Canon DSLR Lens choices (XTi)

[wetman]

Hi,

So I've been shooting with the C5050 for a long time and have just moved to the rebel. Having a hard time with lens choices though.

For wide angle - what are typical apertures people are taking wreck shots at? The reason i ask is if there any value in the 14 mm 2.8 or if the wide zooms would be just fine (at 3.5-4.5 i think for the canon efs 10-22). Most wide angles arent done at those wide apertures but f8 and up.

Macro: i have a 100 2.8 but think given the crop sensor taht the 60 might be ideal as mentioned in martin edge's book.

I currently have the sigma 17-70 which may do in a pinch at both ends of the scale but i'd rather do this right the first time.

thanks for any comments.

steve

 

[Jamdiver]

Sigma Af 17-70mm macro lens wetman??

Don't shoot with a dslr myself, but they're quite a few who do on SB, so you're sure to get useful input.

.

 

[Jafo123]

Wetman; I was just woundering witch Rebel you have? I just got the Rebel XTi 400D and they don't make a housing for it yet. Or do they?

 

[Jamdiver]

Wetman; I was just woundering witch Rebel you have? I just got the Rebel XTi 400D and they don't make a housing for it yet. Or do they?

Ikelite makes a housing for the 400D which can be seen here

 

[wetman]

Ya its the ikelite i'm getting for the 400. Just trying to decide on lenses to choose the proper ports.

 

[alcina]

Here ya go - list of lenses and remarks.

For apertures...usually get the fastest glass you can. You may not think you will use it, but you likely will - especially on land.

I don't shoot any of my lenses wider than f8 most of the time. My macros are usually at least f11; I will use something more wide open for effect, but not for my average shooting. My WA stuff I usually start with f8 or so and work from there.

My lenses, in order of "favourites"
- 60mm macro...would NOT be withouth this one
- Sigma 17-70...great for those days I just don't know what I want or when I know there will be good little and big stuff
- 100mm macro...I'm a macro girl
- 10-22 Canon...I haven't had this one underwater yet but I love it on land. I know I will like it uw, too, but it is a more specialized lens and like I said above, I'm a macro girl at heart!
- Woody's dioptre...if I'm shooting a flat port I never go down without a Woody

 

[wetman]

Alcina,

I did read that one last night - it pretty much confirmed my 60 mm thinking, but my bigger confusion is around the wide zooms or the wide primes.

That canon 14mm (or even sigma 14mm) are 2.8s. Coming from a P&S i'm quite used to huge DOF even at the wider apertures. This has gotten me used to bright pics at reasonable shutter speeds with great DOF and low ISOs. Since the SLR world isnt quite that way i've been trying to figure out the best combos here. I understand some of these wide anglers have some great DOFs but would these be similar to what i'm used to? in other words, would the 2.8 on the wide zoom or 14 be big enough? Or are you typically taking pics from f8-f16 or so to get adequate DOF and thus having to make up for that with slower shutters and/or higher ISOs?

My biggest concern is on the natural lighting pics. These are the ones i love most. I'm not so into wide close shots where flash would mitigate a lot of these issues.

The books i've been reading so far seem to be f5.6 to f16ish for a lot of these wider shots and rarely at the wider apertures.

thanks for your help.

steve

 

[alcina]

Steve - with the lenses you are considering, 5.6 will be fine. It will give you good DOF. You'll need to experiment with wider apertures - it's not a style I am particularly fond of personally, so I don't really have any first hand experience to offer.

You might also want to consider the Sigma 15mm - nice lens. Make sure it works with your system.

The Canon 10-22 is at the top of the UWA choices.

 

[shellbackdiver1]

Wetman; I was just woundering witch Rebel you have? I just got the Rebel XTi 400D and they don't make a housing for it yet. Or do they?

For a little more then the Ikelite and all AL housing check this out. I work for this store and if you are interested let me know.

http://www.fun-in.com.tw/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=86_17_159&products_id=958