Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ?

360 Photography · 10-09-2007, 23:19

Hi, I am a surf photographer who normally hides far from the subject behind a 600mm lens (I started 3 years ago from scratch but am learning fast!). I have though on the odd occasion taken family portraits on the beach for which I used an EF-S17-85mm IS lens on my 20D body.

I have recently upgraded to a 1D MkIII (

) and the 17-85 lens will not fit the body so I need a replacement. Whilst the purist will frown at my use of a zoom lens I find this helpful for these shots as I follow the family around the beach as they play and pose and I don't often have time to position my self to catch a particular moment.

It would be great if I could have suggestions as to a money is no object Canon solution and also if there is a Sigma/Tamron solution that I could also consider that will give good results.

Oh I forgot to mention

- I would also like to start taking land/seascape photos to sell as postcards and prints, would I be able to use the same lens as above? I would also like to photograph my wife's paintings to reproduce on cards (up to 1m x 1m) would the 50mm F1.8 budget lens be the best bet for this (the 17-85mm lens tends to distort the frames).

Sorry if this is a bit of a big subject, but I look forward to any help/suggestions/input.

**Sonsey** · 10-09-2007, 23:42

For a direct replacement for the 17-85 I'd go for the Canon EF24-105L IS f/4... good range, L glass quality and image stabilisation make up a very nice package.

Whether it'd be wide enough for landscapes is something you'd have to decide, the 1.3x crop factor makes it roughly a 31-32mm equivalent lens which probably isn't ideal but may well suffice (*note* It would be about 4-5mm less wide than your 17-85 was on your 20D).

If that's not wide enough I would take a look at the Canon 17-40L f/4, you'd lose alot of the zoom but it would certainly be wide enough on the 1D.

I'll let others tackle the 50mm f/1.8 question, as although I think it would probably suffice I'm not really sure how much distortion it produces.

360 Photography · 11-09-2007, 23:20

Thanks Iain. I thought that these would be the main suspects. Do you have any experience/observations with the EF24-70mm f2.8 L? Any feedback from anyone on equivalent Sigma lenses would also be much appreciated.

Regards
Nick

P-E · 12-09-2007, 09:38

I was going to suggest the Canon 24-70 2.8L........only because I own one which was my first lens when I purchased a 1DMKII. Excellent lens.

I have a pro friend who also owns and loves the 24-70 but has recently purchased the 24-105L IS f4........he thinks this is an incredible lens, finding it difficult to choose between this and the 24-70 2.8L.

Cheers Ian.

Charlotte · 12-09-2007, 13:47

Nikon user here, so I can't answer any Canon-specific questions, but I do have the answer to one of your questions

The nifty fifty, 50mm 1.8 doesn't produce any distortion, and would be an excellent lens to photograph your wife's paintings IMO. BTW welcome to pixalo

**Sonsey** · 12-09-2007, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360 Photography

Do you have any experience/observations with the EF24-70mm f2.8 L?

I've no personal experience with it but my observations follow P-E's reply above, very good lens, great quality, built like a tank, many happy owners etc... TBH your best bet would be to drop into a shop with your camera in hand and try them both to see which you prefer on the body, then fire off a few shots and take the results home to check over before making your decision.

360 Photography · 13-09-2007, 07:08

Many thanks for the further comments. I feel a bit guilty trying lenses in the shop when I know that I will almost certainly end up buying on the internet. Having said that living in Cornwall it is often the case that the shops around here have a limited selection.

As a matter of interest does anyone know the overall dimensions of the 24-70 2.8L and 24-105L IS f4 when at full zoom? I will be using the lens in a waterhousing as well and the further the end glass moves from the port glass when zooming out the worse the potential results. Unfortunately the specs only give one overall dimension, and neither Canon or the Warehouse Express have replied to my email enquiries!

One last question (hopefully!) is there much difference in performance/quality between the Canon 50mm F1.8 and the F1.4 or in the main difference in the price due to the build quality?

