Fashion Photography Lens - Please Help!

[mamchat]

We have an online designer clothing business, are amateur photographers and have been using a Rebel XTi with the standard EF 18-55 lens for our model shoots. Our full and half body shots come out fine, but we also need closeup photos of the detailing on the clothing. The images are for standard online web pages. We shoot from a tripod and the standard lens we have cannot zoom close enough to get a clear closeup of the detailing, without taking the camera off of the tripod and moving closer to the model. What would be the best lens to get that would work for both the full body shots and the detailed shots, without having to remove the camera from the tripod? We want a good lens that will take sharp, clear color images but that also isn't too high priced. Any advice will be most appreciated.

[Dirk]

for close up's you need a zoom larger than 55 mm. A 55-250 IS could be the lense you're looking for with close up's the detail is fair, for better quality you need a higher priced "L" lense

Alternatively a 17-85 IS is a higher pirced lense and better build and IQ than the standard kitlense. Do not forget that the rebel XTI is a cropped camera so that for all lenses ( EF-S or EF you need to multiply the startting mm times 1.6 and the end mm also times 1.6 so a 18-55 really is a 28.8 mm - 88 mm lense)

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by mamchat

We shoot from a tripod and the standard lens we have cannot zoom close enough to get a clear closeup of the detailing, without taking the camera off of the tripod and moving closer to the model.

?? Why can you not move the tripod ?? ?? Why can't the model walk to the tripod ??

For if that is your only concern, and you are happy with the images you get, *I* wouldn't change anything, as all changes in the setup will mean additional costs.

As Dirk mentioned, a longer focal length lens (55-250IS, 17-85IS) will do the trick, bit will also set you back at least ~$ 255 for the 55-250IS, ~$500 for the 17-85IS...

If that expense can be avoided by taking the camera off the tripod, or moving tripod or model, so be it. Or maybe a quick connect plate - of any sort, this is just an example - allowing you to quickly mount and dismount the camera on/off the tripod will lighten and smoothen the day's work ?

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Dirk]

and the beauty of IS : 99% of the pictures are perfect sharp ( without IS on 250 mm there is camarashake possibilty , thus can IS do the trick

but i don't get it .. you want to sell the stuff (cloths) why not invest in good EF glass example a L series lense ?

believe me the kitlens is nice and more than nice , the IS version is better due to IS you gain up to 4 stops longer shutter speeds without blur than without IS would have been possible. the 17-85 is higher on IQ and build but like Max said costs more . L glass is even more expensive but you get what you pay for.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by Dirk

and the beauty of IS : 99% of the pictures are perfect sharp ( without IS on 250 mm there is camarashake possibilty , thus can IS do the trick

OP is using a tripod, so IS is no factor

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Dirk]

right , but if he /she takes the camera off the tripod it will be

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Dirk

right , but if he /she takes the camera off the tripod it will be

Not with the ability to control the lighting and increase the shutter speed. IS is pointless in a studio environment, imo. I turn mine off. Why bother when I can sync at 1/250 or higher if needed?

[esdiway]

how about the 18-200. fits your requirement.

[Diaboliq]

I say 55-250mm, it amazing sharp and good value/quality report

[jaykilgore]

I'm gonna throw this out there, it's an answer to your question, but maybe not the one you're looking for:

To me, your answer is quite obvious: Hire a professional photographer.

When I need things that are germain to my business, I don't do it myself, I rely on the professionals in that industry to do their work. I.e. if I need a new flyer done, I contact a designer to have them do it. Why? Anything that takes me away from my primary line of work, is taking money out of my pocket.

Like I said, maybe not the direct answer you're looking for, but it's an answer none the less.

Thanks,
Jay

[Narsuitus]

Originally Posted by jaykilgore

To me, your answer is quite obvious: Hire a professional photographer.

I agree!

[ThePortfolioPro]

I disagree I'd say DIY you can only learn from the experience. 55-250mm will do you just fine for this...

