DSLR - Canon v. Nikon

[The Jackamo]

OK, I'm sold on the 350D (it's time to shit or get off the pot). A few of the dpreview.com recommended sites have the body only for $579.00 after the rebate.

How about lens recommendations? I'm thinking a good 3-4 lens quiver. I'll start with just one and then add them periodically. Here are my purposes:

1) general purpose
2) portrait (maybe a 50mm prime?)
3) tele
4) ???

Thoughts?

if you want REALLY good glass here are my recommendations (i personally own or have used all of these):

1) 24-70mm f/2.8 L for standard zoom

2) either the 35mm f/1.4 L or 50mm f/1.4 (don't get the 1.8 if you actually want something that'll last you in the long run - 1.8 may be cheap, but construction quality is below par, IMO). the 20mm f/2.8 is also a good lens (i own this one and with the 1.6 crop factor, you lose the wide angle for the most part - great lens though)

3) 70-200mm f/4.0 L - i personally own this one, and have used the f/2.8 version (non-IS), and really the difference between the two as far as quality (both image and construction) is almost nil. you'll get more depth of field and bokeh with the 2.8, but at three times the cost of the 4.0

4) get something fun - the 14mm wide angle is a good lens, and canon makes a 15mm fisheye, but with the crop factor, the fisheye effect is almost lost as the lens is effectively turned into a 24mm lens. tilt shift lenses are also really fun to play around with for portrait work - you can get extreme depth of field and REALLY differentiate your subject from the background.

for further reading, i HIGHLY recommend http://www.photozone.de. Klaus, the guy who runs the joint, has done a lot of work reviewing lenses and some of his reviews have been crucial for me in deciding what to go for.

[mojorisin]

IMO, 16-35/2.8 is a better "all-purpose" lens if you've got to choose one, as it gives you at least some semblance of wide angle, and you generally don't need to go much past an effective 50mm if you also have the tele zoom (or a 50 prime)

[Brocktoon]

OK, I'm not quite ready to shell out $1,100.00 for the Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens. However, I'd like to go with something better than the RebelXT kit lens. Am I better off getting the kit and saving my lunch money until I can afford (or at least stomach) the L, or is there a worthwhile lens between the two in this category?

Anyone have any experience with any of the below Sigmas? I assume the ones in the $100 range are close to the Canon kit lens. However, are the ones in the $300-$400 range close to the $1,100.00 Canon L lens listed above?

Sigma
Price : $ 399.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Wide Angle-Standard 24-60mm f/2.8 EX DG Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS 24-60mm f/2.8 EX DG Autofocus Lens

Sigma
Price : $ 429.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

Sigma
Price : $ 129.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS Zoom W/A-Telephoto 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF AF Lens

Sigma
Price : $ 329.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

Sigma USA
Price : $ 119.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Compact High Speed Zoom Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS Zoom W/A-Telephoto 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom AF Lens

(Note: rbtree - thanks for the offer on the cheap lenses. If I were a better photog I might take you up on it. I don't have the skills to compensate for gear that needs tlc. I'm spending enough effort trying to compensate for my own deficiencies!)

Edit for:

Some Sigma zoom super wides:

Sigma
Price : $ 399.95
Shipping Cost
Zoom Super Wide Angle 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 EX Aspherical HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS Zoom Super Wide Angle 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 EX Aspherical HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

Sigma
Price : $ 499.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Super Wide Angle 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

Sigma
Price : $ 439.00
Shipping Cost
Zoom Super Wide Angle 20-40mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DG DF Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

[eug]

Nugget,
Take a look at Tamron 28-75 2.8 for all around lense, if you are getting only one that would be a good one to get.

Another setup you might consider is 17-40 4.0 L and 70-200 4.0 L. Both are awesome lenses and price can't be beat. You get extra stop with 2.8 glass but you also get extra weight and pay double.

Someone mentioned 50 1.8. That is unbelievable deal at $40 or whatever it goes for these days, very fast and sharp. Just have to watch out for DOF at wide open.

[eug]

And yes you are better of buying a good L quality lense rather than buying a few cheap lenses. L glass also holds its value really well. Check out fred miranda for sale forums, you will see that you get most of your money back for glass in good condition.

[cj001f]

Another aspect to add to the list of negative things with Nikons, is the fact that they won't release their source codes to anyone. This means that the users are forced to open RAW files with Nikons proprietary software. Well this wasn't that big of an issue, because they're basically the same kind of interface as Adobe Camera Raw...however, now with programs like Aperature and Lightroom which have built in raw adjustment, this becomes a MUCH bigger problem.

You can use Aperture, Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw to open Nikon Raw files (.NEF), just the same as you do Canon files.

At the consumer level both Canon & Nikon offerings will do fine; neither will be "outdated" within the next few years. Whatever you buy now will probably have some serious $ depreciation anyways.

[Viva]

What are y'all's thoughts on the canon 17-85 zoomy? Seems like a reasonable compromise between the "kit" lens and the L series- in fact, it is available with the Rebel XT as a kit, but at an upgraded price.

[mcSnurd]

What are y'all's thoughts on the canon 17-85 zoomy?

I have been using the 17-85 IS with a 350D for a few months. I think that it is a pretty versatile walkaround lens that fit my budget. When I travel and space is tight, it's the only lens I take. It's good for landscapes, but still has a pretty good zoom. The IS is good for dusk landscapes or other low light pics without having to mess with setting a tripod. I think it's a good all around compromise lens. It's probably not great at anything, but you get what you pay for.

[Brocktoon]

OK, I just did it. I've been vascillating on what lenses to get so much that it's been paralyzing me. Since I still know so little about lenses, the 50mm f/1.8 prime seemed like the most consistently recommended quality lens for cheap. This way, I'll be able to use the camera when it gets here and still do research on the other lens categories I'm looking at.

Thanks to everyone for your input on this. I'm stoked as hell and can't wait to get the gear. The following is a code copy of my B&H invoice (I got the 4GB Sandisk CF because they were out of the 2GB and 1GB seemed to small):

Sandisk PSMAR060803
4GB EXTREME III COMPACT FLASH CARD
197.95

Canon CALCK
Lens Cleaning Kit
5.95

Canon CA50182EF
Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens USA
79.95

Canon PSMAR060132
EOS DIGITAL REBEL (BLACK)
549.95

Sub Total
833.80

Shipping (2-3 day UPS)
14.15

Sales Tax
0.00

Total
847.95

Stoked!

[orlowskij]

That's awesome. One thing that may take a little getting used to is having to zoom with your feet if you're coming from p&s cameras. I'll just post this one more time, theres a ton of good lens info at http://photography-on-the.net/forum/.

[Brocktoon]

That's awesome. One thing that may take a little getting used to is having to zoom with your feet if you're coming from p&s cameras. I'll just post this one more time, theres a ton of good lens info at http://photography-on-the.net/forum/.

I'm coming from an Nikon N65 Film SLR and a Nikon Coolpix 4300. The footzoom will be new. That site you recommended was great. Here are a few others that I've found over the last few days for anyone else for whom they might be useful:

This guy did tests to determine what memory card is fastest for your camera. Lots of other useful stuff too:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/mul...e.asp?cid=6007

This European site had loads of lens reviews that are neatly organized:

http://www.photozone.de/active/news/index.jsp

This site has useful forums and reviews:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/