Canon wide-angle lenses - Real life situations please?

I have a 10D with the ubiquitous 28-135 lens and am researching the
best buys for a flexible wide(r) angle lens. The main reasons for the
purchase are to cover an upcoming indoor event and to take more
landscape shots in future.

I have read several threads in the group and elsewhere regarding the
choice between the EF17-40/F4 and the EF16-35/F2.8.

Please can anyone give me examples (or, better still, pictures) of
real life situations where the F2.8 is really worth almost double the
price of the F4?

With the forthcoming release of the EOS-1D MkII would it be foolish to
go for the cheaper lens or better to save the money and get the Mk II
sooner? ;-)

Any other recommendations or observations would also be welcome.

 

This may interest you if you haven't already seen it.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/canon-17-40.shtml

 

For an indoor event, low light capability is probably the most important
attribute of a lens. For landscape shots, get a tripod and stitch together
those wide frames. Even a telephoto lens will do, and sometimes will do a
lot better.

If you really want to save bucks, why not consider the 20mm f/2.8? It can
be had used for less than $300, it's light, much more easy to handle, and
has better performance at 20mm than either the 16-35 or the 17-40.

 

When taking pics of aircraft, shooting at 2.8 will cut down the depth of
field, throwing the background out of focus and giving quite a startling
'sharp' effect for the main image. You can also keep shooting until it goes
twice as dark but you knew that already.

 

I've got the 20-35 and have been quite pleased with it. But as soon
as I can scrape up some bucks I'll probably trade it in on the
17-40...just to get some "L" glass.

 

Mike Garner,
opinion of a relative newbie to DSLR but with
experience of 25+ years with SLRs & 3+ years in digital photography:

<1> Buy what you "need" rather than what you "want".

<2> Make the most informed decision you can at the time considering
"your expected needs" for the next year or so. Decide & don't second guess
your choice after it's been made. The reason for this is simple, there is
always going to be something better announced "after" you make your
selection & if you dwell on that, you will always be unhappy with what you
have.

<3> Impulse purchase control! A good friend of mine helped me past
this issue with good advice. He told me that whenever he feels draw to make
any significant purchase, he researches the choice & then waits 2 weeks & if
he still feels as strongly about it, then he acts from an informed position.

In direct response to your questions, it sounds like the EF17-40/F4 is
the better choice for you IF you "need" 1 or the other. Since you seem very
interested in the EOS-1D MkII, I would strongly consider conserving your
funds toward that future purchase. Also digital noise with future sensors
will be dropping considerably as the sensor technology improves further as
will the camera's firmware & post processing software designed to minimize
digital noise caused by high ISO settings.

There are already very good quality noise reduction software & DSLR
sensors are already fairly low noise at ISO 400 & even 800 if needed.
Combine this with noise reduction software & you may have little need to
spend more for the faster lens. If you "need" to by 1 of these lenses, I
would strongly suggest that you buy the EF17-40/F4 & bank the saved $600+
toward the EOS-1D MkII for when it comes out.

Just my long winded 2 cents but I hope it's of some value.

Respectfully, DHB

PS If it helps, I have been considering either a Canon EF 85mm f1.8 or
100mm f2.0 for some time now but for the same reasons I have given you I
have yet to purchase either lens. I presently have the following DSLR &
lenses:

Canon Digital Rebel/300D.
Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II lens.
Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 kit lens.
Canon EF 55-200mm F4.5-5.6 II USM lens.
Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM lens.
Vivitar 500mm f8 mirror lens. (Fun inexpensive toy).

Since I like the telephoto side of photography I most often find myself
using ether my EF 50mm f1.8 II or my EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM lenses
which due to the 1.6x FOV crop factor of my DSLR acts like an 80mm &
44.8-216mm lens respectively. Unfortunately no "L" glass in my near future
plans until I feel I have outgrown what I have & can justify & save for
something better!

 

Thanks to all who replied. Every follow-up was very useful and
informative.

I'm going away to think about it now!

Regards,
Mike

 

With the forthcoming release of the EOS-1D MkII would it be foolish to

Do you *need* the added features of the Mk II, or do you just want a new
camera. If you actually *need* (or could greatly benefit from) the new
features, then consider saving for the camera. Otherwise, if your
current camera body is meeting all of your needs, then get a lense.