[jaykilgore]

Originally Posted by ThePortfolioPro

I disagree I'd say DIY you can only learn from the experience. 55-250mm will do you just fine for this...

At what cost?

My wife is always looking at chef's blogs and while the recipe looks good and when you think about the food being made, it sounds great. Once she takes a look at a crappy photo, her stomach turns and she's no longer interested.

How do you know future possible customers aren't doing the same thing?

[Dirk]

i am curious if the OP has made up his or hers mind because there is no info about that ..

i'll think he or she is to busy chatting with mam

[mamchat]

Thank you for all of your replies. My apologies for the long delay in replying, but I was in an accident and had to have both neck and spinal surgery and am finally just recovering enough to get back into the swing of things.
We had tried a "professional" photographer, which turned out to be a disappointing and costly experience, with no usable images. We have just moved from a small town to a small city, so there are more available professional photographers. Since we need to shoot and edit 25-50 new clothing styles (front, back & closeups), 2-4 times per month, the expense of a professional photographer can run a bit high, especially while we are trying to grow our business. We do use professional models.
We were considering the Canon EF-S 17-85mm 4.0-5.6 Image Stabilizer USM Zoom Lens or the Sigma 669101 Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro Autofocus Lens. Any feedback about these two lenses will be appreciated. After reading the replies to this post, we now also want to look at the other lenses recommended here. I have to say, there is a genuine satisfaction in taking a photo(s) that really turns out well or the way you envisioned.
If we can find a professional photographer that is within our budget and will work with us on a regular basis and the photos are good, we will be thrilled. In the meantime, we still want to purchase an additional lens that might give us better closeups.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by mamchat

We were considering the Canon EF-S 17-85mm 4.0-5.6 Image Stabilizer USM Zoom Lens or the Sigma 669101 Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro Autofocus Lens. Any feedback about these two lenses will be appreciated.

Please note that the 17-85 has been superseded by the EF-S 15-85F3.5-F5.6 IS.

On paper this is a far better lens than the 17-85 and the Sigma 17-70, and the 17-70 is a nicer lens (optically, less deformation) than the 17-85.

As it is new, it is not wildly available yet, and a bit more pricey than the 17-85 though...

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Gna]

Originally Posted by Dirk

and the beauty of IS : 99% of the pictures are perfect sharp ( without IS on 250 mm there is camarashake possibilty , thus can IS do the trick

If you think IS can work miracles on a handheld 250mm (x1.6=400mm) you'll be in for a nasty surprise. IS is virtually ineffective above 200mm effective focal length. It cannot cope with the (leveraged) amplitudinal shake at longer effective focal lengths.

[mamchat]

Originally Posted by Max@Home

Please note that the 17-85 has been superseded by the EF-S 15-85F3.5-F5.6 IS.

On paper this is a far better lens than the 17-85 and the Sigma 17-70, and the 17-70 is a nicer lens (optically, less deformation) than the 17-85.

As it is new, it is not wildly available yet, and a bit more pricey than the 17-85 though...

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

Thank you for your help. We will check out the EF-S 15-85F3.5-F5.6 IS tomorrow!

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by mamchat

Thank you for your help. We will check out the EF-S 15-85F3.5-F5.6 IS tomorrow!

...you may find it too short for your purposes, 85 is not that much more than 55...

so you might also want to look at the new EF-S 18-135F3.5-F5.6 IS lens Also new, so no 'real live hands on's 'as of yet (that I trust )

...€0.02 more...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[mamchat]

Originally Posted by Max@Home

...you may find it too short for your purposes, 85 is not that much more than 55...

so you might also want to look at the new EF-S 18-135F3.5-F5.6 IS lens Also new, so no 'real live hands on's 'as of yet (that I trust )

...€0.02 more...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

I think you are right. We will look at the one you suggested on Monday and a few others. Which reviews do you trust? Thank you again for your help!