What are these Canon SLR lenses best used for?

Question

I'm an amateur photographer trying to learn how to use this Canon EOS 20D of mine. It's a fine camera, and with the lenses I do have, it gives good results. I haven't had GREAT results yet because I have not fully figured out the maximum potential of these lenses that I have.

I have a Canon Zoom Lens EF 17-40mm, and I have a Canon 24-85mm lens.

Could someone tell me the recommended uses for these lenses such as portraitures maybe or landscapes or whatever use they are made for? Thank you so much!

Answer 1

try to use the lenses full open (no zoom) whenever you can. your pics wil be better because of it. its usually better to crop a photo after the snap than to zoom in on the composition.

Answer 2

The first lens (17-40 mm f 4 L) can be used as a "normal" lens, replacing the kit lens (I suppose you have done that already). I had that lens, and gave it to a friend when I replaced it with the little wider but faster 16-35 mm f 2.8. He noted that it's much sharper than the kit lens that came with his XT.

The other lens would work better as a portrait, because at 85 mm, it is a telephoto (of 136 mm when mounted on your camera). Landscape, for a wide scene, I'd stick with the other lens.

Here is what it looks like at different focal length. Keep in mind that for your camera, you'd have to divide the number by 1.6 (for example, to get the view of 16 mm, you would have to use a 10 mm lens.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pook...

Answer 3

Less than 21mm is good for Architecture

21-35mm is good for Landscape

35-70mm is good for Street and Documentary

70-135mm is good for Portraiture

135mm or more is good for Sports and Wildlife

Your 17-40mm is good for Architecture, Landscape and Street and Documentary.

Your 24-85mm is good for Landscape, Street and Documentary, and Portraiture.

A good overall lens for me is the Canon EF 28-135 F/3.5-5.6 IS USM... I keep this on my camera most of the time.