Thank you very much for the links, j. Sotelo.
I have been reading about different lenses for a while now.
I started by looking for information on macro lenses. It seems that the best lens is the Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM. I think that given the price of this lens, I should leave my husband buy a macro lens in the future, as it is his favourite type of photography and I would like to get him a lens that he can use to take pictures of the family during Christmas.
However, for future reference, I would like to know your opinion on the following review I found:
“
Good lens (Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM) but better options exist. Especially in the Canon line up. Buy the 70-200 F/2.8L at similar price or F/2.8L IS at a bit more, and get a few extension tube (you can get a set of 3 Kenko extension tube for around $170 at 12mm, 20mm and 36mm), you will get a fantastic zoom telephoto lens and a far more versatile package. With the 70-200mm zoom lens, you get all the focal length not just the 180mm. If macro is desired choose an extension tube or any combination of extension tubes, you get so much more choices in focus distance and magnification factor combinations, it's mind boggling. If you go with the IS 70-200mm lens, you get the benefit of the image stablizing when taking Macro as well to reduce the camera shake effect. The combination of the 70-200mm family with a set of extension tubes are a far better choice if local focal length macro photography is wanted.”
Would a 70-200 F/2.8L (IS) be better than the EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM for macro pictures. Would my husband be killing two birds with the one stone if he were to buy a 70-200 F/2.8L (IS) for macro and “telephoto”
?
Then I started looking for good lenses for indoor portraits, as I presume that macro lenses are not the best choice for indoors portraits… (right?
)
However, I have stumbled upon a “walk-around” lens, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, that seems interesting. I read that the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM is also good for indoor portraits. Now I am completely confused
. Should I buy a lens for each type of photography or go for a more versatile lens? I may have to read a “Buying a digital cameras for dummies” to be able to get the present ready...
My main priority is to get my husband:
1) Very good quality lenses to ensure that my choice will please him.
2) Get him enough lenses for him to be able to play around with the 30D at
Christmas, i.e. indoor portrait and landscapes/dramatic skies.
Oh, gosh,
there is so much more to photography than meets the eye!!! Buying a camera as a present is turning out to be an extremely time consuming hobby of mine…
I must get some work done now.
Thank you for your patience with my very basic questions.
All the best,
Amarillaa