Well, I recently came into an unexpected pile of cash (courtesy of a 1 hour and 20 minute roll of the dice at a craps game this evening), and I'm thinking I might spend it on some camera gear. I've got three trips to Disney planned starting June 2008 and really want to take some nice pics of the family and the park this time around - so I'm interested in getting whatever will (a) enable me to take better quality picks and (b) whatever will make taking pics in the park easier (such as a good neckstrap).
Here's my current setup:
Canon Digital Rebel Xt
18-55mm kit lens
Canon 50mm f/1.8 (the $65 wonder)
Canon 70-200 f/4 L
Tamron 28-78 f/2.8
Speedlite 580EX
Mediocre Off Brand tripod and monopod
Canon Backpack
At this point, I'm kind of leaning towards getting a "wider angle" lens. One that really intrigues me is the Canon 17-40mm L. I've got a good lens collection, but when you factor in the 1.6x factor for the rebel, I'm a bit narrow in my options. I'm so happy with the results from my 70-200 L that I think I'd really like to add a good "all purpose" wider angle L lens, and the 17-40mm is definately a "bargain" as far as the L glass is concerned ... but I wish it were a stop higher for better indoor shooting. I worry if f/4 woudl be sufficient to take indoor pics at all those Disney rides where no flashes are allowed. I suppose I could use the 50mm in the darkest attractions, though.
The Canon 17-55mm IS USM is also intriguing, though for several hundred dollars more, and it's not even "L" Quality. Plus that lens is optimized for EF-S mounts, so if I even pick up a full frame camera, I'm concerned about it's portability.
I was also considering the 24-105mm or the 24-70mm, but both of those are several hundred dollars more, and with the cropping factor, I don't think it will give me the wider angle I need for the more panoramic shots.
Any advice ? Experience ? I don't like to throw money away, but if I go with a new lens, I want it to be an "every day" lens that I use for the majority of my shots for the next decade (with an emphasis on what I can use at the park) ... so I'd rather spend a couple of hundred more than I planned and get something I really will enjoy.
Here's my current setup:
Canon Digital Rebel Xt
18-55mm kit lens
Canon 50mm f/1.8 (the $65 wonder)
Canon 70-200 f/4 L
Tamron 28-78 f/2.8
Speedlite 580EX
Mediocre Off Brand tripod and monopod
Canon Backpack
At this point, I'm kind of leaning towards getting a "wider angle" lens. One that really intrigues me is the Canon 17-40mm L. I've got a good lens collection, but when you factor in the 1.6x factor for the rebel, I'm a bit narrow in my options. I'm so happy with the results from my 70-200 L that I think I'd really like to add a good "all purpose" wider angle L lens, and the 17-40mm is definately a "bargain" as far as the L glass is concerned ... but I wish it were a stop higher for better indoor shooting. I worry if f/4 woudl be sufficient to take indoor pics at all those Disney rides where no flashes are allowed. I suppose I could use the 50mm in the darkest attractions, though.
The Canon 17-55mm IS USM is also intriguing, though for several hundred dollars more, and it's not even "L" Quality. Plus that lens is optimized for EF-S mounts, so if I even pick up a full frame camera, I'm concerned about it's portability.
I was also considering the 24-105mm or the 24-70mm, but both of those are several hundred dollars more, and with the cropping factor, I don't think it will give me the wider angle I need for the more panoramic shots.
Any advice ? Experience ? I don't like to throw money away, but if I go with a new lens, I want it to be an "every day" lens that I use for the majority of my shots for the next decade (with an emphasis on what I can use at the park) ... so I'd rather spend a couple of hundred more than I planned and get something I really will enjoy.
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