Start me off right (20D)

[BBones]

Ok, if I am buying the 20D (body only) what else do you recommend that I get?

I have a small bag that my 828 rides in right now but should fit the 20D.
I have 2 512 meg and 1 2GB CF card

I know I want to buy the 70-200 IS L 2.8 as my first lens as well.

[fish]

Ok, if I am buying the 20D (body only) what else do you recommend that I get?

I have a small bag that my 828 rides in right now but should fit the 20D.
I have 2 512 meg and 1 2GB CF card

I know I want to buy the 70-200 IS L 2.8 as my first lens as well.

Tell us what you have, bones...then we can suggest what you need. :deal

[BBones]

heh

Right now I have nothing outside of about 3 gigs of CF cards. I can buy the 20D but not the 1D Mark II. I will be doing ALOT of motorcycle and car racing this summer as well as a few weddings (2 so far).

[mercphoto]

heh

Right now I have nothing outside of about 3 gigs of CF cards. I can buy the 20D but not the 1D Mark II. I will be doing ALOT of motorcycle and car racing this summer as well as a few weddings (2 so far).

The 70-200/2.8 is a good choice then. For weddings, consider adding a 24-70/2.8L. Or possibly the Tamron 28-75/2.8 for considerably less money. I've heard varying reports on the quality of the Canon 24-70/2.8. It definitely does not have the universal admiration the 70-200 does.

The Canon 28-135 is a good walk-around general purpose lens as well, but I don't know if I'd want to do weddings with it. Depends on how much they spend on your services. :)

[BBones]

What glass are you using Bill? I see you taking MX shots.



The 70-200/2.8 is a good choice then. For weddings, consider adding a 24-70/2.8L. Or possibly the Tamron 28-75/2.8 for considerably less money. I've heard varying reports on the quality of the Canon 24-70/2.8. It definitely does not have the universal admiration the 70-200 does.

The Canon 28-135 is a good walk-around general purpose lens as well, but I don't know if I'd want to do weddings with it. Depends on how much they spend on your services. :)

[mercphoto]

What glass are you using Bill? I see you taking MX shots.

I have used the 28-135 for MX and the results are pretty good. Since buying my 70-200/2.8L/IS, though, I use that nearly all the time. IS is off unless I'm panning, and then its in mode 2.

I know another race photog who uses the 70-200/2.8L/IS and a 28-70/2.8L exclusively.

[BBones]

Yeah I do A LOT of panning in my shoots so that is why I was looking at getting the IS version.

[fish]

Yeah I do A LOT of panning in my shoots so that is why I was looking at getting the IS version.
The 70-200/2.8L IS is a great all-around lens, and very good for sports, assuming you're not too far away. You may also consider getting a 1.4x multiplier to extend your reach. Turns the lens into an f4, which is perfectly reasonable for outdoors.

Tripod? Monopod? Ballhead? Macintosh? Card reader? Wide angle zoom? 24-70/2.8L (one of my favorite lenses)? good weight-bearing strap, like an Op/Tech? High quality multi-coated UV or Skylight filters to protect your precious lenses? Zoom holster for when you don't want to take the entire gear bag? Spare battery (or two)? Double charger? Macro lens? Babyback ribs, slow cooked over indirect heat? :food

[wxwax]

You're going to want a wider lens than the 70-200. It's too long. Plus, it's too heavy and bulky to be your everyday lens.

And it's definitely not the best glass for weddings, when you'll be trying to get group shots or shots inside tight quarters.

If you have the dough, I agree with the 24-70 suggestion.

You're gonna need a bigger bag. And a sturdy tripod. And a card reader. And I'd strongly suggest a back-up battery.

[NoNo]

What do you mean by body-only? When I went to buy my D70, I found out that meant no cables, no software, no battery and no charger, kind of important things if you'd actually like to use the camera. Once I added that on, there went that $300 I thought I had saved.

[Ann McRae]

Ok, if I am buying the 20D (body only) what else do you recommend that I get?

I have a small bag that my 828 rides in right now but should fit the 20D.
I have 2 512 meg and 1 2GB CF card

I know I want to buy the 70-200 IS L 2.8 as my first lens as well.
Hi Brandon
I have a lowepro bag that my 828 plus tcon plus polarizer, mini tripod, memory sticks etc (if necessary my sons diabetes supplies) all fit into.
My 20d w/ either lens plus my other lens both fit into it at the same time.
I currently have the 17 - 85mm IS lens and the 85mm f1.8 that I bought for indoor soccer. I love that lens. I have had nice results with the 17 - 85mm even though it gets dissed alot. I think that the shots are nice, crisp and colorful, like the 828 or 707 shots are. I am not a pixel peeper though. One thing, though, it is not fast - in poorer lighting conditions, high ISO or flash are necessary. Outdoors, in daylight, it does fine. Would take great beach shots in Maui!!!!!