**Markulous** · 13-09-2007, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360 Photography

As a matter of interest does anyone know the overall dimensions of the 24-70 2.8L and 24-105L IS f4 when at full zoom?

Altho' not got the lenses, 99% certain they use internal focussing, so barrel length does not change - specs for each from Canon site:

24-70 2.8L Max. diameter x length (mm) 83.20 x 123.50
24-105L IS f4 Max. diameter x length (mm) 83.50 x 107.00

360 Photography · 13-09-2007, 08:15

Thanks for the quick post, but I think that the internal focussing might be a red herring, I think that this means that the lens will not rotate when focussing so you can use a polarising filter. If I am wrong that is great news - hopefully someone with greater knowledge will be able to confirm.

Charlotte · 13-09-2007, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360 Photography

... is there much difference in performance/quality between the Canon 50mm F1.8 and the F1.4 or in the main difference in the price due to the build quality?

If it's anything like the Nikon equivalent: I did intensive research when I wanted to buy my nifty fifty, and everything pointed to the 1.8 being a MUCH better choice than the 1.4. Even the people who had the 1.4 and were reasonably happy with it, said they would recommend getting the 1.8 over the 1.4, and that the 1.4 is definitely not worth the extra money. The main deciding factor for me was that although you gain an extra half-stop at the wide (aperture) end, you lose a complete stop at the narrow (aperture) end, i.e. 1.4 goes to f/16 while the 1.8 goes to f/22. HTH.

PS I don't believe the extra money is relative to build quality (the 1.8 has excellent build quality) but it's simply the price you pay to have a slightly wider aperture, which some complain is overkill anyway, + renders too short a DOF to be useful in most scenarios.

P-E · 13-09-2007, 12:22

The Canon 24-70 does extend but inside the hood if you know what I mean.

**Dabhand16** · 13-09-2007, 13:02

Just to support Charlotte's post, I've seen several articles where it was said unless the f1.4 is absolutely vital, the f1.8 is better all-round, and has less distortion to boot. (This was for the Nikon fifty though).

Dave Canon · 13-09-2007, 15:58

I have the Canon 24-105 f4 L IS which I find is an excellent all round lens and the IS is very useful.

**Sonsey** · 13-09-2007, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360 Photography

As a matter of interest does anyone know the overall dimensions of the 24-70 2.8L and 24-105L IS f4 when at full zoom?

As far as I'm aware the 24-70 extends "inside" the hood, maybe slightly past it, while the 24-105 extends as a normal zoom lens does. Please be aware than I've no personal experience with either of these so I could well be in error... Hopefully we can get some info from actual owers to confirm this.

As an extra note, as you mention this will be used in a water housing I would lean towards the 24-70 simply due to it being a faster f/2.8 lens as light is at a premium when you get underwater.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360 Photography

is there

10-09-2007, 23:19	#1 (permalink)
360 Photography New here Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tintagel, Cornwall, England Posts: 37	Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? Hi, I am a surf photographer who normally hides far from the subject behind a 600mm lens (I started 3 years ago from scratch but am learning fast!). I have though on the odd occasion taken family portraits on the beach for which I used an EF-S17-85mm IS lens on my 20D body. I have recently upgraded to a 1D MkIII () and the 17-85 lens will not fit the body so I need a replacement. Whilst the purist will frown at my use of a zoom lens I find this helpful for these shots as I follow the family around the beach as they play and pose and I don't often have time to position my self to catch a particular moment. It would be great if I could have suggestions as to a money is no object Canon solution and also if there is a Sigma/Tamron solution that I could also consider that will give good results. Oh I forgot to mention - I would also like to start taking land/seascape photos to sell as postcards and prints, would I be able to use the same lens as above? I would also like to photograph my wife's paintings to reproduce on cards (up to 1m x 1m) would the 50mm F1.8 budget lens be the best bet for this (the 17-85mm lens tends to distort the frames). Sorry if this is a bit of a big subject, but I look forward to any help/suggestions/input.

