jim

Not sure, but it sounds like your discouraging the 1.4x converter.  Sure, your f/2.8 becomes a f/4.0 but as for sharpness I've been very pleased with the results and rignt now spending $350 for a Canon 1.4x converter compared to about $6,000 for a 400mm f/2.8, I think I'd take the converter.

Here are two recent posts I made with pictures taken with the 70-200L f/2.8 IS and the 1.4x converter.

Either way you decide to go it all comes down to you and your needs.  Your the one that needs to be happy with whatever purchase you make.

http://forums.mpix.com/thread/268724.aspx

http://forums.mpix.com/thread/267797.aspx

Jim

Jim,

     Thank you and everyone else for their input.  I'm going to splurge for a 70-200 2.8L IS, a 1.4 converter, and the 16-35 2.8L, and a monopod.  I think I'll hold onto my Tokina 28-70 2.8 for now.  --------------------  Rick

You're right, I was discouraging the use of the teleconverter. Your images are very sharp, I must say...

homer:

Not sure, but it sounds like your discouraging the 1.4x converter.  Sure, your f/2.8 becomes a f/4.0 but as for sharpness I've been very pleased with the results and rignt now spending $350 for a Canon 1.4x converter compared to about $6,000 for a 400mm f/2.8, I think I'd take the converter.

Here are two recent posts I made with pictures taken with the 70-200L f/2.8 IS and the 1.4x converter.

Either way you decide to go it all comes down to you and your needs.  Your the one that needs to be happy with whatever purchase you make.

http://forums.mpix.com/thread/268724.aspx

http://forums.mpix.com/thread/267797.aspx

Jim

Before you go into debt, try to take comparison shots with the lenses you have and the L glass you want. I am not familiar with the Tokna lens but my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 rivals the L lens, Yours may also.

Thats a funny one.... sound like that came from a person never owning the L.

David Albertson:

Thats a funny one.... sound like that came from a person never owning the L.

You are right. I TRIED both and determined that the Tamron produced an equally good image at  about 1/2 the cost. I do not need IS that bad and do not base my purchases on marketing hype.

Mike R:

David Albertson:

Thats a funny one.... sound like that came from a person never owning the L.

You are right. I TRIED both and determined that the Tamron produced an equally good image at  about 1/2 the cost. I do not need IS that bad and do not base my purchases on marketing hype.

This is like some that drives a VW complaining about a Corvette he has never owned and complains about. Get real no one wants to hear a comparison on a lens from someone that has never owned it.

Simply they do not compare to the quality of the L glass.