What lens for street photography [+camera bag]
Discussion
At least it's not another what car thread...
I'm off to New York in a few weeks for a bit of sight seeing. So far I only have an EOS400d and the kit lens.
Nick recommended the 50mm F1.8 and 24-105 F4 IS L in his wonderful "A New York Minute" thread. The 50 f1.8 is a given as it will cost me about £45 in the states but I'll need a decent telephoto as a prime will be too limiting most of the time on the street. The 24-105 f4 looks good but might be a bit overkill for an amateur like me so if anyone has any suggestions for a telephoto that won't cost over £500 I'd appreciate it.
I'd rather stick to canon glass (don't as me why) but if there's a particularity good sigma lens then I'm all ears.
Oh, I'll be buying a camera bag while out there too, anyone got any recommendations? I guess the bag comes down to personal style and carry preference above anything else.
I'm off to New York in a few weeks for a bit of sight seeing. So far I only have an EOS400d and the kit lens.
Nick recommended the 50mm F1.8 and 24-105 F4 IS L in his wonderful "A New York Minute" thread. The 50 f1.8 is a given as it will cost me about £45 in the states but I'll need a decent telephoto as a prime will be too limiting most of the time on the street. The 24-105 f4 looks good but might be a bit overkill for an amateur like me so if anyone has any suggestions for a telephoto that won't cost over £500 I'd appreciate it.
I'd rather stick to canon glass (don't as me why) but if there's a particularity good sigma lens then I'm all ears.
Oh, I'll be buying a camera bag while out there too, anyone got any recommendations? I guess the bag comes down to personal style and carry preference above anything else.
jon- said:
Thanks Green, I'll look into that.
The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
Good lens. Why not see if you can pick one up second hand...?The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
.. or mail Kerso and see what he's selling them for at the moment..?
Podie said:
jon- said:
Thanks Green, I'll look into that.
The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
Good lens. Why not see if you can pick one up second hand...?The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
.. or mail Kerso and see what he's selling them for at the moment..?
jon- said:
Thanks Green, I'll look into that.
The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
If it makes you feel better, it's what I use for a walkabout lens on my 350D, probably worth three times more than the body it is attached to!The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
It is however, Very good and a lot of lens for the money, as its cropped sensor body, 105mm is actually quite a bit of reach for most situations,
something to note though, in the thread you mention of Nicks "New York Minute" he has the lens on the 5D, so is a lot wider, than if bolted onto a cropped body, this was my main fear when going from 18mm to 24mm as my widest, but I can happily say I haven't even noticed the lack of width,
Get it, I paid about £590 for mine delivered from Kerso and it has totally transformed my photos,
jon- said:
Podie said:
jon- said:
Thanks Green, I'll look into that.
The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
Good lens. Why not see if you can pick one up second hand...?The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
.. or mail Kerso and see what he's selling them for at the moment..?
Lenses are covered by international warranty, prices very competitive, and eligible for Canon CashBack during promotions.
eBay shop here - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/FLASH-CAMERA_W0QQssPageNa...
- or mail him here: kerso1123@msn.com
Do a search on these forums for Kerso, and on Google and you'll see how many times he's been recommended.
We bought two L series lenses from him, got Canon Cashback, and I'd certainly use him again - in fact he was cheaper than buying in the US!
Podie said:
jon- said:
Podie said:
jon- said:
Thanks Green, I'll look into that.
The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
Good lens. Why not see if you can pick one up second hand...?The more I read around the more I'm thinking the 24-105 f4 is the lens to get if i'm going to be semi serious about photography.
.. or mail Kerso and see what he's selling them for at the moment..?
Lenses are covered by international warranty, prices very competitive, and eligible for Canon CashBack during promotions.
eBay shop here - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/FLASH-CAMERA_W0QQssPageNa...
- or mail him here: kerso1123@msn.com
Do a search on these forums for Kerso, and on Google and you'll see how many times he's been recommended.