10-09-2007, 23:42	#2 (permalink)
Sonsey Pixalo Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 7,217	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? For a direct replacement for the 17-85 I'd go for the Canon EF24-105L IS f/4... good range, L glass quality and image stabilisation make up a very nice package. Whether it'd be wide enough for landscapes is something you'd have to decide, the 1.3x crop factor makes it roughly a 31-32mm equivalent lens which probably isn't ideal but may well suffice (note It would be about 4-5mm less wide than your 17-85 was on your 20D). If that's not wide enough I would take a look at the Canon 17-40L f/4, you'd lose alot of the zoom but it would certainly be wide enough on the 1D. I'll let others tackle the 50mm f/1.8 question, as although I think it would probably suffice I'm not really sure how much distortion it produces. __________________ Regards, Iain.

11-09-2007, 23:20	#3 (permalink)
360 Photography New here Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tintagel, Cornwall, England Posts: 37	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? Thanks Iain. I thought that these would be the main suspects. Do you have any experience/observations with the EF24-70mm f2.8 L? Any feedback from anyone on equivalent Sigma lenses would also be much appreciated. Regards Nick

12-09-2007, 09:38	#4 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,409	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? I was going to suggest the Canon 24-70 2.8L........only because I own one which was my first lens when I purchased a 1DMKII. Excellent lens. I have a pro friend who also owns and loves the 24-70 but has recently purchased the 24-105L IS f4........he thinks this is an incredible lens, finding it difficult to choose between this and the 24-70 2.8L. Cheers Ian. Last edited by P-E : 12-09-2007 at 14:21.

12-09-2007, 13:47	#5 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,665	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? Nikon user here, so I can't answer any Canon-specific questions, but I do have the answer to one of your questions The nifty fifty, 50mm 1.8 doesn't produce any distortion, and would be an excellent lens to photograph your wife's paintings IMO. BTW welcome to pixalo

13-09-2007, 07:08	#7 (permalink)
360 Photography New here Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tintagel, Cornwall, England Posts: 37	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? Many thanks for the further comments. I feel a bit guilty trying lenses in the shop when I know that I will almost certainly end up buying on the internet. Having said that living in Cornwall it is often the case that the shops around here have a limited selection. As a matter of interest does anyone know the overall dimensions of the 24-70 2.8L and 24-105L IS f4 when at full zoom? I will be using the lens in a waterhousing as well and the further the end glass moves from the port glass when zooming out the worse the potential results. Unfortunately the specs only give one overall dimension, and neither Canon or the Warehouse Express have replied to my email enquiries! One last question (hopefully!) is there much difference in performance/quality between the Canon 50mm F1.8 and the F1.4 or in the main difference in the price due to the build quality?

13-09-2007, 08:15	#9 (permalink)
360 Photography New here Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tintagel, Cornwall, England Posts: 37	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? Thanks for the quick post, but I think that the internal focussing might be a red herring, I think that this means that the lens will not rotate when focussing so you can use a polarising filter. If I am wrong that is great news - hopefully someone with greater knowledge will be able to confirm.

13-09-2007, 12:22	#11 (permalink)
P-E Loves the place Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sheffield, S.Yorkshire UK Posts: 7,409	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? The Canon 24-70 does extend but inside the hood if you know what I mean.

13-09-2007, 13:02	#12 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,713	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? Just to support Charlotte's post, I've seen several articles where it was said unless the f1.4 is absolutely vital, the f1.8 is better all-round, and has less distortion to boot. (This was for the Nikon fifty though).

13-09-2007, 15:58	#13 (permalink)
Dave Canon Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheltenham Posts: 500	Re: Which general purpose lens for a 1D MkIII ? I have the Canon 24-105 f4 L IS which I find is an excellent all round lens and the IS is very useful.