Author Topic: Help me choose a good lens for Canon 60D (Read 6346 times)

alexa_adrian2001 · « **on:** May 20, 2015, 01:48 »

Hi,
for the past 5 years I've been using Canon 450D with Canon 17-85 mm f3.5-5.6
Last year I purchased a Canon 60D and now is time for a new lens.
My types of photography are: travel(city/mountains/landscapes); group photos(so events...)

I would like to continue on on stock, for the moment, on travel photography category.

I would like to change my lens because I often get rejected for 'image is not sharp/focused'. So I suppose that my lens aren't working anymore properly.

I have been looking at next lenses:

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM - Canon EF

I have never worked with Sigma so I don't know how reliable they are.

Could you please help? In case you use one of these lenses maybe write a short feedback. Also if you have another choice.

Thanks a lot for your help.

enstoker · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2015, 04:00 »

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

sharpshot · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2015, 04:07 »

I don't like the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Mine was too soft at the wide end and it was a big heavy lens to carry around all day. So I would go for the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM. Not used it but other photographers seem to like it.

I've had some great sigma lenses and some not so good ones. If you can easily return it, might be worth a try. You might get lucky and get a good one first time.

My favourite canon lens is the cheap 50mm 1.8 mkII. Not as versatile as the zooms but weighs almost nothing and is sharp.

nicku · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2015, 05:29 »

In 90% of my photos (for stock) I use two lenses : Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM and Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM L, despite the fact that i have other quality lenses.

Personally I will chose a fixed focal lens for stock photography.

Tror · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2015, 06:27 »

Quote from: alexa_adrian2001 on May 20, 2015, 01:48

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM - Canon EF

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Bad lens. Maybe you won`t notice the quality flaws on a 60D, but surely the lens is a weak one on a mkIII or FF.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM - Canon EF
Has good reviews. I have no personal experience with the Sigma, but I use the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 a lot....quality lens for a relatively low price.

As someone else mentioned, you might look into the prime lenses. I use the 50mm f/1.4 a lot on my D810 and you usually get great images for less bucks, just a matter of getting comfortable with a fixed focal length...

...beyond that I fully agree with what sharpshot and nicku said...

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2015, 09:13 »

With the 60D you can use EF-S lenses. For travel I use the EF-S 10-22 and the EF-S 17-55. Both are quite sharp, light weight and not too expensive (but not cheap either). The 17-55 is also recommended #1 by the Digital Picture for general purpose lenses (http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-General-Purpose-Lens.aspx).

If you want something really light, small and relatively cheap I would go for the EF-S 24 mm pancake lens and the 40 mm pancake lens. I have the 40 mm and it is quite sharp but haven't seen the 24 mm yet. The pancake lenses have the advantage of not attracting much attention when walking around with them and you could easily carry them in a large pocket. You could get them both for around $300 and those focal lengths would cover a lot of travel photography.

If your main concern is focus rejections then new camera gear may not be the solution - you might need to review your technique as well, and get a tripod too. And of course nowadays it seems that the right reviewer is the most important - too bad we can't choose them. Good luck!

enstoker · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2015, 02:00 »

As I already said: This lens discussions are neverending story.

Thousands happy users with sharp piece and always are some unhappy users with "too soft in corners" lens.
If so, go back in store, change your "too soft in corners" lens and thats it.
Or buy prime one.
24 -105 is one of the best Canon zoom lens for a reasonable price.
And yes, for stock I do not use it on 24 or 105, 26 - 100 is just fine with superb results !
But for travel lens, is also from 24 to 105 excellent piece!

And about mentioned Pancake:
Pancake 40/2.8 RULZ !
Buy it, put it in your pocket and when you need tack sharp photo- use it!
Satisfaction guaranteed

TheDrift- · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2015, 12:40 »

I own both the 24 70 f2.8 mk 2 and the 24 105. I also shoot some stock.

If I had to only own one lens it would probably be the 24 105 it's just so much more versatile. If you don't mind spending the money the 24 70 and 70 200 is s great combo.

As other people of said a lack of sharpness is far more likely to be technique. Stock agencies tend to dislike shallow DoF's so from that point of view there is little to gain from the 2.8. For me the big reason for the 2.8 Is lowish light indoor portraiture