HELP need your advice with lens selection for a CANON EOS 1DS MARK III.

What have I done.


I am just getting started in photography and decide to go all out, I have on hold with my order a CANON EOS 1DS MARK III.


The problem I am having is lens selection, after reading the pages of lens info on this site and other'sI have just become more confused.


I want to cover the whole spectrum of photograpyfrom macro TO long distance and everything in between.


If you could have it your way and money wasn't a issue but didn't want to buy every lens made from canon what do you think would be the lens selectionfrom <canon only> to creat the ultimate lens kit for this camera thank's and please be specific.


also thank's eveyone for your helpfull responses..

What do you shoot?Just start out anddecide to geta 1DsMark III? You're in for a lot of camera than you can handle [:)]You can read Bryan's lens recommendation page.

The 24-105L will give you lots of range in one lens to see what type of shooting you like.

The 70-200 2.8L IS and the 16-35 2.8 will both compliment the above lens.

That's easy! Just buy every lens. :)


Seriously, this is the problem we all face: trying to prioritize what's most important to us so we can make a purchase. Think about what kind of pictures are the most important to you, then buy the lens that will help with that.

I think Daniel's advice is probably right on, (well, not the 'just buy every lens' part [:D]). You really have to look at what you're going to be shooting the most and that will help you choose the right lenses. Bryan's reviews usually include what each lens might be good for. You can cover a lot of range with just a few zooms like the 16-35, 24-105, 100-400, and then pick up a 100mm Macro and maybe a 50mm prime but it may be different for you if you plan on doing a lot of action/low light stuff, where you might want the 24-70 and the 70-200 2.8 IS--it all depends.


You might even consider spending less on the camera body, i.e. getting a 5D mk2 and having a little more to get different lenses, unless you have the money to spare, which I thinkmost of us wish we had...The 1Ds MK III is an incredible tool and will allow you to capture some great images, but it is a lot of camera to start with and may be more than what you need. Just my .02

+1 on the 5d mark2, unless you are shooting sports or want full weather proof (it's only partial for 5D rite)

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Originally Posted by ultima16888

(it's only partial for 5D rite)
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Which is a shame. I hate when Canon do that, I think all the SLRs, or at least the semi-pro and the pro, should be weather proof.


Plus, I think that at least the more expensive lenses such as the 17-55 should come with a lens hood.


Is there any chance that the stupid marketing guys in Canon are ever going to listen to us? I mean c'mon... a $800+ lens HAS to come with a hood, and a $800+ body should be weather proof![8o|]


That's it, I'm done with the rants [:P]

Stick with the "L" series

I love my 70-200 f/4, though I would get the IS version if you can spare the extra dollars. It's lighter and less bulky than the 2.8 version, so unless those extra f-stops my preference is the f/4. I've heard excellent things about the 300mm and 400mm prime lenses, but I haven't had the oppertunity to use them yet. However, depending on what you intend to shoot the prime lenses may be limiting - in which case the 100-400mm might be better, though not quite as sharp.


Lucky you to be getting the 1Ds Mk III ! I'm only a little jealous... ;)

I have a 16-35, 24-105L and 70-200 f/2.8 :) just got this one. I can shoot almost anything. If you have that kind money though I would buy 200 prime f/2.0 and every 100mm step above that to 800mm and there ya go. If it is on this planet you can shoot it. That is way too much to take on but hey if your up for the challange. Other wise i would take Eric's advice and get the 24-105 to see what you like to shoot. Wish I had your kind of money. :(

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I think I got it figured out just shoping around now and figured for sure I would go to some of the local stores this whole on line thing is to scarry to deal with.

How many cameras are you going to have? If you have enough to not get caught with the wrong lenses ready, the 14/2.8, 35/1.4, 85/1.2, 200/2, 400/2.8, and 600/4 should work very, very well. However, you're looking at perhaps $22k in glass, and that'd be after $24-32k in cameras. To begin, you probably want zooms until you have enough bodies to live on primes.


I have a 1D3 and a Rebel XTi. If my girlfriend isn't shooting, I also have a 40D available to me. Two bodies isn't enough for me (and the XTi is so incomparable to the 1D3 that I have to choose my lenses very carefully for each shoot; even the 40D requires careful pre-planning). On sailing trips, we use 1D3/16-35 (usually aperture-priority to f/11 for waterscape shots), XTI/24-105 (Program, for candids on the boat), and 40D/70-200 (Av to f/2.8 for singular-theme shots). This covers us, leaving the 50/1.8 and EF-S 18-55 in the bag as spares. When we go on shore for dinner, I'll often switch to 1D3/16-35 and 40D/24-105 so at least the stuff hanging off my shoulders is black. :) I'm tempted to rent the 400/4 for our next trip, but I'll have to see how the economy is doing. Perhaps this gives you a better idea of lens choices, etc.

17-40 L F4 it's wide enough but have stra cash go for 16-35 MKII.I use 17-40 L F4 and 20mm USM F2.8 for my 1Ds MKIII and 1D MKII i will use 135 L

I'll second the notion of get a basic zoom lens, 24-105 or 24-70, learn to use it, discover it's limitations in the context of what you find yourself wanting to accomplish, and then purchase the lenses that serve to better the purpose where the lenses that you have lack.


If you just dump a bunch of money into EVERYTHING, it'll be difficult to focus and really grow into what the equipment can do, and you'll just be a dude with a lot of gear who gets frustrated when the gear doesn't cooperate with what you think it should accomplish.


Now, if you want to turn the thread into a.... "What Canon lenses would you have if budget were no concern....", well, I think a lot of us would like to daydream :)

I use EF 17-40 F4 L. EF 20 USM 2.8 .... bare in mind this camera is not good for fast action.... that is why they modelled it 1Ds "s" means studio.[:D]

WRT suggestions that you consider a less expensive body, I have this to add. Camera bodies are a little like computers. You are paying to use the thing for a few years, since in a few years something better will be out. So if you're prepared to spend $8000 on a body every few years, by all means, go for it: the 1DsIII is a great camera if price is no object. But don't think of it as an investment to last for decades. (Not that the camera won't last- it's built like a tank... but my guess is, in a few years a $2000-3000 camera will be superior).


Now to lenses. They hold value better. I agree with others who say that you need to know what you'll be shooting.


That said, for portraits I would start with the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. If I found myself taking lots of portraits, I might later find that I wanted one or more of 85mm f/1.2, 135mm f/2, and 200mm f/2. (Which, personally, I do... all of them :) ) You would know which (if any) you want after using the 70-200 for a while.


For macro I would start with the 100mm f/2.8 macro. If I found myself taking lots of macro pictures but wishing for more reach, I would add the 180mm macro. If I found myself maxing out the magnification and adding extension tubes and never getting enough (which personally, I have :) ) I would think about adding the 65mm mp-e


I'd get a 16-35 f/2.8 or 17-40 f/4 for landscapes. If I found myself taking lots of pictures at the wide end (which personally, I don't), I would later add a 14mm prime.


If I wanted to take pictures of birds or do other long range nature photography, I would get a 100-400 zoom. After using this lens for a while, I might find I wanted a faster lens (300 or 400mm f/2.8) or a longer one (eg 600mm f/4 or 800mm f/5.6).


Why, with all of that, I might almost be happy.


That is, until the 1Ds Mark IV comes out. [:D]