Professional grade camera?

[manarak]

I'm getting addicted to lenses I think.

Now I want to buy that one:

http://www.tokinalens.com/products/t...16prodx-a.html

[azza33]

(manarak @ May 03 2010,23:22) I just picked up my 30mm f/1.4 lens.
Wow, this thing just sees in the dark :-)

Seems perfect for taking pics from 3 meters away!

I picked up the cheap 50mm f1.8 canon lens whilst in Thailand.
Just curious to play around with such a lens.

Now don't get me wrong, i'm enjoying your pics a lot in your thread but i think you would be better served using the kit lens more often than the f1.4.

You often mention the focus problems on the f1.4 - same on the f1.8 -- these lens are hard to focus hand held imo.

Also, I feel the colors are not as natural using these low light lens and the ISO settings jump to 1600 or 3200 on hand held shots - giving grain and reddening the picture.

Here is a pic taken in middle of the night using the f1.8 lens.
I fixed the ISO at 100, exposure time is approx. 13 sec.

This was my 1st attempt at real night photography and I used ISO 100 as donnnys great night shots were always taken using that setting.

[Snick]

There is a lot you can do to improve photos in post processing. Adobe light room is great for fixups in batch.
You can correct color,white balance, exposure for a single photo and then apply to all.

[manarak]

You often mention the focus problems on the f1.4 - same on the f1.8 -- these lens are hard to focus hand held imo.

You picture above is nice!

My usage of the f1.4 lens is a bit different - I don't carry a tripod around and I'm usually more interested in shooting persons (LBs, bargirls) in ambient light, so that I usually have to lock the exposure at around 1/80th, and I lock the ISO at 3200, which still gives acceptable pix without too much grain.

I still lack wideangle (the 18mm of my kit lens are 29mm equivalent on my 1.6 crop sensor 550D - you have the same), that's why I want to get a wideangle lens. This Tokina additionally boasts f2.8 which is about the fastest wideangle lens I could find!

Your 50mm Canon is probably like a 80mm lens, which I think is unsuitable for shooting in close quarters, unless you do only portraits.

Probably my next step will be shooting RAW and trying to tweak on the computer.

But now I really lust for this Tokina...

[pacman]

My advice to both of you is to buy the Sigma 10-20mm wide angle zoom.

The latest version has f3.5 across the full zoom range, not as fast as the f2.8 of the Tokina but still able to take low light pics at a boosted ISO. Plus it is well made, good distortion characteristics (as supported by many tests), longer focal range at both ends plus it is excellent value for money. Especially when compared to the equivalent Canon UWA zoom.

The argument that the Canon will give better image quality is something of a moot point. Technically I agree but in practice I defy anyone to be able to tell the difference.

It is the only other lens I want, my days of lugging telephoto zooms around are long behind me. I just don't know what I would use one for. Whereas the 10-20 is such an excellent tool for close-up shots of groups of people.

As would be the Tokina 11-16. BTW, how do the prices of these two lens compare?

[ezflip]

Ken Rockwell's website has a comparison chart for ultrawide zoom lenses.

Covers the Canon 10-22mm, Nikon 12-24mm, Sigma 10-20mm, Tamron 10-24mm, Tamron 11-18mm, Tokina 11-16mm (My fav) and the Tokina 12-24mm.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/digi...ooms/chart.htm

Keep in mind that Ken Rockwell is a slightly nikon biased guy.

I am seriously considering the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 as my next lense purchase.

[Chinaman]

(ezflip @ Aug. 28 2010,18:36) Ken Rockwell's website has a comparison chart for ultrawide zoom lenses.

Covers the Canon 10-22mm, Nikon 12-24mm, Sigma 10-20mm, Tamron 10-24mm, Tamron 11-18mm, Tokina 11-16mm (My fav) and the Tokina 12-24mm.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/digi...ooms/chart.htm

Keep in mind that Ken Rockwell is a slightly nikon biased guy.

I am seriously considering the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 as my next lense purchase.

Impressive specs. Would not have expected that when hearing the name Tokina but I admit that I haven't looked into the Tokina lenses a lot.

As I bought the Canon 10-22 a couple of years back and use the wide angle lens mostly under daylight conditions, I probably won't buy another wide angle but I will be looking forward to Manarak's first demo-pics.

You are investing quite a bit into gear for taking pics of lbs - r u stocking another forum or website or is it all for those rainy days in Europe?

[manarak]

(pacman @ Aug. 28 2010,16:28) My advice to both of you is to buy the Sigma 10-20mm wide angle zoom.

The latest version has f3.5 across the full zoom range, not as fast as the f2.8 of the Tokina but still able to take low light pics at a boosted ISO. Plus it is well made, good distortion characteristics (as supported by many tests), longer focal range at both ends plus it is excellent value for money. Especially when compared to the equivalent Canon UWA zoom.

The argument that the Canon will give better image quality is something of a moot point. Technically I agree but in practice I defy anyone to be able to tell the difference.

It is the only other lens I want, my days of lugging telephoto zooms around are long behind me. I just don't know what I would use one for. Whereas the 10-20 is such an excellent tool for close-up shots of groups of people.

