10/14 Does it make sense to buy nice lenses (2.8L) to be used on your
non-full-frame DSLR?
\_ Why not? A nice lens is a nice lens. Also, 2.8L doesn't say much.
I mean, 135mm f/2.0L is a nice lens, regardless of if the body it's
attached to has a crop sensor or a full-frame sensor. There's no
other way to get f/2.0 at that focal length, so there's nothing
more to think about.
\_ For starter, it's like putting a Z rated 180MPH tire on
a Toyota Prius. It may work, but... WHY???
\_ No, that would decrease the Prius' gas mileage.
\_ LOL, I got it. ok, here is the thing. "L" doesn't necessary mean
"good" lenses. There are plenty of lenses that is not "L" in the
canon lines that has equivalent optical quality. Secondly, nobody
describe lens in your way. You don't say "2.8L" as it is some sort
of engine displacement. you can say f/2.8 or f2.8
Thirdly, optical quality of a lens has NOTHING TO DO with the
maximum aperature. There are plenty of good lenses that is actually
very slow. I've seen good lens that has aperature of f/4, f/5.6
even f/8.
My advices to you are: always go for best optical quality
lens you can afford. If it means sacrafice in features (AF/MF
clutch, Image stablization), zoom range (smaller zoom range or even
fixed-focal length), slower AF, or simply getting an used one
instead a new one, do it. 2nd. Always go for the lens that is
full-frame compatible. Camera is moving towards full-frames, and
\_ uh, no. Nikon is embracing DX, just look at their extensive
DX lens lines (much more than Canon). Nikon is aiming for the
consumer end DSLR market. They even made it possible to
mount DX lenses on FX bodies, whereas it's not possible on
Canon. Nikon is really losing grounds on the professional end
DSLR niche. Canon is not really embracing the consumer end DSLR
and instead is re-focusing on professional full-frame
cameras. There are signs that they're cooling off on the
1.6X EF-S end that the Nikon is dominating right now.
\_ the reason why I said full-frame eventually going to
prevail is simple. While non-full-frame's image sensor
is a lot cheaper than full-frame today, the ultra-wide
angle kit-lens is a lot more to make than the wide angle
kit-lens. While cost of manufacturing image sensor is
coming down at a rapid (eventhough not rapid enough even
for me) rate, cost of making lenses doesn't go down that
quickly. Eventually, it is going to be a lot cheaper to
make a full-frame body and attach with a cheap zoom, than
making a smaller sensor and attach with a more expensive
ultra-wide angle zoom. kngharv
\- i agree with your mkt read over holobs, but i think you
need to provide more guidance than "buy the best optical
quality lenses you can afford". ideally, you would have
some sense of what you budget is a couple of years out
and what kind fo photography is the most meaningful to
you, but usually this is a case of "decision making under
uncertainty" and it's the uncertainty you need to guide
somebody through ... as opposed to picking between Canon Y
and Nikon X or Lens A+B or Lens C. i think some people
would prefer to say able able to shoot 6/10 landscape and
6/10 portraits and 6/10 telephoto and others might prefer
to shoot 8/10 landscape, 8/10 portraits, and 2/10 t'photo.
and again, i think if you are shooting in "difficult
situation" [hiking/climbing or other wise on-the-go,
unsafe [theft or damage] etc] weight and cost really,
really matter. a 3lbs +$1k high quality lens which you
hardly ever use because it is an asspain to haul around
may not serve you as well as a >$500 zoom. if you are just
getting into photography and choosing betwee a $500 lens
and a higher quality $1500 lens, spend the $1000 on a
ticket to somewhere photogenic ... like Nepal or HKG.
\_ except that's like bringing a lot of condoms to
Amsterdam only to find that you don't have enough
money to blow on um... local attractions.
\- the ambiguously asexual psb does not get humor.
your lens is going to last a lot longer *AND* retain a lot more
resell value than your camera body. kngharv
\_ I've been waiting for a full-frame body for less than 1.5K
since 2002. I'm tired of waiting. Advice?
\_ Buy a non-full-frame body?
\_ I have a D80, should I skip the D90 upgrade path?
\_ Seconded. -tom
\_ Third EXCEPT for the D40 since it can't use regular
AF for auto-focus. Many signs point that AF will be
around for only 5-10 years since new lenses today
like the brand new AF-S 50mm f/1.4 that just announced
will replace the AF 50mm lines, for about $100 more.
\_ yup, that is why I own a D50 and go out of my way
to look for a refurbished D50 for my friends who
want go into photography and want to stick with Nikon.
\_ Why not own both Canon + Nikon? It doesn't cost
that much more considering the TOTAL system you'll
spend anyways on a variety of good prime lenses.
PS I hate zoom lenses. Convenient, shitty pics.
\- your brain -> ISO 32 [and i mean "slow" not
"sharp"]
\_ Well sometimes convenience is required to be able
to get the shot at all. You can't always lug
around a bunch of camera crap, and fiddling with
lenses/settings takes time.
\_ also EXCEPT for the D40x and D60. |