We bought two L series lenses from him, got Canon Cashback, and I'd certainly use him again - in fact he was cheaper than buying in the US!
JD - not sure if that makes me feel better or worse! The crop factor was a concern but I'd still have the kit lens at 18mm if needed as its performance isn't awful wide open.
Podie / Dogsey, thanks for the details. I've dropped him an email (with a link to this thread) and hopefully we'll be able to work something out. Can't argue with the fact he's a PH'er
Podie / Dogsey, thanks for the details. I've dropped him an email (with a link to this thread) and hopefully we'll be able to work something out. Can't argue with the fact he's a PH'er
Dogsey said:
He's also a PH'er.
Didn't know that..!ETA - oh yeah... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
Edited by Podie on Monday 21st April 15:37
I don't use canon stuff at all so can't really comment, but there's a thread over on Talk Photography of some bloke doing street photography in Camden and he uses a 24-105. Must say they're pretty good shots, so it looks like a good lens, petty nikon don't do something similar.
Thread here
Thread here
rhubarb said:
I don't use canon stuff at all so can't really comment, but there's a thread over on Talk Photography of some bloke doing street photography in Camden and he uses a 24-105. Must say they're pretty good shots, so it looks like a good lens, petty nikon don't do something similar.
Thread here
White balance a bit off in some shots but as you said, very good. The constant f4 and IS seems to do it's job well. Same he doesn't state what body he has on.Thread here
jon- said:
rhubarb said:
I don't use canon stuff at all so can't really comment, but there's a thread over on Talk Photography of some bloke doing street photography in Camden and he uses a 24-105. Must say they're pretty good shots, so it looks like a good lens, petty nikon don't do something similar.
Thread here
Same he doesn't state what body he has on.Thread here
JD said:
jon- said:
rhubarb said:
I don't use canon stuff at all so can't really comment, but there's a thread over on Talk Photography of some bloke doing street photography in Camden and he uses a 24-105. Must say they're pretty good shots, so it looks like a good lens, petty nikon don't do something similar.
Thread here
Same he doesn't state what body he has on.Thread here
jon- said:
JD said:
jon- said:
rhubarb said:
I don't use canon stuff at all so can't really comment, but there's a thread over on Talk Photography of some bloke doing street photography in Camden and he uses a 24-105. Must say they're pretty good shots, so it looks like a good lens, petty nikon don't do something similar.
Thread here
Same he doesn't state what body he has on.Thread here
You won't regret the 24-105 if you splash out, it's a cracker.
I have a Lowpro Mini Trekker and did feel the wrath of it's weight in NY. I'm glad I left the 100-400 at home! Each day I found myself taking more stuff out like the flash to try and get it lighter and lighter. Then I realised the bag itself is no light weight.
I have a Lowpro Mini Trekker and did feel the wrath of it's weight in NY. I'm glad I left the 100-400 at home! Each day I found myself taking more stuff out like the flash to try and get it lighter and lighter. Then I realised the bag itself is no light weight.
Jon
If you come to B&H (near 34th Street and 8th Avenue, nearest subway is Penn Station) then you will be able to have a really good go over lots of different bags before deciding which is for you. The stock LowePro, Crumpler, Tamrac and all the other usual suspects all out on display for you to try. B&H prices are usually very competitive too, as with all things USA don't forget to add the tax when comapring to the UK. I think New York tax is currently just under 9% on top of the advertised price. You will also be able to try the lenses before you buy.
The only two things I would say about B&H;
1. On weekends it can be an absolute zoo
2. If you are going to spend a decent amount, over approx $300, don't forget to bring some other form of i.d. as well as your credit card, passport is good. The USA has a real problem with credit card fraud and B&H try to confirm the i.d. for expensive purchases
Hope you enjoy the trip
Chris
If you come to B&H (near 34th Street and 8th Avenue, nearest subway is Penn Station) then you will be able to have a really good go over lots of different bags before deciding which is for you. The stock LowePro, Crumpler, Tamrac and all the other usual suspects all out on display for you to try. B&H prices are usually very competitive too, as with all things USA don't forget to add the tax when comapring to the UK. I think New York tax is currently just under 9% on top of the advertised price. You will also be able to try the lenses before you buy.
