Canon EF Upgrade Lens Guide For EOS Digital SLR Cameras

What is the best combination of better quality lenses to use withmy semi-pro or consumer grade Canon EOS digital SLR Camera? To answerthat question, I have compiled a list of lenses that I have personallyfound to be the best choices for my style of photography and budget(maybe yours too). This Buyers Guide specifically applies to owners of the Canon EOSDigital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, XTi, EOS D60, 40D, 30D, 20D and 10DDigital SLR camera bodies. These particular models all share one very important attribute; they have a digital image sensor, which is smaller than the physicaldimensions of a full single frame of 35mm film. This has a profoundeffect on lens selection. These SLR cameras all have a crop factor of1.6 X, which must be considered carefully as you are shopping for alens for any particular application. The focal length of any lens thatwill be used on these models must be multiplied by 1.6 to reveal the Effective Focal Length (or more accurately, the apparent "Field of View"). This has certain advantages and disadvantages that you must takeinto account as you search for the right lens to capture the imagesthat you want. The good news is that an affordable 200mm long telephotolens instantly displays the apparent "Field of View" of a 320mm monster telephoto on these models, andthe extra visual reach comes with no additional cost! You also gain some extra "Depth of Field" and, most importantly, the maximum aperture (speed) of the lens still remains the same. Not a bad deal when it comes to your longer lenses. However, the bad newsis that if you need a true wide-angle lens, you must buy a much moreexpensive Ultra-Wide angle model to get the desired results. If you are into "birding" or sports photography, where you need afast, long telephoto, this can be a huge advantage! Conversely, if youspecialize in large group shots or interior architecture, get ready topay for at least one fairly expensive lens to meet your special needs. There are full frame Professional digital camerasavailable that eliminate the need for crop factor compensation. As anexample, the super expensive EOS 1Ds Mark II or the more reasonablypriced EOS 5D. These models do not have the same lens selectionrequirements as the camera models that are listed above, and therefore,these full Frame bodies are not the subject of this particular guide.With all of this taken into consideration, I can recommendan excellent combination of better quality upgrade Canon EFauto-focus lenses that will cover the most popular effective focallengths on your "small frame" or APS Digital SLR. These are the lensmodels that I personally use most frequently on my EOS 10D. Remember,this guide applies specifically to photographers who want professionalquality results, but need to get the best performance available for theprice. I know that there are numerous better and faster lensesavailable. I am trying to narrow the choices down to the high valuemodels that offer professional performance at a fairly reasonableprice. For photogs on a more limited budget, please read my otherlens guide, titled Canon EF Affordable Lens Guide For EOS DigitalSLRs. Canon EF Affordable Lens GuideI will start at the wide end, because it is the most critical range on these cameras. The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USMis a true ultra-wideto wide-angle professional zoom, ideal for landscapes, interiorarchitectural photos, large group portraits, artistic wide-angle shots,real estate and exterior architectural photography.The Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM "Ultra-Wide to Wide Angle" Professional Zoom Lens This is a sensibly affordable alternative to the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L professional lens.Unlike the 16-35 L, this one is within the budget of many serious photobuffs, but it is not quite as fast with a constant aperture of 1:4.It sells for about half the price of its one stop faster brother. This lens is threaded for 77mm filters and accessories. It has theHEAVY DUTY construction and weather protected design that workingprofessionals require. This beauty features a true ultra-wide anglerange, with an angle of view of 74 to 29. It has a very useful closeminimum focus distance of only 11 inches. There are 12 lens elements in9 groups, the rear group performs all focusing functions. This lens isvery comfortable to carry around, as it only weighs just 17.5 ouncesand is a mere 3.8 inches long. It is not a feather weight but for thetrue pro it is a very manageable size and weight. This outstandinglens employs Canons top-of-the-line, ultra fastand quiet, Ring Type Ultrasonic Auto-Focus design. Manual focusingand zooming are performed buy two very easy to grip rings that are wellpositioned for fast and accurate adjustments. Auto or Manual focusingis selected by an AF-MF switch, which is conveniently located to makeswitching very fast and easy. THIS IS AN FTM LENS, "FTM" stands