Canon Zoom F4 17 - 40

[bennito42]

I currently own 70-200 F4., 24 - 105 F.4., F2.5 50mm macro., and F2.8 20 mm lens ( all Canon). As I am getting little use from the 2.5 50mm macro these days, I am thinking of selling the macro and 20 mm lens to help me finance the Canon F4 17 - 40 Zoom. On one hand it would reduce the number of lens and give me the opportunity of gaining a wider lens that I currently own. But on the other side of the equation , I am really only going to gain a focal length in the range of 17 - 24 mm (I do mainly landscape photos) and loose the advantage of a faster 20mm lens. Any comments would be appreciated.

[coolie21]

Will this be on full frame or crop? I have the 17-40, its a cracking lens but really came into its own on full frame. Don't think the slower max aperture will make a difference for you as you will mainly be using it for landscapes. You could decide if you still needed the 20mm prime later and sell it if not going to be used. You will then have cover from 17mm to 200mm with 3 lenses.

[bennito42]

Thanks Alan...Yes I have a Canon 5D...... thanks for your input

[KeeFy]

As Alan mentioned, FF or Crop makes a huge difference. You can consider a UWA Sigma 12-24mm which will effectively work with your lineup and giving you a much wider angle as well. Costs about the same as 17-40.

[William W]

I am really only going to gain a focal length in the range of 17 - 24 mm (I do mainly landscape photos) and loose the advantage of a faster 20mm lens. Any comments would be appreciated.

. . . and the faster 50mm lens too.

WW

[Bennymiata]

Check out the Tokina 11-17mm F2.8 if you need a good wide angle.

Fantastic!

[KeeFy]

The tokina 11-16 only works on crop, well if you don't mind having the photo "cropped" into a circle it will work on a FF as well.

[Bennymiata]

Actually, it will work on FF camera, as long as you keep it above 15mm.

[William W]

The way I see your situation (only from what has been disclosed) is you would be better to sell the 70 to 200/4 and buy a 17 to 40 to use with the 24 to 105. It seems you are relatively happy with F/4 for your zooms and the difference between a maximum 105mm and maximum 200, is less than the difference from 17 to 24, for a predominately landscape focussed shooter.
In this manner you still keep a faster 20 and also the most sharp, 50/2.5. You specifically mentioned the speed of the (prime) lenses as a concern to you.

Another alternative is to sell the 24 to 105, sell the 70 to 200 and sell the 20/2.8 and buy the 17 to 40 and also the 70 to 200F/4 IS USM. There is not that much “gap” between 40 and 70 and the 50/2.5 not only fills that “gap” but also is also a most perfect “standard lens” for the 5D, and you extend the Image Stabilisation range to 200mm, though obviously you relinquish IS from 24mm to 69mm - but that seems little loss for a predominately Landscape shooter.

In any event, I am curious: Do you have the Life Size Converter for the 50/2.5?

WW

[bennito42]

Hi William,
Well I've taken the plunge and sold both the F2.8 20mm, the F4.0 70 - 200 Zoom and the 1.4 Extender 11.
My intention is to try the F 4.0 17 - 40 Zoom...I would have liked the F 2.8 16 - 35mm zoom but it's nearly twice the price here in Aus. than the F 4.0
So I'm going to end up with the 17-40, 24-105, and the 2.5 50 mm. Sorry I forgot to mention that I don't have the Life size converter for the 2.5, 50.
Well for a change I've come out with a new lens and money in my pocket !!..... just wonder how long that'll last !!

[William W]

Thanks for answering about the life size converter - I was specifically interested because at the time I was told from another source, that the LSC is difficult to get at the moment, so if you had one and were not using it much - it might have been valuable to sell.

Have fun with your new lens, I look forward to seeing some nice images.

WW