As would be the Tokina 11-16. BTW, how do the prices of these two lens compare?

the 10-20 Canon lens sold here is the Canon Objektiv EF-S 10-22mm, f/3.5-4.5 USM, and it sells at 839 CHF

The Tokina is only 695 CHF and f/2.8 through the whole range and has excellent quality and sharpness


The other lens I am considering as "travel lens" or "day lens" is the latest Tamron 18-270.
On the crop sensor camera, it is equivalent to 29 - 432 !!  
According to the reviews it is a bit faster than my 18-135 Canon kit lens at any focal range and at least as sharp.
And the price is only 555 CHF !

I like to take "natural" pix, i.e. people doing what they do, without them noticing and looking at the camera or posing.
I realized the 135 zoom is not strong enough for me to shoot pix of people without them noticing.

[Chinaman]

(manarak @ Aug. 28 2010,22:03)

(pacman @ Aug. 28 2010,16:28) My advice to both of you is to buy the Sigma 10-20mm wide angle zoom.

The latest version has f3.5 across the full zoom range, not as fast as the f2.8 of the Tokina but still able to take low light pics at a boosted ISO. Plus it is well made, good distortion characteristics (as supported by many tests), longer focal range at both ends plus it is excellent value for money. Especially when compared to the equivalent Canon UWA zoom.

The argument that the Canon will give better image quality is something of a moot point. Technically I agree but in practice I defy anyone to be able to tell the difference.

It is the only other lens I want, my days of lugging telephoto zooms around are long behind me. I just don't know what I would use one for. Whereas the 10-20 is such an excellent tool for close-up shots of groups of people.

As would be the Tokina 11-16. BTW, how do the prices of these two lens compare?

the 10-20 Canon lens sold here is the Canon Objektiv EF-S 10-22mm, f/3.5-4.5 USM, and it sells at 839 CHF

The Tokina is only 695 CHF and f/2.8 through the whole range and has excellent quality and sharpness


The other lens I am considering as "travel lens" or "day lens" is the latest Tamron 18-270.
On the crop sensor camera, it is equivalent to 29 - 432 !!  
According to the reviews it is a bit faster than my 18-135 Canon kit lens at any focal range and at least as sharp.
And the price is only 555 CHF !

I like to take "natural" pix, i.e. people doing what they do, without them noticing and looking at the camera or posing.
I realized the 135 zoom is not strong enough for me to shoot pix of people without them noticing.

As I said, the Tokina has impressive specs and I don't know whether it was even around when I bought the Canon lens. Go 4 it!

Does the Tamron 18-270 come with autofocus and is it image-stabilized? I bought the Canon 70-300 back in April in Pattaya, and again, I have to say that I been very happy with it. Although one can take pics of people from quite far away, they do notice more often than one would think. At least it happens to me quite a bit. Perhaps u r a faster shooter ;-)
Mine was less than 20K Baht.

I still prefer to go with Canon equipment if the price diff is not too prohibitive. But perhaps I am overlooking sth or am being old-fashioned ;-)

[Chinaman]

So, for the time being you "only" have that 18-135 kit-lens? If that is the case, then yes, you need a wide angle and a good tele. That should cover most photo situations. I just hate swapping lenses ... and don't underestimate the weight.

Of course you can go out with one lens only but then comes the moment where you wish you had the wide-angle or the tele, or even the kit-lens. And eventually you revert to the point-and-shoot unless you go out for a photo day only ... dilemma

[manarak]

I've got only that 18-135 and the 30mm "low light" sigma - but that lens is a dud, it is frontfocussing muchos.

I've nailed the frontfocussing problem today using a simple setup on my kitchen table.
see the other thread about that.

I think I will be happy with these 3 lenses:
30mm Sigma f/1.4 that focusses properly
18-270 Tamron f/3.5-6.3
11-16 Tokina f/2.8

[manarak]

I can't believe I just ordered the Tamron and the Tokina...

Thankfully, the whole focal range will be covered then!

[rxpharm]

Lens lust is a dangerous thing to get into! Hopefully it will settle down after you get your new lenses and the Sigma repaired/replaced.

[manarak]

(Chinaman @ Aug. 28 2010,22:22) Does the Tamron 18-270 come with autofocus and is it image-stabilized? I bought the Canon 70-300 back in April in Pattaya, and again, I have to say that I been very happy with it. Although one can take pics of people from quite far away, they do notice more often than one would think. At least it happens to me quite a bit. Perhaps u r a faster shooter ;-)
Mine was less than 20K Baht.

Sorry CM, missed your question about AF and IS.

Yes, the Tamron has both, and the IS has even been praised in reviews. Tamron calls that "VC" for Vibration compensation or something similar.

At 555 CHF, it costs 16500 baht.

I saw it offered for 20500 at a Central Festival shop in Patts.

Lens lust is a dangerous thing to get into! Hopefully it will settle down after you get your new lenses and the Sigma repaired/replaced.

Agree.
Luckily, I don't see what else I could buy for this camera after I get those.

The lack of Microadjustment is really a big disappointment in the 550D.
If they had included that, Canon would really have nailed the market.

[azza33]

It should be pointed out that the Canon 10-22 EF-S is considered an L series lens in terms of build quality... but as its an EF-S canon won't label it with the L series badge.

That Tokina does seem a good options....