forFull-Time Manual focus. This feature allows you to make focusadjustments at any time, even WHILE THE AF SYSTEM IS ENGAGED! This isan awesome feature that I use almost constantly. The front lens groupdoes not rotate while focusing or zooming, making it very convenient touse polarizing and special effects filters. The rear element InternalFocus design also means that the lens does not change in length duringzooming or focusing. These professional features insure that focusingwill always be lightning fast, very precise and dead silent, in anyenvironment. Image quality is superb! Sharpness and contrast arefantastic throughout the entire zoom range, truly equal to very goodprime lenses. Flare is very well controlled, thanks to the use of threeaspherical elements and Super UD (Ultra-Low Dispersion) glass. Thisis a very solid professional lens that will serve you well for many,many years to come. I think the EF 17-40mm L USM actually has some important advantagesover the more expensive EF 16-35mm L. Distortion looks slightly bettercontrolled and sharpness is maybe just a bit more crisp. Picturesproduced through this lens are absolutely tack sharp with greatcontrast and are very rich in color saturation. The EF 17-40 f/4L is considerablysmaller and lighter too. When it is used on a Canon Digital Rebel XTi or 40D, this isapproximately equivalent to a 28-70mm zoom lens. That's due to the 1.6X "crop factor" magnification. That makes it appear like more of a Wide-Angle toNormal Zoom on these cameras. This lens would probably stay on yourdigital camera most of the time. It covers most of your normal andwide focal range needs. At about $800.00 (US) new, it is not cheap, but asyour most versatile and heavily used lens, it will prove to be worthevery penny in the long run. To cover your normal focal range requirements, I canwhole-heartedly recommend a choice of two extremely good mid grade models that havebeen very highly praised for outstanding performance; The Canon EF24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM or the EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Let's start with the EF24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. This affordable little lens is currently available and very easy tofind for under $400.00. This is a genuine bargain, when compared to theprofessional L lenses in this focal range which sell for well over$1,100.00 and up. This shouldbring a giant sigh of relief toanyone who has just shelled-out the big bucks for a 17-40 L. Thisvery compact ultra-wide angle to telephoto zoom lens is quitecomfortable to tote around and incredibly versatile. The Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM "Ultra-Wide to Telephoto" ZoomLensThis model was designed by Canon to be a little wider than the EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 II USM,but not quite as long in the telephoto range. It is light and compactbut it does not sacrifice anything when it comes to optical ormechanical performance. This lens has excellent optics, capable of capturing very crisp images with excellent color and very impressive contrast.TheEF 24-85mm USMalso has Full-Time Manual focus so you can make finefocus adjustments, while the AF switch is activated, just like the Llens. This is especially useful for setting the exact focus point in aclose-up shot. It will allow you to dramatically emphasize a particularpicture element while other parts of the image are intentionallyblurred by a narrow depth-of-field. This inexpensive little workhorse also uses the top-of-the-Line Ring type USM Ultrasonic Auto-Focus design.There are 15 lens elements arranged in 12 groups. Focusing is performedinternally, so the front lens does not move as the focus is adjusted,making it much easier to use polarizing and special effects filters.These are the samefeatures that are also found on the much more costlyL professional models! The zoom ring is very comfortable to useandquickly goes from 24mm all the way out to 85mm in about an eighth of aturn. The barrel extends out for zooming, but the front lens elementdoes not rotate at all. The position of the zoom ring relative to thefocus ring makes this lens very easy to use, but the focus ring is abit skinnier and rotates a little less smoothly than the focus griponthe expensiveLs. This is a very small "gripe", when you consider thereasonable price, and it does not affect the lenses "usability" at all. When mounted on a small frame Digital, this is approximately equivalent to a 38-136mm zoom lens.This is a great focal range for portraits, nature shots, streetphotography, landscapes and general normal range photography. This isa perfect mate to use with a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L ultra-wide anglezoom. This model is very compact in size, about 2.75 long at 24mm to4 at full zoom. It is very light-weight at only 13.5 oz. It has a nicesolid "feel" with fairly smooth operation, although not quite up to thesilky feel of the L models. Auto-focusing is lightning fast andwhisper