 - Susan Jane Allen  Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Good Landscape Lens Hi! I plan to take an excursion to a breathtaking area of China, Guilin, Guangxi--one of those magic areas depicted in Chinese art with water and straight up mountains, etc. and have decided to break down and buy a proper lens for landscape. I usually do macro. I can just see myself ignoring the landscape and chasing after bugs and butterflies and spending an hour capturing one leaf and regretting later! The only lens I have that is not macro or bird oriented is a 50mm kit lens that came with one of my cameras years back, so I'm woefully unequipped. Any suggestions?
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- Ann Varley Contact Ann Varley Ann Varley's Gallery |
Sounds like an amazing trip! I did a lot of research about wide angle lenses and travel photography before a recent trip to Alaska and ultimately decided I needed a Canon 16-35 mm f/2.8 III ... very fast, amazingly sharp corner to corner ... but the trouble was the cost to purchase! So I did the next best thing: I rented it! Just a couple hundred bucks for the two weeks I had it, then as turns out, I didn't use it much at all. Turns out I made better use of my old reliable Sigma 18-250 f/3.5 I already had in the bag. Go figure. I suppose the best advice I can offer is to be prepared for anything, and dont forget about polarizers and GND filters too. If you are interested, message me and I can send you some contact points for trusted dealers in rental equipment and purchases of the best filters I've ever owned. Have a great trip and POST PICS when you get back!! Cheers! Ann
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- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Thanks so much for your answer! Actually, I live in China, so not leaving from the States and probably no rental services here. I live in Guangdong, about a six hour drive from the area and have been meaning to do this for ages. But you sound like a good person to ask about dealers when I'm in the States! A Chinese friend just recommended the same lens as you suggested--the 16-35mm, so I'll see what price he can find me on that. So, I'm curious--why did you prefer your Sigma?
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- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Amazing, I CAN rent here! Think I'll do that. China just gets better and better.
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- Ann Varley Contact Ann Varley Ann Varley's Gallery |
Lucky Girl to live there! So glad you can have the chance to try out this lens. You will love it!! I used the Sigma more than the other because with all the hiking I was doing, I didn't want to fall or drop anything that expensive which I didn't own! LOL! When stabilized on a tripod, the Canon 16-35 is a dream!
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- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
I have a Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod which I plan to take. We're driving and will do minimum hiking--I've done enough damage to my limbs this year to tame the adventure lion within me. Still getting over a sprained wrist from a mishap a couple weeks ago, and almost over a broken shoulder from February! (None due to photography heroics) I've asked my friends to physically restrain me if I try dangling on a tree limb over a cliff or something... ":^)...
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- Ann Varley Contact Ann Varley Ann Varley's Gallery |
LOL! I've had a similar year, so I get that! I am having surgery on my finger to repair nerve damage caused by me being stupid with the elec hedge trimmer a few months ago. My kids are calling me Chainsaw and husband banned me from the tool shed. We gotta be careful right? Im glad you have good friends to keep you safe!
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Hey Susan, how's it going? It's been awhile. Same ole, same ole for me here in Omaha. :-) I'd go with the 16-35mm lens. But...I'd opt for the f4, as it's cheaper in price. And if you're doing landscape, you probably have a tripod so you can negate having to get the more expensive F2.8 lens. I was poised to get the F2.8 until I read several reviews on the F4..and I'm using the F4. It's a great lens!
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- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Hey Ken, almost went to you first before taking the question to the gang, seeing as you're the King of Mountains! It's been so long, I was sheepish. My Chinese friend said the same thing about the F4. Will rent it first. Still not sure if I really want to invest in landscape. I go out swearing I'll try (though admittedly my lack of proper equipment might be a discouraging factor) and then mysteriously come back with ten landscape photos and 400 macro. I'm determined to fully get back into photography, dying for more tranquil times--the news seems to take all of it. Still waiting for you to visit China! With your love of night lights you'll go crazy in Macau only an hour away, and even Hong Kong slightly further. Your wife can eat dimsum and you can shoot--something for everyone! My town has the best dimsum in the world. I'd also like to photo record some old buildings here that are steadily disappearing--I'm sure you'd enjoy that! Welcome too, Ann!
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- Ann Varley Contact Ann Varley Ann Varley's Gallery |
Wouldn't that be something? Maybe in a few years when I retire!
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- Harriet Feagin Contact Harriet Feagin Harriet Feagin's Gallery |
I don't know your camera brand so I can only speak for Canon. I shoot with a full frame camera so the "L" lenses are what I try to use. I have a 24-70 F4 that has a macro mode. The lens is tack sharp and the macro mode is pretty good. I also have a 16-35 F4 and it is an amazing lens for about half the cost of the 2.8. Again, the 24-105 is a good lens with a little more range. If you are shooting with a crop sensor Canon (and I have a 7D) then you only need the 17-55 2.8 and the 55-250 lenses. That about covers it. Tamron makes some super zoom lenses but for crop sensors. Good luck. Renting does seem like an excellent option.
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Hey Susan, good to hear from you. You just gotta get that 16-35mm lens...the same one Harriet recommends too. Just do it! :-)
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- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Thanks so much, Harriet--and Ken, you are right--you've decided me. I'm actually going to travel a lot more in the next year or so to see amazing places I haven't gotten around to visiting, like the Great Wall--there are a lot of amazing places geographically in China that many people don't even know about. I may be winding down here and leave in a couple years, so have decided to get out and just do it, and maybe hit Thailand and Vietnam too while I'm at it--not far away at all. And I'm determined to do the night lights in Macau and Hong Kong some day--and need a night light expert like you Ken! China has become quite developed and road trips are easier and easier. Good luck on your retirement, Ann!
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