The 85mm is a really lovely portrait lens but I find it is too long for indoor across the room candids, by and large. It was the only lens I had when I was asked to take a photo of 2 boys and their grandma, and I had to back up a long way to get all of them into frame.

I do not think the 70 - 200 would fit in this bag of mine. It is next on my list of lenses, along with a 300mm or maybe a 400 mm.

I have found that a monopod is extremely helpful for my soccer shooting. The 20d is not really heavy, and neither is the 85mm, but the monopod has really helped eliminate motion blur/camera shake for me.

And btw, lens hoods are typically sold seperately! Budget for them for your outdoor lens.

ann

I do not really know what to recommend for weddings, so defer to the experts.

[ian408]

The 70-200/2.8L IS is a great all-around lens, and very good for sports, assuming you're not too far away. You may also consider getting a 1.4x multiplier to extend your reach. Turns the lens into an f4, which is perfectly reasonable for outdoors.


fish has an excellent suggestion. I'd add the extra batteries and consider a good
flash (with quantum battery) and bracket for the weddings.

Ian

[Aaron Wilson]

why not pay the extra $100 for the lense.. it's a nice lense!

[BBones]

Thanks Fish, you just put me into debt :)

Yes I will be buying the 1.4xTC, an extra battery and a 2nd 2 GB CF card along with a reader. I can only afford to buy one lens for right now and I have to get the big one for the race season. 2 weddings versus about 75 race shoots tells me where the money is and where my priorities lie in the immediate sense.

Would a monopod be a smart idea with the 70-200 and the 20D or would it defeat the purpose of getting the IS version? I understand it is quite heavy and I will be shooting all day, sometimes 3 days in a row. I need to keep mobile while on the track (hopefully not TOO mobile if someone crashes).

Would the 17-40 be a smarter buy or the 24-70 as my next piece of L glass? Remember, I am keeping my 828 for basic shots, walkabouts and hiking. The 20D is for my more professional shoots.

[Aaron Wilson]

bbones... buy your bat. off ebay.. I can give you a name of a good seller... I got 2 bat. for a total of $15.00 (that includes shipping) and they work as good as my bat. from canon. They are the 511 but don't have canon's name on it. that will save you 120 for 2 of them.

[BBones]

Are the compatibles as good as the OEM batteries?

Thoughts folks?

[ian408]

Would the 17-40 be a smarter buy or the 24-70 as my next piece of L glass? Remember, I am keeping my 828 for basic shots, walkabouts and hiking. The 20D is for my more professional shoots.
I'm a fan of the 24-70. Very nice lens.

Ian

[Aaron Wilson]

I can't tell the diffrence. I have shoot about a 1,000 photos on both batteries... I figured for 15.00 that if they went bad i was only out 15 vs. the 60.00 for an oem. But they charge as fast and I have not seen a diffrence... the only way i know is if i look on the bottom of them.

[fish]

I'm a fan of the 24-70. Very nice lens.

Ian

Me too. The 17-40 is a good lens, but not as versatile as the 24-70.

[blackwaterstudio]

What do you mean by body-only? When I went to buy my D70, I found out that meant no cables, no software, no battery and no charger, kind of important things if you'd actually like to use the camera. Once I added that on, there went that $300 I thought I had saved.
See there is your problem, you bought Nikon, should have bought Canon :D

Actually with Canon, when they say body only it comes with everything needed, just not a lens. You get just the body.

[fish]

See there is your problem, you bought Nikon, should have bought Canon :D

Actually with Canon, when they say body only it comes with everything needed, just not a lens. You get just the body.

Either he bought it used or from a disreputable dealer. According to bhphoto.com, the D70 body comes with the following:


• MH-18 Quick Charger
• MS-D70 Battery Holder (for using 3x CR2 batteries)
• USB Cable
• Video Cable
• Strap
• Body Cap
• Eyepiece Cap
• LCD Monitor Cover
• Software CD-ROM (PictureProject)
• User's Guide
• 1 Year U.S.A. Limited Warranty

[wxwax]

What do you mean by body-only? When I went to buy my D70, I found out that meant no cables, no software, no battery and no charger, kind of important things if you'd actually like to use the camera. Once I added that on, there went that $300 I thought I had saved.
Sounds like you talked to a Brooklyn dealer. (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=374)

[wxwax]

Are the compatibles as good as the OEM batteries?

Thoughts folks?
I've read that they die younger, that OEM batteries keep working for more months/years.