opinions

[Joe H]

OK. I am new to photography and have no equipment. Plan on buying a Higher end Nikon or Canon. I am the type who only likes to buy things once if possible. With that said I am wanting to buy only prime lenses. I am thinking mostly zoom to cover the spectrem with two or three lenses. Does this sound right? Also if you were planning this route which one would you buy first? Thanks in advance.

[Shane]

By "prime", do you mean "top quality" or "fixed focal length"? Also, what type of photography are you interested in? What types of pictures do you want to take? That will determine the lenses that you need.

[Joe H]

By prime I mean top quality. Mainly family pics in house and yard. Wildlife pics, landscapes

[Bluesman]

Canon has a good forum as does Fred Miranda, these may have the info you seek as well as reviews.
IMO
Prime lenses as in fixed focal lengths will give the sharpest focus. Expect sticker shock.
For small to medium birds 400mm to 600mm and and a teleconverter is handy.
Medium birds to deer sized targets 200 to 400mm.
People? Really a critical choice but something around 100mm is good.
Landscapes. Low 17mm to 100mm. Again a critical choice.

The whole issue is a can of worms. Prime lenses often leave you too close or too far away. Zoom telephotos aren't typically always sharp.
Consider that a 600mm Canon will set you back around $8,000. For that expense you wouldn't want to skimp on a body.

[Shane]

By prime I mean top quality. Mainly family pics in house and yard. Wildlife pics, landscapes

My favorite landscape lens is a Tokina 12-24mm f/4. Tokina makes an f/2.8 11-16mm that I would probably buy instead if I were buying again. I use the short end of the 12-24 almost exclusively, and f/2.8 would be nice sometimes. They're both really nice.

Canon makes a 28-70mm f/2.8 L lens that would be good in the middle ranges. You don't really need to exactly overlap every single focal length, IMO.

The next jump past 70mm would be 100mm or so. The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L with Image Stabilization is a lens that I lust after.

Or, you can get a 70-200mm f/4 L or a more expensive version with f/2.8 - both come in IS or non-IS versions. They are great lenses. I have the f/4 non-IS. 200mm isn't long enough for birds and wildlife past bow range really though.

Another good option would be the f/4 300mm L prime.

A 1.4x or a 2x teleconverter will increase the focal length of any lens. The 1.4x TC is reported to be more sharp than the 2x.

Add all that up, and it's a chunk of change.

Of course, you'll end up wanting a 100mm macro and a 15mm fisheye eventually, so get the checkbook warmed up.

[Casey]

Canon 7D
Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS
Canon 70-200 F2.8L IS

Start there.

[Bluesman]

Shane, I'm not sure $20,000 would get me what I think I need
Then I'd have to locate talent somehow!

[Shane]

Shane, I'm not sure $20,000 would get me what I think I need
Then I'd have to locate talent somehow!

Me too! I didn't even mention the 400mm and 600mm glass that I lust over every time I see Russell. Talk about "unit" envy!

[scotty]

Or...


Nikon D700
14-24 f2.8
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8
That'll only set you back about $8200.00

And then you can add a 200-400 f4 for another $6100.00

[MC70]

Buying something like this 'once' is kind of a 'pot-o-gold' idea. The truth is that every year a newer, greater, better *something* comes along to make whatever you have obsolete. The pro level cameras just a few years ago have been largely surpassed by cameras most would consider intermediate oriented cameras today.

I think just having a good quality body with the ability to fit a host of lenses to it is the key. Being an electronics tech, I can tell you that a lot of cameras of all levels share a lot of componentry. I won't say that there aren't distinct and tangible differences between intermediate and upper scale cameras, but when it comes down to it, the glass is your biggest variable.

My opinion is to get the intermediate to pro-sumer quality body, then invest in glass. Nikon or Canon leave you splitting hairs; so probably whatever you just happen to like as a personal matter of preference is fine.

[scotty]

X2 ^
Camera bodies are almost obsolete after a few years. Great glass is forever. Realistically, get a good body and invest in great lenses.

[jdma]

I agree with Casey. Canon 7d with the 70 - 200mm f2.8L IS. I use this one a lot. You might throw in a 50mm for little to nothing for cost and you will get great pictures. f1/8 cheap and the f1/4 is a little more expensive but for the money f1/8 should work great for you but it is pretty noisy if you need to use it in quite places I would spend the money for the more expensive f1/4.