Lens Questions

[sdchickie]

Hi, I recently inherited some really nice photo equipment from my dad who was really into photography. The problem is I have no idea what the numbers on the lenses mean, so I'm trying to figure out which 2 lenses would be best to bring to Disney on our next trip. I want to get some action shots of the kids but I want something that will allow me to get the whole castle (like wide angle). I have a Canon EOS 5D and the lenses I have are a 24-70mm 1:2.8 , 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 , 17-40mm 1:4 , and a 70-200mm 1:4. All of them are auto focus so I won't have to worry about that. Please tell me which 2 you would take and why you would take each. Thanks!

 

[VVFF]

Hi, I recently inherited some really nice photo equipment from my dad who was really into photography. The problem is I have no idea what the numbers on the lenses mean, so I'm trying to figure out which 2 lenses would be best to bring to Disney on our next trip. I want to get some action shots of the kids but I want something that will allow me to get the whole castle (like wide angle). I have a Canon EOS 5D and the lenses I have are a 24-70mm 1:2.8 , 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 , 17-40mm 1:4 , and a 70-200mm 1:4. All of them are auto focus so I won't have to worry about that. Please tell me which 2 you would take and why you would take each. Thanks!

Bring the 24-70 and the 70-200mm if possible. The 24-70 would be your walk around lens and available light shots(restaurants etc.). The 70-200mm would mainly be for animal kingdom or if you wanted to get a closeup of a character/ride without walking close.

The 17-40 is a nice lens, but the 24-70 is simply more important with its large aperture.

 

[sdchickie]

Thanks! BTW I now can't get that Veggi song out of my head! How I even remember it after all these years is beyond me!

 

[seashoreCM]

(Assuming you have a 35mm film camera and the lenses were meant for it.)

Your 24mm-70mm lens is a "standard" lens with a little zoom and a little allowance for wide angle.

I'll have to use generalizations (or some vagueness if you insist) because for modern point and shoots, 36mm is standard angle while for traditional professional cameras 50mm (slightly narrower) is standard angle. Maybe we could for the sake of argument say that 42mm (about halfway in between) is "the" standard view.

Zoomed all the way out, you will have 24mm which is like pretending to stand back to almost twice the distance to get everyone or everything in the picture (wider angle). If the standard non-zoom lens was indeed 48mm, then zooming to 24mm with your lens is like standing back exactly twice the distance nfrom the subject.

Zoomed all the way in, you will have 70 mm which is like pretending you moved up almost to half the distance for a closer view. If the standard lens was indeed 35mm then 70mm is like moving up to exactly half the distance from the subject.

Zooming to 200mm using the other lens, your view is comparable to standing at about 1/4'th the distance while using a standard lens (exactly 1/4 the distance while using a 50mm lens).

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

If you took the lenses and put them on a different camera body, notably one with a different film or digital frame size, the proportions (half the distance etc.) will be the same between standard view, wide view, telephoto view, etc. but the absolute view in terms of degrees for "standard" will be different. The lens is projecting the same image, of the same size, into the second camera body as the first, but a smaller frame will of course not span as much of the image. Some additional math (crop factors) is needed to relate the standard lens that came with the camera to a standard lens from a different camera interchanged and screwed on.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Bring the 24-70 and the 70-200mm if possible. The 24-70 would be your walk around lens and available light shots(restaurants etc.). The 70-200mm would mainly be for animal kingdom or if you wanted to get a closeup of a character/ride without walking close.

The 17-40 is a nice lens, but the 24-70 is simply more important with its large aperture.

Totally agree with this advice. The 24-70 is about the perfect walk around lens on a 5D. I probably wouldn't tote the 70-200 any place but the AK but I would take it for that. Both great lenses. Hopefully you have a flash unit as well.
The 17-40 is a wider angle lens but it's f4 which means it's slighly slower than the f2.8 on the 24-70. The f2.8 means that lens will give you a slighly faster shutter speed which is better for hand held shots (I'm assuming you will be shooting in auto modes). The f2.8 will also give you better exposures in low light. You will not have any trouble getting the entire castle in a 24mm frame on the 5D. Try to get familiar with the camera before you go. If you do not have an owners manual you can go to the Canon web site, look up the 5D and down load one. Try to keep yout shutter speeds at 1/250 or faster for hand held shots. You have inherited some very nice equipment. The 5D is a great camera.
Happy shooting!

 

[sdchickie]

Thanks for your input, I'm learning so much from this board. I just hope that my pictures will one day look as good as the ones I see on here. I have been playing around with the camera and I can tell you it definately does make a difference in the shots I get around the house. Just wish it weren't so heavy!
I can't wait to take it to Disney and see what I come up with.

 

[Docsknotinn]

The 24-70 is a bit heavy. Weight is almost always the down side of fast glass in a zoom lens. However many feel the results are worth toting the gear. Especially in low light. If you have a factory camera strap I highly suggest a neoprene camera strap like the Op-Tech. They flex and if you have the camera around your neck make it feel as though you are carying a lot less weight. They run about $20 IIR and they are worth every penny.
Try to get into the creative zones. If you are new to photography you may also want to pick up a copy of Bryan Peterson's book "understanding Exposure".
The only other thing I see I would add is a flash unit. They are not overly expensive. Even Costco carries a nice Canon flash unit.
You have some very, Very nice gear. I sincerely hope it brings you a lot of great memories.


http://optechusa.com/

 

[Todd_H]

Hi, I recently inherited some really nice photo equipment from my dad who was really into photography. The problem is I have no idea what the numbers on the lenses mean, so I'm trying to figure out which 2 lenses would be best to bring to Disney on our next trip. I want to get some action shots of the kids but I want something that will allow me to get the whole castle (like wide angle). I have a Canon EOS 5D and the lenses I have are a 24-70mm 1:2.8 , 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 , 17-40mm 1:4 , and a 70-200mm 1:4. All of them are auto focus so I won't have to worry about that. Please tell me which 2 you would take and why you would take each. Thanks!

Holy smokes ! You inherited that setup? Wow!

In all, I agree with VVFF about carrying the 24-70 and the 70-200. If you didn't have a full frame camera, I'd recommend taking the 17-40 over the 24-70, but since you have the 5D, you should carry the 24-70 as your walkaround lens. Be prepared for backaches, though . Oh, and be sure to post pictures when you get back .

Have fun!

 

[sdchickie]

I do have a flash, but once again don't know what all the buttons do.It's a Sigma EF-500 DG Super flash does anyone know if I have to use any of the functions to get it to do its thing or can I just turn it on and get passable flash shots? So many buttons between the camera and this flash it might take me 5 years just to figure out what they all do.

 

[Docsknotinn]

I'm not familiar with that flash at all but you should be able to turn it on, put your camera in one of the fully auto modes and take a photo with the flash working automatically. It can be as simple or as complex as you like.
Don't worry about the weight that much. Once you see the images you will get you will be glad you took the camera.

 

[jscott27]

I do have a flash, but once again don't know what all the buttons do.It's a Sigma EF-500 DG Super flash does anyone know if I have to use any of the functions to get it to do its thing or can I just turn it on and get passable flash shots?

I use the same flash with our digital rebel, but the 5D will allow you even more control over the flash (DR can' do FEC while the 5D can, for instance). You can get a manual from Sigma's web site for the flash.

The only problem with the flash is that it is rather big. Determine ahead of time if you really want to take it with you for the day. It all depends on what kind of pics you want to take and how high you are willing to go with the ISO.

 

[sdchickie]

Thanks for all your info, I've been reading up on the links that you all posted. So much info, I feel smarter already!