New Canon kit arrived.

[hotspur]

Hi folks

Today was a good day for my collection of camera bits and pieces,I have been pondering for sometime a 17-55 F 2.8 IS,they are rather expensive,anyhow I bought a second hand one with UV filter,circular polarizer filter,and original hood for $900.I met the vendor and was able to examine and test the lens,before purchase.

When I got home my new 50D had arrived,only 48 hours after ordering it!,so I was most pleased,I tested camera,and have just been in observatory in the dark doing 4 minute exposures,to check no band of light in images,all looks good.along with a ex 430 I bought of Tony a couple of months,I now have a complete kit for regular every day use,I can use the 50D with my 70-200 L as well.while the 450D can stay on my 400 L prime for birding.

I have'nt had much of a test of 50D,one big thing I notice,is how wonderful it is to adjust AV and shutter speed at same time,I only use a camera in manual,so this is a huge step forward.

I have had two XXXD bodies,and now up the EOS ladder to a XXD,next stop a 5D,but that will be along time away.

One question,my cable release for 450D will not plug into 50D (sigh),what spec of fitting is needed?I have a friend who made the cable release for 450D,I am sure he could make one for 50D,what are the part sizes I need to tell him.?or any pointers? thanks

Anyhow,here is my new kit,sorry to brag,but its not everyday I buy such elite kit.

cheers Chris

[DavidTrap]

Well done Chris,

I too got a new toy today - my 350D has been modded!

See you in a couple of weeks.

DT

[Dennis]

Congratulations Chris – the 50D is an excellent camera. Hurry up – you’ve only got a couple of days left to enter a photo in the May monthly challenge (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=60734) – its knife, fork or spoon!

Cheers

Dennis

[hotspur]

Don't worry Dennis,I have a great target selected for K,F or S

I hope to post very soon!

cheers Chris

[koputai]

Good purchase there Chris. I've been giving my new 17-55mm f2.8 IS a good workout over here in Canada, and so far I LOVE IT!!

Cheers,
Jason.

[koputai]

OK, so after 2 weeks of using the 17-55mm f2.8 IS, I am very happy with the images, but very disapointed with the amount of dust that is on the internal surfaces of the glass.

I haven't been in particularly dusty areas, mostly very undusty actually, in the mountains/snow.

So far I can't imagine the dust is affecting the images, but at this rate, the lens will be opaque within a year!

Maybe a sealed L would have been a better choice after all.....

Cheers,
Jason.

[Brundah1]

Chris,

Your may remember my PM a few months ago giving a good report on my 50D 15-55 f2.8. I may have mentioned the dust problem too.

IMHO here is the best Canon review site:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-17-55mm-f-2.8-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

You will find many other sites with comments about front element dust.
There appears to be porr or no sealing to the area behind the front element, so the large change in volume when zooming creates an ideal pump. I have not come across a retrofit seal mod, but if that were possible, I am sure naturalists would go for it big time.

My 17-55 is now over 12 months old and has zero internal dust.
Its all about personal "camera equip hygiene" and being aware of this issue.

Yes this lens has very good optics, the above reviewer and others quote it at "L" quality without enviro sealing.

This lens is standard fit on my 50D and gets the most out of the increased pixel density of the 50D. My other zoom at present is a 70-300 f4, a bit soft at 250-300, but otherwise great on this camera and also manageable weight and balance.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM would be my other purchase for this camera, but at AUD 3000 at reputable OZ stores or as low as AUD 2000 on ebay for the original version. Heavy and expensive but an unbeatable lens in this zoom range. The non stabilised version is a comparitive bargain, but once you have used fast stabilised optics on a high-res DSLR its hard to live without stabilisation.

Currently researching modding to clip-in filters.

Cheers,

David

[hotspur]

Have you got a UV filter on it Jason? they seem to recomend that over on POTN,this one I got has had UV filter on it all the time.its three years old,but no dust issues.


Apparently,there is a U tube vid on taking that front lens off and cleanig it,many do it,Yes,I know you should'nt have to do something like that when you pay that much for a lens,Just one of those things I guess.

If your copy is a bad 'dust suker' you could sell it,Jason and get the 24-70 f 2.8

I was going to get that lens,but so many reports of soft copies,I got the 17-55,also on the crop I wanted lower focal length ranges.

yes,the images are very good,some how I would rather put up with dust,weight other issues in a lens,if it means I get the image I want.

[koputai]

Chris, thanks for mentioning the youtube video, if I keep this lens I'll give it a go. I do love the versatility of the lens.

My camera hygeine is good, always kept in the zipped up camera bag, and I've only had the thing for less than 3 weeks! There is obviously an issue with these lenses. I do not keep a filter on it though. I would think the dust would come in around the zoom portion, not through the front, but I'll give a UV filter a go.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Octane]

Your mileage may vary, but, the less glass you have in front (filters), the better your images'll be.

You're better off spending the bucks and getting a high quality circular polariser.

H

[koputai]

Yes I have one of those H, but it's not the kind of thing you leave on all the time!

I don't keep a filter permanently on either the 17-55 or the 10-22 for the reason you mentioned.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Jen]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: hope you get a lot of joy out of your new toy Chris :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[hotspur]

Thanks Jen,yep getting a lot FOI (fun on investment) with the new toys,I feel they will last me many years,the 50D has a solid professional feel about it,the menu lay out is great,I will still keep the 450D it has proven very capable.

Its taken me a good few months to get my current kit together,I delibrately set out to go for the 77mm dia lens as the main dia,for filter reasons.I am not a huge fan of filters,for reasons I agree with Humayan.

With the 400 L,I bought a good UV filter,but I felt I could notice the images were not quite as clear and crisp.so do not use it,often on that lens,I 'proved' my thoughts one day,When I had my 400 in the bag unused for 3 weeks,I saw a bird in yard-that I wanted a pic of so grabed the 400L,after reviewing pics on camera,I thought the usual magic just was'nt quite there,so adjust settings slightly,and took more pics.I checked again,and same feeling.I was a bit worried,but then I noticed filter on.Took it off,and magic again!

With the 17-55 F 2.8 it came with a hoya UV filter,the price on the box that it came with showed it was a lot cheaper,than the Hoya one I got,it was around $65 from the shops.Anyhow,I did a few tests,and to be quite honest I could not tell any difference between on or off,and I am pretty fussy.So left it on,there will be some applications I may try it without it on,but I feel confident with it on.The 17-55 also came with a Hoya circular Polarizer,it has $120 price tag on it,gave it a try seems useful,in certain applications,but I really do'nt know much about them.

Overall,its been an intersting Journey buying new kit.the current stable will remain at the front line of all my needs.I can only see another one lens I might buy soon and thats the 100mm F2.8 efs macro,but the 60 mm macro will fill the macro need for a while.

Someone mentioned Hoya HD fiters,I am not sure what these do,they may be like a UV filter,but sound expensive.they only other filter I would like to purchase in the near future is a ND 8 for water/river/creek photos.

I also very happy with the EX 430,I was really suprised how capable this item of kit was.

Yes,its nice to go up the EOS ladder (but expensive),I am hopping I get many years out of the current set up,with the next stop a 5D mkII

cheers Chris