quiet (even quieter than the L models with the exact samering type motor, for some reason). The ultra-wide angle to short telephoto range make this a fantastic walk around lens. You will find that it will probably stay on your camera at least as much as the EF 17-40 L. This is definitely one of the best and most versatile mid-grade lenses ever produced for the Canon EOS camera line.I have recently started using this model much more frequently, afterdepending upon the EF 28-105mm f.3/5-4.5 USM to cover the normal zoomrange for many years. As I have upgraded to more professional grade lenses, I began tonotice that I really needed my "normal" zoom to coverthe extra wideanglerange much more often than I needed the longer focal range of the28-105mm. The overlap of coverage with the EF 17-40mm f/4L is perfectfor most interior applications. I love my 17-40mm, there are manyapplications where this lens is indispensable, but there are times whenthe extra weight and the requirement of adding a Speedlight flash tothe camera can be an inconvenience. This is especially true for casualshots and impromptu family photos. The 24mm range allows me to use theEF 24-85mm in places where I would have been required to switch fromthe EF 28-105mm to the heavier ultra-wide lens. I still have the optionof switching to the L when I need to, but now it is a choice, not anecessity.If you prefer a "Normal" range zoom thatgoes a bit longer, The EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM would be an excellent alternative to the EF 24-85mm. A lot of additional information is available here: Canon EF 28-105mm USM Lens Buying GuideThe Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 MACRO USMThe EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro USM is very affordably priced.However, be certain to find the best version. Avoid the earlier modelwith the yellow flower on it instead of the actual word "MACRO". Also,it is important to get one that was Made in Japan. As stated above (but well worth repeating), avoid the new replacement model, the Canon EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM. It is simply JUNK by comparison!Thiswonderfully compact wide-angle to telephoto zoom lens is reasonablylight and incredibly versatile. This model was designed by Canon to bea great "walking around" lens at a reasonable price. It is light andcompact but does not sacrifice too much in performance. It has verygood optics, capable of capturing crisp images with good color and veryimpressive contrast. The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 MACRO USM is still considered to be a"Wide Angle to Telephoto" Zoom Lens. This model also has Full-TimeManual focus so you can make fine focus adjustments while the AFswitch in activated, just like the L lens. This is especially usefulfor setting the exact focus point in a close shot. It will allow you toemphasize a particular picture element while other parts of the imageare intentionally blurred by a narrow depth-of-field. This inexpensivelittle workhorse also uses the top-of-the-Line Ring type USMUltrasonic AF design. There are 15 lens elements arranged in 12 groups. Focusing isperformed internally, the front lens does not rotate, making it mucheasier to use polarizing and special effects filters. Again, these featuresare also found on the much more costly L professional models! Thezoom ring is comfortable to use and quickly goes from 28mm all the wayout to 105mm in about a quarter turn. The barrel extends out forzooming, but the front lens element does not rotate at all. Theposition of the zoom ring relative to the focus ring makes this lensvery easy to use. Image quality easily outperforms all of the popularstandard kit zooms. Sharpness and contrast are impressive throughoutthe entire zoom range. Flare and distortions are also respectablycontrolled. When used on a small frame Digital, this is approximately equivalentto a 45-170mm zoom lens. This is a great focal range for portraits,nature shots, landscapes and general normal photography. This is anexcellent mate to use with a Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ultra-wideangle zoom. This model is very compact in size; about 3 long at 28mm to 4.75at full zoom. It is very lightweight at a bit over 13 oz. It has a nicesolid "feel" with fairly smooth operation, although not quite up to thesilky feel of the L lenses. Auto focusing is lightning fast andwhisper quiet. The wide angle to medium telephoto range make this asuperb walking around lens.The choice between these two excellent lenses is really a matter of personal preference. Youwill want the model that allows you to do most of your "normal"shooting with one lens, whenever that is necessary. If you need alittle more "reach" into the telephoto range, then choose the 28-105mm.If you take mostly interior pictures in limited spaces, you mightprefer the range of the 24-85mm. You would not be disappointed witheither of these outstanding models.I recommend at least one fast prime lens for use in low light