Thread: Amazing Opportunity...need advice

Posted this on Clickin Moms for a larger crowd, but I'll post here in case any of you can give me some advice.

My DH's grandmother is offering us an amazing opportunity. She is going to fly us to Greece for a 7 day cruise. It will start in Athens, Greece where we can spend the entire day touring. Then we'll cruise to Mykonos (Greece), Ephesus (Turkey), Rhodes (Greece), Irklion (Greece), and Santorini (Greece).

Of course my thoughts were of the landscape photography I could do. My question to you girls is, of my current lens options I have a 30mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.8. I have a VERY CHEAP and crappy canon zoom lens. I think for Christmas I want to see if I can get a better zoom lens so I have more reach when we're vacationing.

I've been seriously looking at the Canon 70-200 f/4L (non IS) USM lens. If I'm going to invest some money, I thought I would go for an L series lens. And since it might possibly be in my price range, I thought I would see if anyone thinks it would be a good choice. I will have my tripod and probably use it often because of the non IS and possibility of low shutter speeds.

Is there another lens anyone can think to recommend ($600 and below) that might be a good fit?

Thanks greatly!

I don't know anything about Canon lenses except that one you go L, you'll never go back.

That seems like a nice range though to be honest. And with the tripod, I can see it being a very useful lens on your vacation, which sounds like a BEYOND FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!!! CONGRATS!!!

Best,
GiGi

How good is your tripod? That is one heavy lens...just make sure your tripod is strong enough to handle the unbalanced weight this lens will create.

It's a great lens...no doubt about it. 200 is a good reach...but it's really not that much reach. I don't know what you're thinking it will be useful for specifically....but it's not gonna get a great shot of things super far away. It's really good for candids of nearby people.

Amber, my tripod has a capacity of 17lbs. The 70-200 4L is considerably lighter than the 2.8 version. The 4L is only a pound and a half. I lugged around the 2.8 at a baseball game and know the weight of that hefty piece of glass.

The use would be for closer reach than either of my primes can offer. I know I will use my 30 most often for wide landscape shots, but I find myself wanting to zoom a lot these days and I just don't have that capability with the primes I have. I also think this lens will be useful in my everyday photography. So, it's essentially upgrading the crappy zoom I already have.

Unless it's something you think you will use all the time, even in the future, I wouldn't spend the money. Have you been wanting that lens for a long time? I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of your vacation opportunity! Sounds like its gonna be awesome!

Oh...she'd use it all the time! The 70-200 is ALWAYS my first pick. Honestly, though...I'd save up for the 2.8. OR, you could buy the 4.0 used (or new) now and sell it when you have the cash to upgrade....that's another good option. L glass has great resale value.

Glad to hear about the tripod. I need to get a decent one....my crappy tripod says it can handle the weight...but it just can't manage the weight when it's unbalanced.

What tripod are you using? Could use a rec.

Yeah, that's kind of why I chose the 70-200. I hear it's an outstanding lens, I've seen some awesome photos taken with it, and I think I'd use it a lot more than a wide angle (which was suggested else where). I'm trying to expand my current options AND get something cool for our trip.

I found a very nicely used one for $500.00 on another photography board. I honestly don't know if I could raise the funds in any satisfying time frame to get the 2.8, so I'll probably get the f4 and resale if/when I upgrade.

This is the tripod. Not in my hand yet, but is getting ordered after I get my bonus shortly. It's a heck of a lot better than my 20 buck walmart one DH got me

Awesome! Let me know how you like it. It's not horribly expensive and I've really put off getting a decent tripod long enough.

YAY for an awesome opportunity! I have no advice on lens, but I want to say GL and I can't wait to see some awesome photos from you!

Ditto what Sadie said! How exciting to get a new bigger zoom. I want to save up for a 300mm (or more) if I can, since I am a birdwatcher, but they're just soooo expensive....I could use a new tripod too; mine is a dinosaur! lol