Ok, I have been doing alot of research and reding through all of the stuff here - and I have decided that the Cannon 7e is the camera for me. It wasn't easy but from what I figure either way, nikon or cannon - you really can't go wrong. Where I am stuck out now is lenses - I am really to to photography, and just starting to learn my way a little - and any advice on what would be a good selection of lenses to start with and why would be really helpful - I have about $800 bucks budget wise for lenses - just to start. So what opinions are out there ?

-- James Stephens (J8Maverick@aol.com), May 27, 2002

Answers

Same advice that's notmally given.

Can't beat a 50mm f/1.8 for low cost quality images, and could be added to whatever you get for about $80. I prefer a 35mm f/2 for a more useful angle of view however. All the other prime lenses from Canon are also very good.

As far as zooms go. Canon better quality mid-range zooms are the 24- 85 USM, 28-105 USM and 28-135 USM IS. The last one offers active optical Image Stabilization and more range, but will eat up over half your money. They all have ring type USM with fast Full Time Manual (FTM) focusing.

No good reason to get a tele-zoom that is not Canon made. The Canon offerings are as good or better for the same money. The options are several versions of the 75-300, or the 100-300 USM. The optical quality is about equal with all of them, but the 100-300 USM handles better and has faster focusing for the extra cost. I don't use a tele-zoom that often so I would opt for the cheapest one if I did it again, but others will take a different path. The Canon 70-200 f/4L is a great lens, but again, it would take most of your money.

Canon's 20-35 USM is a very good wide zoom & hard to beat for the price. I bought a Sigma 17-35 HSM because I wanted something wider than 20mm, but if you don't know what you're doing anyway, 20mm is plenty wide to start with.

A three zoom kit is probably the most useful for good quality pictures for most people. My recomendations are:

1) 20-35 USM, 28-105 USM & 100-300 USM.

2) 24-85 USM and 70-200 f/4L

3) 28-135 USM IS and 75-300 USM IS

Either way, a little over $800 from B&H Photo or Adorama (two reliable discount dealers).

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), May 27, 2002.

Another way would be to go with all prime lenses.

1) 20mm, 35mm and 85mm

2) 24mm, 50mm, and 100mm

3) 35mm, 85mm and 200mm

Quality would be superb and low light ability would certainly be better with fast aperture prime lenses.

Decisions, decisions. So many choices.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), May 27, 2002.