situations, where the zooms just cant quite do the job. In this price category, I would suggest at least one ofthese two models. The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 wide-angle prime or thediscontinued Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MARK I normal prime lens. The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens This is one of the MUST HAVE lenses for every serious photographers EOS camera bag.This model has a very easy to use manual focusing ring, a real distancescale window with a depth-of-field scale and an infrared compensationindicator. Auto-Focus is very fast and accurate, using the Arc FormDrive (AFD) mechanism. It is threaded for inexpensive 58mm filters andaccessories. It features the heavy-duty stainless steel lens mount.Much more detailed information is available at this eBay review: Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Prime Lens ReviewThis is an excellent quality prime lens, it has even been comparedto "L" series professional lenses and was found to be surprisinglyclose in optical performance, but at a very reasonable price. You canreally get excellent depth-of-field with this lens! You will be amazedby how much of your subject can be kept in focus within the frame. Thislens also has an awesome minimum "close focus" distance of only 10",which allows you to capture incredibly detailed close-up shots! Zoom lenses are very convenient, but they tend to be slower, with awidest aperture of 3.5 or more. The EF 24mm f/2.8 has a respectablyfast aperture of 1:2.8, it "drinks in" plenty of light to allow you toget nice sharp pictures in less-than-ideal lighting situations. One ofthe main strengths of this lens is the lack of distortion, especiallyconsidering the focal length. You might have to compose your shots byusing your feet as the "zoom mechanism" (by stepping closer or fartheraway from your subject). This becomes insignificant considering thesuperior picture quality that you will capture. On non-full frame Digital SLRs, this lens approximately equal to a 39mm focal length.It is well-suited for all of your slightly wider than normal lensphotography. It becomes just as important as a standard 50mm lens on afilm body. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Normal Prime Lens This is one more of the MUST HAVE affordable lensesfor every Canon EOS camera bag. You will have to find this little gemin the second-hand market. They can be hard to find, but it will bewell worth the effort. This older model also has a very easy to use manual focusing ring, areal distance scale window with a depth-of-field scale. Auto-Focus isfast and accurate, using the AFD AF drive. It is not a quiet as the Lmodel, but check the price difference. If silence is worth a fewhundred bucks to you, be my guest. This model is threaded forinexpensive 52mm filters. Unlike the newest Mark II version, this onedoes have the heavy duty stainless steel lens mount, which are muchmore durable than the cheap plastic mounts found on the current Mk IImodel. This is a superb quality prime lens, it has been frequently compared to "L" series lenses and is famous for being surprisingly close in optical performance. The EF 50mm f/1.8 has a very fast aperture of 1:1.8, it needs verylittle light to allow you to get nice sharp pictures. As with the EF24mm, you will have to compose your shots by changing your distancefrom the subject, but what the heck, you need the exercise anyway. On Digital SLRs with the 1.6 "crop factor" this lens captures the Field of View of an80mm focal length. It is absolutely perfect for portrait photography.Since you dont need a flash, you can really get some fantasticcandid photos. It is so light and compact that you will barely knowthat it is there (which can be very helpful if your subject is "camera shy"). It is affordable, sharp as a razor, super fast anddistortion free. This tiny gem also has a very useful "close focus"distance of only 15", to let you get in there tight for all of thoseintricate details. OK, now that we have covered all of the essentials, there is one more lens to consider, a long telephoto. Again, I am recommending a reasonably priced true professional L model. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM Professional Telephoto Zoom Lens Ok, what can I say? It isnt cheap, but especiallyif you shoot outdoor sports, nature photography or bird watching thisis the ultimate long zoom lens for under a kilo-buck. You really command respect when you whip out your Canon EOS with this big white bazooka locked n loaded.You instantly become the Pro (whether you actually are or not). It isquite gratifying to watch the crowds part to let the realprofessional get a little closer to the action. If you prefer to notcall any attention to yourself, avoid this lens! Otherwise, be preparedfor the envious stares from the guys with the long skinny black lenses.On your 1.6 crop factor digital body, this offers the Field of View of a very long 112mm to 320mm super zoom.This is a real rough