7D most compatable lenses

[Alun100]

In general reading through the forum over a period of time i have noted that members tend to use various lenses with particular cameras. However at the time I was not in a position to upgrade, however with a xmas approaching I intend buying the 7D, while i dont intend throwing my existing equipment I was curious as to what lenses others have purchased with this camera and why they choose particular lenes?

[MX5]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Well it depends upon what you intend to take photos of with your 7D. What your budget is. What other limits you have (weight). etc.

All Canon EF and EF-S lenses are compatible. Even its antecedents the FD and FL generally work with an adapter.

[Alun100]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Hi MX5 thanks for reply. I understand which lenses will fit and I wondered as I typed if the question sounded silly! yet even when you buy various cameras with the respective kit lens enclosed I have noted 18-55 is often standard. I have also noted that a 15-85mm or 18-135mm is often packaged with this camera!
I choose this camera having asked a question of the forum a few weeks ago about best allrounder. At that time I mentioned to the forum that I have wanted a FF 5dmk2 but also like taking action shots such as wind surfing, surfers etc and the 7d came up as the most recommend as a pretty good choice for all applications!
I wondered if some lenses excelled with this camera? My interests vary and I would consider/tryout various recomendations and purchase when poss
Cheers

[MX5]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Again budget will determine if you go down the L route ... say a 17-40L or 24-105L together with one of 70-200L (there are 4 to choose from) would set you up and allow an upgrade to FF at some point (should you wish). You can add wider and more telephoto as and when.

Trouble is Canon make so many lenses (over 60 I think) so you are spoilt for choice Budget playing a major part in the selection.

[mikep]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Hi Alun

I have a 7D, and I use a 70-300 L IS USM zoom lens primarily. I mainly shoot wildlife / birds, and the combo works well. The 7D has a good AF system, so it lends itself to sports / action / wildlife. Others on here use the 7D with 300mm primes, with and without extenders, and produce excellent results.

The 15-85 lens you mention (which I also have) is excellent in my opinion and again, suits the APS-C format. I use this lens on my 550D as a good walkabout lens. The focal range is excellent for general shots, and equates to the 24-105 on a full frame camera.

Obviously, any of the EF and EF-S lenses will work on a 7D, so I think it's a very versatile camera, and one I'm enjoying.

Good luck with your purchase, and I hope you have fun with it.

All the best, Mike.

[Wayne Els]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

I don't have that camera but for surfing and wind surfing the 70-300L would be good, I don't think a 70-200 has enough reach. I read one article by a professional that specialised in snowboarding and I think surfing and they reckoned it was the best lens they had ever used for it.

I also have the 15-85 and think that it is very good on a crop. The 17-55 is also extremely highly rated for IQ but neither of them is suitable for FF if you go that route. The 18-135 has some quite poor reviews which is a shame as the range is good.

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

As a owner of the 7D and have used several quality lenses with this camera, here are my favourites.
I have owned both the mark one & two of the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lenses and loved the mark one but not the mark two which is supposedly a superior lens. But; my favourite over those two must be the 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS lens (see my review).
This lens has a very useable focal length range and is superb at all focal lengths.
On the wide end I have owned the 24-70mm f/2.8L. 24-105mm f4L IS and the 17-40mm f/4L and preferred the less expensive 17-40mm f/4L, lighter and better balanced than the 24-70mm.
To fill the gap of wide to the 70mm of the 70-300mm I would recommend the EF-S 15-85mm as this fills the gap and (as mikep states) is also a great walkabout lens. If you are considering FF in the future then I would recommend the 17-40mm f/4L as a wide-angle lens on the 7D or an ultrawide-angle lens on a FF camera, the EF-s 15-85mm is not compatable on a FF camera, another alternative would be the new (soon to be launched) EF 24-70mm f/4L IS lens, the charts show this to be better than the excellent 24-105mm f/4L IS lens and would not duplicate the 70-105mm.
Any lens mentioned on my "Top zoom lenses" can be also recommended.

At the end of the day it is down to your budget and applications.
All the best

[MX5]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

I should have added
... environment ... as a consideration. Some lenses are weatherproof (others aren't).
... standard filter size across the lenses you buy
... ability to take an extender

In general (beyond you and your need) it's a far from simple decision making process ... more so for people that have no prior experience with interchange lens cameras.

[hhcanon]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

All depends what you mainly want to shoot - they will all work well on a 7D. The biggest variable is the guy holding said camera. I use a 55-250 with some Elpros and get stunning results - so its up to you - the 24-105 is a good starting point for everyday stuff, without much reach

[kiwigav]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Lots of good info here, just wondering how the 10-22 goes on the 7D? Lovely lens that!

[hhcanon]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Lots of good info here, just wondering how the 10-22 goes on the 7D? Lovely lens that!

Its a tad better than the Sigma - tho you would be hard pressed to spot it!

[Judder Man]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

A good start would be the 24-105L lens that one is the most compatible. Then going wide it would be the 17-40L going long would be the 70-300L. That way if you jump to FF then your lenses are ready and waiting.

[Alun100]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Many many thanks to you all, there is a lot of info in your replies for me to absorb. These are the kind of quality opinions I was hoping for. My immediate response is to consider FF at a later date!

MX5 I will be going down the L route although I might well take some time.
mikep Thanks for the reply I noted you had only recently bought the 7D during earlier comments you had made on the forum, do I recall you using a extender as well?
Stephen. I rented a 300mm earlier this year with a 1.4 canon extender from' lens for hire' it was a late booking on my part and they had run out of the 400mm I was interested in trying, the former being their altrnative. They had also suggested a 70-200 f/2.8 with an extender( I beleive they suggested a 1,4) which they claimed would not lose a stop and still AF???????

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

Stephen. I rented a 300mm earlier this year with a 1.4 canon extender from' lens for hire' it was a late booking on my part and they had run out of the 400mm I was interested in trying, the former being their altrnative. They had also suggested a 70-200 f/2.8 with an extender( I beleive they suggested a 1,4) which they claimed would not lose a stop and still AF???????

The 70-200mm f/2.8L + x1.4 extender are ok but at a loss of 1-stop becoming a 98-280mm f/4. The 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS is superb on the 7D, a match made in heaven; just see my posts and review.
The 300mm f/2.8L IS lens is a "dream lens" whilst the 300mm f/4L IS is an affordable alternative giving superb results. The 400mm f/5.6L does not have IS, so a tripod is almost always necessary.

[Wayne Els]

Re: 7D most compatable lenses

I should have added
... environment ... as a consideration. Some lenses are weatherproof (others aren't).
... standard filter size across the lenses you buy
... ability to take an extender

I can see the weatherproofing point but not so much the other two.

The only way you'd achieve a one size filter is to go 77mm and limit yourself to having to buy the more expensive L (and or EFS 17-55) lenses and in particular the 70-200 F2.8 zoom as the F4 versions and 70-300L are 67mm. Given that most people would buy a UV/skylight for each lens anyway and a square set only require a different adapter ring the only extra expenditure would be for circular polarisers, if you wanted one and whilst expensive it's a small amount to what you may be investing in glass.

Likewise the extenders are predominantly used with telephotos, the 70-300L doesn't take one (canon anyway) but already equates to longer reach than you'd get with a 70-200 + 1.4 and it's knock on loss of aperture and increased cost and weight. (I'd considered this route before buying the 70-300).

I'm not saying don't consider those things but I think they are less important than what focal lengths do you want/need the most and at what aperture and cost.

Edit to add, apologies didn't see the last couple of posts whilst I was typing, didn't realise you wanted prime teles.