Thanks OP. In for 85mm 1.8 and 1.4x extender.

Ran some numbers on Excel. With Dell's huge starting price, only the low end lenses make sense with this offer.

Assuming you are not in NY and not using DPA (I prefer to get extended warranty with AMEX),

85mm 1.8 ends up about $50 less than Adorama at $278.57.
70-200 IS L: About the same price but you have to wait for 3% fat cash so you're better off with B&H.
24-70 L: Lower price with B&H.
100-400 IS: Best price with Dell but only because of Fat Cash. Only about $26 less than Adorama.
1.4x extender: Advantage goes to Dell at 243.77, a whole $46 less than B&H. (No need to pad to get the $35 off coupon to work).

If buying multiple lenses, be sure to break up your order to use the $35 off coupons. You can get 2 for $2 on eBay.

Personally, I would not buy lenses from Dell unless there's a significant difference. Just check B&H's reseller rating compared to Dell make your own choice.

OP refers to Canon 5D as $2,700. There are no reputable dealers selling this camera at $2,700. B&H sells this for $2,970. Dell is selling it for a whopping $3,299 and the 15% off code does not work for cameras.

Grablife said:85mm 1.4 ends up about $50 less than Adorama at $278.57.

unless you dreamed it, you must meant 50mm 1.4.

onlycom said:Grablife said:85mm 1.4 ends up about $50 less than Adorama at $278.57.

unless you dreamed it, you must meant 50mm 1.4.

I meant the 85 1.8. There's no such thing as the 85 1.4.

Burzhui said:Maxie said:Green for you. Finally I can get the 50mm f/1.4. From Amazon.

If you want IS, why not get the 70-200 f/2.8L?

because you are looking at close to 2 grand

its closer to 1500-1600. if you already have the 17-40, no need to get the 24-100, i'd spring for the 70-200LIS

momoman said:dreamlogic said:thanks op, just picked up a 85 f/1.8excellent choice! this is my most used lens. i'm shooting mostly indoor volleyball and basketball w/o a flash. all the other parents complain that their shots don't come out. they're shooting with zooms with larger apertures (3.5 or larger.)

regarding the kit lens: i was gonna sell my kit lens because i bought the canon 17-40 & 50mm prime, but the kit lens is a lot smaller and lighter. i decided to keep the kit lens and use it when i don't want to carry a larger lens or camera bag.

What body are you using? That's cool that the AF on that portrait lens is able to keep up w/fast sports action.

funkmasterta said:tazmania99 said:Green for the OP, although I do not need any more lens since I've already owned 17-40mm f/4L, 70-200mm f/2.8L, and 24-70mm f/2.8L. Anyone can recommend me another?

looks like you're missing a nice 1:1 macro in your collection. get the 100mm f/2.8, it's so sharp it should be an L.

I have the 100mm USM 2.8 and it's very slow focusing so don't expect to shoot any action with it. Mostly good for still shots, macros, and sitting portraits. That lens will hunt and hunt...sometime requiring me to manually prefocus before it acquires using the 10D and 20D.

funkmasterta said:momoman said:dreamlogic said:thanks op, just picked up a 85 f/1.8excellent choice! this is my most used lens. i'm shooting mostly indoor volleyball and basketball w/o a flash. all the other parents complain that their shots don't come out. they're shooting with zooms with larger apertures (3.5 or larger.)

regarding the kit lens: i was gonna sell my kit lens because i bought the canon 17-40 & 50mm prime, but the kit lens is a lot smaller and lighter. i decided to keep the kit lens and use it when i don't want to carry a larger lens or camera bag.

What body are you using? That's cool that the AF on that portrait lens is able to keep up w/fast sports action.i'm shooting with a rebel xt, usually iso 800, f/1.8 to f/2.5 av mode, 1/250-1/800 sec, one-shot af mode, eval metering. i googled a lot of articles before i bought the canon 85mm 1.8. i'm very happy with the lens. i usually sit/stand courtside so i don't need a longer lens, but i use a sigma 70-200 2.8 to shoot from the baselines also. most of the gyms i've shot in are well lit so i've been lucky!

i wish the rebel xt had spot metering and more af point selections, but that would be too much to ask for in an entry-level dslr!

soooo many xt deals this week...

momoman said:Grablife said:Thanks OP. In for 85mm 1.8 and 1.4x extender...............i hope you bought that 1.4x tc for another lens in your collection. the 1.4x tc is not compatible with the 85mm lens.

No problem. I also have the 50 1.4, 135 f2, 24-105 L, 70-200 2.8 IS L, and possibly the 24-70 L. Not sure if I'll need it but at that price, I had to jump on it first and decide later. It's not like Dell is going to ship anything today.

tazmania99 said:Thanks for everyone's recommendations. I seriously take funkmasterta's advice and eventually I'll need one. I am considering to get the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro from buydig. Yet, I also think my 17-40 f/4L can do the job. It is already a ultra wide lens although it may not be fast enough. How much sharper is the 100mm f/2.8 gonna be?


There is no comparison between these two lenses. They are literally like apples and oranges. The focal range don't even intersect. How can you compare between them. The 17-40 cannot do macros and it's a zoom. The 100mm USM is a prime lens so of course it's going to be very sharp. But even sharper than the 100mm USM is the 50 1.8 or 50 1.4. The 50 1.8 should be bundled with every consumer digital slr from Canon. You have no idea what sharp is until you see this lens. The 50 1.4 is faster and is built much better but is much more expensive. If you don't do macros, forget the 100mm USM and go for either the 85 1.8 or the 135 f2 (long regarded as the fastest focusing prime lens Canon makes)

As far as buying from buydig, all I can say is no one can touch B&H. They are in a league of their own. Just check with www.resellerrating.com. By the way, if you have not order from Dell yet, the party is over. All the codes have been used up.