20D lens for SHARP photos

[Tailgunner9]

What lens would you suggest for all around General shooting around the home with the SHARPEST picture. Here that the EF 85mm is good. Any other suggestions???

[Loupey]

Hey, Tailgunner

"Around the home" to me sounds like candid shooting. If so, I think that the 85mm is a bit too long as it is equivalent (with the 20D) to about a 135mm in 35mm film format. Inside the house, it will probably give you mostly tight head shots.

Although I don't have either, I'm sure others will recommend the 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 primes. Don't know about your feelings towards zooms. What's your budget? Do you prefer to shoot without strobes?

More info will allow others to better help you.

[Tailgunner9]

Loupey, Zoom is fine as long as it will produce Sharp photos. Have a EX 560 flash for inside. Thanks

[Stephen Lutz]

The 24-85 USM zoom is often overlooked, but for general shooting it is an excellent choice. At only f/4 at the long end, it is a stop faster than most consumer zooms. It's also small and light.

[Loupey]

The 24-85 USM zoom is often overlooked, but for general shooting it is an excellent choice. At only f/4 at the long end, it is a stop faster than most consumer zooms. It's also small and light.

I agree. Until recently, this was the only lens I had for digital. I used it for many of the shots I have in the Critique forum (SR-71 Blackbird, P-51 Mustang) as well as in the "faces" thread in the ViewFinder forum.

The 17-40 is a great value. It may be a little on the wide side but the 40mm end is a good useable general focal length on a 1.6x crop factor camera.

[seeingclearly]

I agree that the 24-85mm on a 20D is sharp and a reasonable zoom range. I lent mine to my son on a film camera, and regret parting with it! Around the home though, what does sharp mean? Inside, you aren't always going to have a great flash hanging off the camera, so the not so good 17-85 IS lens actually does a good job (because of the image stabilising) if your subject is towards the middle. Outside, just close it down a bit to get good sharpness and lower CA.
Otherwise, go retro and buy a Canon 50mm (either one). It has no zoom, and is equivalent to an 80mm on a 20D, but it is SHARP.

[yogestee]

I love my Sigma DC 18-200mm..I have some samples of this lens in my gallery..

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...&ppuser=245392

Jurgen
Australia

[yogestee]

Thought I'd attach an example of the Sigma DC18-200mm..


Jurgen
Australia

[Liz]

The 85mm is a great and sharp lens. However, as the OP said, it may be a tad too long. For inside and low light, sharp, great color, good portraits, fast I would suggest the 50mm/f1.4 which is awesome. It's about $300 give or take. The 50mm/f1.8 is also a great lens, but doesn't have the bokeh or the color rendition as the f1.4 in my experience as I had both and never regretted upgrading to the 1.4

You might also look at the 35mm/f2.0. It is lightweight, sharp, good color, and you can take small groups with it. Not as good as the 50mm IMO, but a very nice lens for about $229.

It depends on your budget also, and if you're talking low light - outside, whatever. If you prefer zoom or prime.

Liz

What lens would you suggest for all around General shooting around the home with the SHARPEST picture. Here that the EF 85mm is good. Any other suggestions???

[Ronnoco]

Excellent portrait Jurgen, but I would still tend to play a bit more with the hair to get it just right.

Ronnoco

[Loupey]

I tried to find some general and "around the home" type pictures that I took with the aforementioned 24-85mm Canon.

Hope these help

[yogestee]

Excellent portrait Jurgen, but I would still tend to play a bit more with the hair to get it just right.

Ronnoco

Sorry,,I don't do hair!!

Jurgen
Australia

[Ronnoco]

Sorry,,I don't do hair!!

Jurgen
Australia

It's probably one of the least dangerous things you can do to get a photo just right.:
...depending on the personality of the model, of course.

Ronnoco