Bambi

Hi guys, I'm thinking of buying a new DSLR for my wife to replace her Canon EOS 400D. I have my eyes on the new Canon EOS 50D but couldn't decide whether I should get the body only or with kit lenses.


There are 2 kit lenses available for the 50D:
1. EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM OR
2. EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

My wife has the following lenses now:
1. EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM
2. EF 50mm f/1.8 II
3. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
4. EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
5. EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

She uses the camera mostly taking pics of my 2 years old daughter and when we are on vacations. It's a surprise gift for her so I can't ask her which lenses she would like. And I know nothing about DSLR and lenses so I have no idea which one to get.

Anyone can give me some recommendations?

BrianTx5

What is the price difference if you kit the body only versus the body plus lens kit?
She already has a pretty good set of lenses which cover the range of the two lenses in the kit.
I have an 18-200mm lens. That is a great lens if you just one to take the camera with only one lens attached. It covers a wide range with just one lens.

UUronL

Member "Seoulman" just bought the 50D and has many of those same lenses. PM him, or perhaps he'll chime in here.

mtw1116

Just get the body only, since your wife has all those good lenses.. Good luck!!!

sese

EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

seoulman

And here I am chiming in! I bought a Canon 50D, some lenses and a few accessories over the weekend to replace some equipment that was stolen. I got the following gear.

- Canon 50D body
- EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens
- EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens
- EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens
- SPEEDLITE 580EX II flash
- BG-E2N battery grip

I've only had the camera for a couple of days now, but from my short stint with it so far, it is awesome. The image quality, the speed, the LCD screen are all fabulous. I would highly recommend it!

As for your question, on whether you should buy just the body or the body with a kit lens, your wife has a fairly good focal range coverage of 18mm to 250mm with her current collection, and it is quite a collection!

- EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM
- EF 50mm f/1.8 II
- EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
- EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
- EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

The kit lenses you are considering are the standard zoom focal lengths for a 'walk around' lens which the EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM (an awesome lens and UUronL will attest to this) is, so the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM would be redundant. If you wife needs general purpose lens with a broad focal range coverage, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS might be useful to her (but I think this lens would also be redundant), so forget about getting the 50D with kit lenses.

Both the 50D (which you want to get for your wife) and the 400D (which your wife already has) are both crop sensor bodies. Simply put, whatever lens your wife has, the focal length must be multiplied by a factor of 1.6. For example, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS on either camera would not be a 29-88mm (standard zoom focal length). Because of this 1.6 factor, your wife doesn't have a true wide angle lens. So... my recommendation to you, if you want to get her a camera and a lens, would the 50D with the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. With the 1.6 factor, this lens would effectively be a 16mm - 35mm. This is also a fabulous lens and gets kudos because the lens glass is the same grade as Canon's professional L lenses. 'alexf9496' also uses this lens and loves it. Having a true wide angle lens will open up many more photographic options for your wife when taking pictures.

If you have any more questions, just put up a post here or send me a PM. I think 'alexf9496' (who is a Canon 40D user) will probably chime in to give his advice. He's the one that recommended the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM to me.

Bambi

Hey guys, thanks for the info. Damn, these hobby is really expensive! It runs close to our car modding expenses!!!

Anyway, now I know the lenses that my wife has are already covering the ranges of the two 50D kit lenses. But what about the picture qualities? The "f" or "L" in the lenses' name matters too right? Sorry for my stupid questions.

So the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is for wide angle shooting? Like landscape and scenic shooting? And not much for portrait right?

seoulman

Yes... photography can be an expensive hobby. Especially with DSLRs, lenses and accessories!

Regarding the number after the 'f' on a lens, it refers to the 'speed' or the largest aperture opening of the lens. The lower the number, the 'faster' the lens is. To put it in the in the simplest terms possible, a lower 'f' number means that more light can enter through the lens to the image sensor of the camera. This would be useful in lower light conditions when you want to use a higher shutter speed and/or can't or don't want to use a flash. The letter 'L' in Canon lenses refer to Canon's high-end professional grade lenses/optics. Neither of the kit lenses that you are considering have the image quality of the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens your wife currently has. This lens is fantastic! One of my favorite lenses with incredible image quality.

Yes, the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is for wide angle shooting. It provides a true wide angle for crop sensor bodies like the 50D and the 400D. While wide angle lenses are mostly used for landscape, scenic and group pictures. Having a true wide angle lens will open up more creative photographic opportunities for your wife, and at the longer end of the focal range of this lens, your wife can use it for portrait work.

Although the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM and 2. EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS are good lenses, I doubt your wife will get much use out them because she already has these focal ranges covered in her current collection. In fact, she could get rid of at least one lens in her collection that is doubled up. The EF 50mm f/1.8 II because she has the 'faster' EF 50mm f/1.4 USM.

If your options are purely 50D body only, 50D with EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM or 50D with EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, my recommendation would be to get her just the 50D body. Getting her either of the two lenses would give her more redundancy in her lens collection.

Take a look at this thread starting on the second page. There are post regarding lenses with sample photos. The advice there may also help.

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=61832

Bambi

I guess I'll go for the body only then. Do you guys think the EOS 5D Mark II will be too heavy for my wife/female? Will she be better off in just using the 50D range camera in a long run?

seoulman

The Canon 5D Mark II is a great camera for portrait work. I believe that a few members of the forum who are also photography buffs have placed their orders. However, the 5D Mark II is slated for release sometime in late October or November. Apparently, there are long waiting lists for this camera and it costs a little more than double the price of a 50D. If your wife is quite an advanced/experienced amateur, then it might be worth getting the 5D Mark II for her. If not, she'll probably be better off with a 50D. Moreover, the 5D Mark II is a full frame (full sized sensor) DSLR. Any EF-S (crop sensor camera like the 50D or the 400D dedicated lenses) will not work on the 5D Mark II. However, the 5D Mark II will take full advantage of her wonderful EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.

With the 5D Mark II being a full frame DSLR, naturally it will be bigger, and it weighs in at 810g versus 740g for the 50D. If your wife has small hands, she may prefer the 'feel' of the 50D.