Lenses for photographing surgery

[orthopod]

Hey - that helps a lot and has redirected my train of thought, so many thanks for these comments. Flash was going to be my next question - more specifically 14EX or 24EX but i guess you have already answered that question for me.

Am now thinking that the EF-S 17-55 might be the way to go, with a more appropriate macro lens for the close-up stuff.

So many choices for the novice, and so much more to think about in the age of digital SLRs (especially since the last SLR I bought came out of my allowance! at least i have a salary now, but although budget is now less of an issue, I still want to spend sensibly with an eye to developing a useful set of the best quality lenses i can afford over the next few years). I am looking forward to it

Thanks again

[Busted Knuckles]

I am going to pitch the 17-40 again. Little bit closer focusing than the 17-55 (which I own and like very much) and it is a full frame lens that will have greater practicality if you ever go Full Frame. w/ a flash the 2.8 vs. f4 issue goes away and most likely you will find the 2.8 doesn't have the depth of field to get the surgical field???? at 2.8 55 mm zoom the dof is very small close up - at 50 centimeters between sensor plane and subject the DOF at 2.8 is .79 centimeters at f4 it is 1.2 centimeters.

W/ the 40 mm focal length the DOF is 1.6 CM at f2.8 and 2.2CM at f4.

I will shut up now.

Hey - that helps a lot and has redirected my train of thought, so many thanks for these comments. Flash was going to be my next question - more specifically 14EX or 24EX but i guess you have already answered that question for me.

Am now thinking that the EF-S 17-55 might be the way to go, with a more appropriate macro lens for the close-up stuff.

So many choices for the novice, and so much more to think about in the age of digital SLRs (especially since the last SLR I bought came out of my allowance! at least i have a salary now, but although budget is now less of an issue, I still want to spend sensibly with an eye to developing a useful set of the best quality lenses i can afford over the next few years). I am looking forward to it

Thanks again