The only two things I would say about B&H;
1. On weekends it can be an absolute zoo
2. If you are going to spend a decent amount, over approx $300, don't forget to bring some other form of i.d. as well as your credit card, passport is good. The USA has a real problem with credit card fraud and B&H try to confirm the i.d. for expensive purchases
Hope you enjoy the trip
Chris
If you are looking at the 24-105 but pondering if its going to be wide enough, then how about the very highly regarded 17-55 f2.8 ?
Its roughly the same price as the 24-105 (online stores have it roughly £10 more), constant f2.8, IS, USM.
Downsides ? Its EF-S, which may or may not be an issue depending on whether you intend to move to a full-frame camera body in the near future.
photozone.de reviews:
"Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS"
"Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS"
I'd certainly pick up the 50mm f1.8 if you don't have a prime lens, nothing delivers so much image quality for the money
(For a bit more budget you may want to look at the 50mm f1.4, its about £225. Better construction, faster + more accurate AF, slightly faster than the 50mm f1.8.
If you want a wider prime lens that Sigma do a popular 30mm f1.4 for about £260. Its Sigma 'DC' range so won't work on a full frame camera.)
Cheers.
Its roughly the same price as the 24-105 (online stores have it roughly £10 more), constant f2.8, IS, USM.
Downsides ? Its EF-S, which may or may not be an issue depending on whether you intend to move to a full-frame camera body in the near future.
photozone.de reviews:
"Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS"
"Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 USM L IS"
I'd certainly pick up the 50mm f1.8 if you don't have a prime lens, nothing delivers so much image quality for the money
(For a bit more budget you may want to look at the 50mm f1.4, its about £225. Better construction, faster + more accurate AF, slightly faster than the 50mm f1.8.
If you want a wider prime lens that Sigma do a popular 30mm f1.4 for about £260. Its Sigma 'DC' range so won't work on a full frame camera.)
Cheers.
Edited by flat-planedCrank on Monday 21st April 21:26
Nick, thanks, I can see my credit card (ironically an AMEX) is going to take a hit in NY!
CVP, noted, thanks. Always nice to have a bit of local knowledge. If I'm buying a couple of lenses and a bag do you think there's room for negotiation / online price matching at that place or are they part of a big chain? One thing I've learnt from running a few ecommerce websites is there's always room for movement if you're cheeky enough! Great point about the ID, I'll make sure I have my passport on me. It's not just the USA that has a real problem with CC fraud though, you should try selling LCD / Plasma TVs!
flat-planed. Thanks for the advice. While the 24-105 might not go wide enough, the 17-55 doesn't go close enough (even though a constant 2.8 would be
) and as the kit lens holds a sort-of-ok-ish f4 at 18mm I think I'll make do with that and take the longer reach of the 24-105.
The 50 f1.8 is still a no brainer.
CVP, noted, thanks. Always nice to have a bit of local knowledge. If I'm buying a couple of lenses and a bag do you think there's room for negotiation / online price matching at that place or are they part of a big chain? One thing I've learnt from running a few ecommerce websites is there's always room for movement if you're cheeky enough! Great point about the ID, I'll make sure I have my passport on me. It's not just the USA that has a real problem with CC fraud though, you should try selling LCD / Plasma TVs!
flat-planed. Thanks for the advice. While the 24-105 might not go wide enough, the 17-55 doesn't go close enough (even though a constant 2.8 would be
) and as the kit lens holds a sort-of-ok-ish f4 at 18mm I think I'll make do with that and take the longer reach of the 24-105.The 50 f1.8 is still a no brainer.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff