Camera lens problem...

[azza33]

Yes they are "different" - interesting, almost need to take 2 photos

btw.. we have done a great job of shifting this off the original issue.
But im enjoying this thread

btw... to appease all pundits

I've decided

1) Canon 24-105 EF L series
2) Canon 10-22 EFS
3) Canon 70-300 EF IS (cos i cant justify the L series with IS)

I'll get them over time.... any thoughts are welcome

[Chinaman]

(azza33 @ Jul. 06 2010,17:15) I've decided

1) Canon 24-105 EF L series
2) Canon 10-22 EFS
3) Canon 70-300 EF IS (cos i cant justify the L series with IS)

I'll get them over time.... any thoughts are welcome

Personally, I think u should be "covered".
Problem u might run into is that u will get tired of swapping lenses, so a 2nd or even 3rd body might turn up on yr X-mas wishlist, unless u have such already.
Next comes the weight issue and bodies might stay home again ...

decisions and problems ...

[manarak]

Azza's future:

[azza33]

Gold

[rxpharm]

Here's a review of the Tamrom 18-270 lens that Manarak mentioned in his post.



Photode review Tamron 18-270 for Canon

In a nutshell it says on lower MP DSLRs (8 MP and lower) it performs fairly well, but on the higher MP DSLRs (10+ MP) the image quality isn't quite as good. It does have IS so quite handy when you're on the upper range of the 270 mm zoom. The centre sharpness is quite good, but it suffers on the edges.

I have the 18-250 mm version of this in the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount and like it very much. It's quite convenient not to have to change lenses very often.

[marshal]

(pacman @ Jul. 05 2010,20:39) Having a suite of Canon L lenses would be terrific & I am sure Foxxee loves his. Anyone who appreciates fine things would. But they do cost & putting them on a 550D is not the way to get the best out of them.

Not that I would criticize spending the money if you knew future cameras would be another Canon.

However, buying big telephotos can be an expensive mistake & I am so glad Foxxee mentioned the weight & inconvenience of the one he sold.

I believe a keen amateur is way better off with the 18-135 mm kit lens. With the big two (Canon & Nikon) the term 'kit lens' should not be considered as a cheap substitute for something better. This purpose built day-to-day lens is ideal to carry on a holiday. And the 18mm at the wide end is infinitely more usable than the 24mm of the expensive option.

As you will all discover. Trust me, when I started out taking photos many years ago, all I wanted was a big zoom. The damn things had to be refocused right through the zoom range. A major pain in the ass plus there was no such thing as autofocus in those days.

But I wanted it & paid what was then a fortune for it. I carried it through Asia for 9 months & used it maybe 5 times.

What Azza & Manarak need to consider is a wide angle zoom. Either the 10-20mm Sigma or the 10-24mm Tamron. These are miracle lenses IMO as they totally redefine the physical limitations of what is possible in lens design. And they aren't so expensive, especially as they don't require IS (image stabilisation), something that is imperative on a telephoto lens.

I would swap the 30mm prime Sigma for their 10-20 in a heartbeat.

Been using a 17-40mm f4L canon lense on a 20 d and 400d recently, really happy with results, even using it for weddings at the moment as a second lense. Great results if you really get up close! Lenses are a personal thing, whatsworks for some others hate!

[marshal]

Please excuse english, last line of post

[marshal]

(manarak @ Jul. 06 2010,19:49) Azza's future:

That bloody guy in manarak's post must have about £30,000 worth of kit there. What a dick!!!!

[manarak]

ok, I think I nailed the frontfocussing problem on my Sigma lens beyond any discussion.

I put a diagonal of AA cells on my kitchen table.

I use only the center AF sensor and focus on the Panasonic battery at the dead center of the pic.

The lens frontfocusses by about 3 to 4cm, very visible on this test setup.

Instead of the Panasonic battery being in focus, it is the HW Max battery, 5 batteries away, that is in focus.

I will return this lens for replacement or fixing.

[manarak]

one thing that is strange is that if I use live view (i.e. the display), the lens focusses slowly but fine.

I want to RMA the lens, but can someone please shed some light on the different performance in live view?

[manarak]

uggghhhh....

http://www.lensrentals.com/news....r-myths

now, why the 550D doesn't have lens microadjustment ??

[rxpharm]

Unfortunately microlens adjustment is reserved for the higher end camera models.

Very handy feature to get around the problem you had with the Sigma.

Live view focus with the Canon is based on the slower contrast detect autofocus.

Regular through the viewfinder autofocus is based on phase detect autofocus.

The differences are well explained in Wikipedia Autofocus.

[manarak]

Damn... looks like I bought the wrong camera body.
Microadjustment is now on my list of must-have features for my next camera.

And searching the internet I found many people had a problem with the combination Canon 550D + Sigma 30mm f/1.4

But some are lucky and get sharp pictures... :-(

Let's hope the two other lenses (Tamron and Tokina) I ordered will be fine.


I'll send the lens to Sigma, and hope they will recalibrate it.

I used a calibration chart to check it:

[manarak]

doh...
I just did the same test with my kit lens and found it also front focusses by about 10mm

But of course at f/3.5 the problem is not so important.

I'll send it to Canon.

Here is the shot:

[manarak]

I just got back my Sigma lens, just on time for my return from the LOS, after a wait of 7 weeks.
Apparently they found they couldn't adjust it, and I got a new lens!


I am amazed at how sharp it is and how well it focuses - it is even frightening - it is sharper than my Canon 50mm f/1.8 II lens

Prepare for some nice shots with that one!