Sorry Houghy, just stumbled onto this thread.
I have always liked primes, but the practicalities of the zoom sent me that way.
I have the 20D, and bought the 17-40 f4L series, and the 70-200 f4L series, both from an online dealer in Ozzie. They are superb. Yes, Canon make f2.8 equivilents, but they come at a cost, both to the wallet, and the back. They are bigger, heavier, and more expensive.
I might add that I use them about 50/50, night, and terrestrial (image library).
I used the 17-40 (at the 17 end) for the Milky Way rising above the hanger, and also the across the sky mosiac. For comets and tighter stuff etc I have used the 70-200, sometimes at the short end, sometimes at the longer end.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but buy the best you can.
I second that. I have the 17-40 F4 L and 70-200 F4 L. Have had them both from back when I had my film EOS 300. They both give perfect images. If only telescopes showed so little distortion and false colour.
I also chose these over the F2.8's - I couldn't justify the weight or the cost of F2.8. The 70-200L is very compact for it's quality and zoom range. The weight makes them great for piggyback photography, although my purchase of them was for daytime landscape/nature stuff.
As it turns out their zoom ranges are great for astro photography. Lots of great astro images with them sofar.
The 17-40L is weather sealed so it's water resistant (not proof) and dust proof. The 70-200L F4 is not, you need the 70-200 F2.8L IS to get the weather seals on that.
OK, a shameless plug http://www.camerasdirect.com.au/
Mark Hansen was the guy, and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him. It was a great deal, and the goods were equally good.
I might point out as well, I have no affiliation whatsoever with him/them.
Oh one thing I don't like about these lenses - they don't stop at infinity. I don't understand why, but I am guessing it's common in new lenses. Something to do with infra-red photograpy? My old Pentax ones do stop at infinity and so I never had focus issues doing astro photography with them.
Houghy, how about a 35mm f/2.0? 1/3 the price of the 17-40L f/4 and 1/4 the exposure time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rogerg
Oh one thing I don't like about these lenses - they don't stop at infinity. I don't understand why, but I am guessing it's common in new lenses. Something to do with infra-red photograpy? My old Pentax ones do stop at infinity and so I never had focus issues doing astro photography with them.
Roger.
Hi Roger. One reason for this is that ED (Canon call it UD I think) glass changes size slightly with temperature so the position of infinty on the focus ring can change depending on the temperature. Only 1 of my lenses stops at infintity and it's a non-ED glass lens, the rest go past infinity, the longer the focal length the further past it goes.
Hi Roger. One reason for this is that ED (Canon call it UD I think) glass changes size slightly with temperature so the position of infinty on the focus ring can change depending on the temperature. Only 1 of my lenses stops at infintity and it's a non-ED glass lens, the rest go past infinity, the longer the focal length the further past it goes.
Hence the need to check focus throughout the night if your imaging all night.
It's not a basic set and forget.
As temp changes so does focus.
Oh one thing I don't like about these lenses - they don't stop at infinity. I don't understand why, but I am guessing it's common in new lenses. Something to do with infra-red photograpy? My old Pentax ones do stop at infinity and so I never had focus issues doing astro photography with them.
Roger.
I'm with you, I regret the trend towards this type of 'infinity' no doubt a boon for laptop sales and relative software and people who love things to be as complex as possible - but a PITA IMO
I thought it was something to do with the macro craze - (damn flower pll) macro being the 'new infinity'
The Canon 200mm f2.8 L is superb. It costs less than $1000 to get from overseas and is well worth the money IMO.
The other gem is the Canon 50mm f1.8, the cheapest lens in their line up but very sharp .
Of the zooms I have heard good things about 70-200 f4.
Don't know too much about the wider angles, although I have heard the 24mm f2.8 is a good performer for astrophotography.
I have assumed you're not wanting to spend megabucks as there are better lens but you have to pay (i.e the Canon 200 f1.8L costs around $5000 SECONDHAND).