hi guys,

im going to japan in a couple of weeks. i currently have a canon rebel xti w/one lens, a canon 18-55mm, f 3.x-5.x i think. it's an average lens, and doesn't provide the range one needs for outdoor vacation shots. i'm thinking of picking this lens for the trip:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3976..._4L_IS_USM.html

but i also really want to bring over a camcorder..thinking about this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5392...AVCHD_16GB.html

now, my family willhave their own digital cameras, but none of us has a camcorder. this is for a wedding, so it's a pretty special event.

i really don't want to choose between a lens or camcorder, but also don't want to spend $2k for both. so given $1k, what would you spend it on, another lens or a camcorder?

any thoughts would be appreciated

-c

 

I'd go with a camcorder if you had to choose (since others will have cameras)

 

Thinking of longevity, I would go with the glass because it's pretty much timeless. Camcorders come and go and are obsolete the day you pick them up. Stills last forever too....

 

you both bring up valid points. i will end up getting both the lens and the camcorder...just a matter of which one i should get first, for this particular trip...

-c

 

You say it's for a wedding, but are you planning on walking around the entire wedding videotaping everyone and everything if you go camcorder? Sure it'd be nice to have it all on memory, but do you really want to do that?

I'd lean toward the lens as well, but then I've really never had interest in video so I'm completely biased.

 

Maybe compromise & get a lightly used 28-135 IS and a camcorder for around $1k to take on the trip, then sell the lens later & put the proceeds to an L-series lens

 

couldn't have said it better.