Lens or Body for Gift

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MrMitch

Spinning Drives Rule!
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Joined
Dec 13, 2004
Messages
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Howdy all,

With the tax return i am debt free and have about 1300 to play with.

My wife curently is rocking a XTI with the kit lens and a 35-128 EF USM IS lens. Now she LOVES photography and is quickly moving into prosumer range. She's done some sporting events, but nature is her thing.

So my question is what would be a better gift to give, a 50D, or something like a 70-200 L lens?

Would one be held back by the other, ie the L lens pointless on the XTI. She paid like $500 for the lens she has now, but it has a hard time "freezing" basketball players and isn't that great at low light.

just looking for direction, want to spend my money wisely, I am admitedly pretty clueless with photography.
 
if she likes nature, maybe you could get her a strobe or two and a micro lens?
 
What kind of nature? Macro? Landscapes? Animals?
 
darktiger said:
What kind of nature? Macro? Landscapes? Animals?
Click to expand...

Hmmm....all around nature shots???? Canon 100-400L. About $1400. You can swing that, can't you? :) If not, 70-300 IS. About $600. For indoor sports, try the EF 100mm F1.8. About $350+. You can try the one of the Sigma 400mm and 500 zoom lenses with OS. They can be had for under $1000. Out door nature and indoor sport shots do not mix. You need different glass, Is either or.
 
If she only has the 28-135, she'd probably get more out of a new lens or two.

I know it's crazy, but you might also ask her...
 
I would have to agree with everyone else. Get her some nice glass. Maybe go with a 70-200 F/4L as they run around $600 (with some shopping around). Then with the leftover, pick her up a grip and monopod because holding that big, heavy, EXPENSIVE lens is much easier with a monopod.

Most of all try and get a better idea of what she likes to shot more, landscapes, animals, macro etc. Maybe even pick up a good wide angle lens for those great panoramic shots like the Sigma 10-20mm or Canon 10-20mm, or something a bit larger and nicer like the Canon 16-35 F/2.8L(?). With a limit of $1300 you can do quite a bit with some good budget glass.

Definitely do what MrGuvrnment said:
head over to POTN for great lense advice for canon gear

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/
 
gregnash said:
I would have to agree with everyone else. Get her some nice glass. Maybe go with a 70-200 F/4L as they run around $600 (with some shopping around). Then with the leftover, pick her up a grip and monopod because holding that big, heavy, EXPENSIVE lens is much easier with a monopod.

Most of all try and get a better idea of what she likes to shot more, landscapes, animals, macro etc. Maybe even pick up a good wide angle lens for those great panoramic shots like the Sigma 10-20mm or Canon 10-20mm, or something a bit larger and nicer like the Canon 16-35 F/2.8L(?). With a limit of $1300 you can do quite a bit with some good budget glass.

Definitely do what MrGuvrnment said:
head over to POTN for great lense advice for canon gear

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/
Click to expand...

The 70-200 F4L with or without IS is LIGHT compared to other zooms. No need for a monopod really.

What kind of nature? Wildlife or plants, animals or birds? If it's birds the 400mm F5.6 is a great prime lens. The 100-400 is also a good choice. If it's plants, insects maybe the 100mm 2.8 Macro and something wide like the Tokina 11-16, Canon 10-22 or landscapes wide angle. Does she have a tripod? That would be a great gift. Some thing like a Manfrotto 190XProB (if she's short) or 055XProB (taller) and a 488RC2 head, with the 100 macro and something wide.

Indoor sports 85mm 1.8, 100 2.8 Macro are good indoor shooters. The 85 1.8 being the best focal point and speed. 70-200 2.8 is also a good choice as it covers the distance well and can do a great job on the long end. The 70-200 2.8 IS can be had for 1000ish used.
 
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