tallmanirl
Posts: 272
Location: Ireland
Registered: 5 Jun 2008
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Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 1 Jun 2011 at 14:52 GMT
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Hello everyone!
I have a Canon 5D. I'm thinking of buying the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens. I shoot tall buildings and streetscapes at night. Is it suitable for this? I have googled it, but couldn't find any reference to this lens in low light.
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Smooth
Posts: 3774
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 1 Jun 2011 at 15:11 GMT
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It's f/4
That is the answer to light! The lower the f/number the better suited to low light.
Regards, Smooth 
www.omnipix.com.au
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hindenhaag
Posts: 729
Location: Netherlands
Registered: 7 Mar 2010
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 2 Jun 2011 at 4:22 GMT
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Hi,
if you have another lens with f/4, you could test apertures to shutter speed relation and ISO variations/ noise under the conditions you shoot.
www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/night-photogr...
You might have a look around this great "information center" to find some answers to your question.
Regards,
Heinz
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Thomas Krueger
Posts: 358
Location: Genoa, Italy
Registered: 3 Mar 2006
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 2 Jun 2011 at 5:20 GMT
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Handheld or with tripod?
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tallmanirl
Posts: 272
Location: Ireland
Registered: 5 Jun 2008
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 3 Jun 2011 at 8:55 GMT
updated: 3 Jun 2011 at 9:09 GMT
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Thanks guys. It will be both handheld and with a tripod. Heinz, that's a great source of info. Thanks!
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tallmanirl
Posts: 272
Location: Ireland
Registered: 5 Jun 2008
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 3 Jun 2011 at 9:07 GMT
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I just checked my 70-200mm L. That's an F4 too and I'm very happy with the quality of night images from that one. Would the fact that this is telephoto and as opposed to the 17-40mm make much difference here though?
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hindenhaag
Posts: 729
Location: Netherlands
Registered: 7 Mar 2010
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 3 Jun 2011 at 13:08 GMT
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Hi, in fact it does.
F4 is F4 concerning your shutter speed. Doing night images you have to have a look at the place you like to shoot. At it's best in "a harbor view" nothing is moving.
When your place is crowded with moving objects, you have to choose the quickest shutter speed you can use by raising ISO one stop lower before noise comes up. You have to test this with your combination.
The difference between 17-40 / 70-200 concerning f4 is the same.
But because of different focal length, there is a big difference of number of pictures you have to take per row.
Check it here: www.frankvanderpol.nl/fov_pan_calc.htm
This is only one row. Imagine you are doing sphericals.
Plus: this is at f/4 during night time. F/4 offers shortest depth of field. Best over all of a lens is F8, or F/11. Lenses work for their best at these settings.
Just consult the link about this. Barrel distortion etc.
There is no Plug And Play Solution. To get better results you have to spend time to get experience. Till the camera lens combination you use is "Part of your Body" so you know what you have to change to get the best result.
A Samyang 8mm/f3.5 may be a cheep but excellent lens to get you on the road to be ready for crowded places.
Cheers,
Heinz
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tallmanirl
Posts: 272
Location: Ireland
Registered: 5 Jun 2008
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 5 Jun 2011 at 14:58 GMT
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Thanks Heinz!
What I mainly hope to photograph at night is castles, churches etc, also, the lights of towns and cities from a hilltop viewing point etc. No movement there! Also, I'd like to photograph crowds in nicely lit streets. They would be moving slowly, but I'd have no interest in blur effects etc.
Regards,
Fergal.
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bigwade
Posts: 826
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Registered: 19 Oct 2005
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 5 Jun 2011 at 15:29 GMT
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If 24mm is wide enough try the 24mmTS-E-II (forget series I)
It's very good wide open and the right tool for buildings etc.
The 17mm TS-E has some flare issues and is very heavy.
Both lenses are expensive.
The 17-40 mm is oké but not so good in corners and has no shift.
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Thomas Krueger
Posts: 358
Location: Genoa, Italy
Registered: 3 Mar 2006
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bigwade
Posts: 826
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Registered: 19 Oct 2005
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Re: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM & Low Light
Posted: 6 Jun 2011 at 19:35 GMT
updated: 6 Jun 2011 at 19:48 GMT
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or:
tinyurl.com/q7wfwj
scroll down to the second image.
(with the roof)
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