Lens advice needed
08-30-2009, 10:11 AM
#1
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Lens advice needed
I hesitate to ask since this kind of question tends to have no exact answer and tends to dumb down a nice forum......but I'll throw it out there anyway in hopes of a few responses. 
I did read the lens review sticky.
Background - I have a Canon XTI with what is widely regarded as one of the poorer kit lenses, the EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6. I also have the inexpensive 50mm 1.8. I bought the camera a few years back and really want to become much more proficient in using it.
I borrowed a friend's EF-S 55-250mm 4-5.6 IS lens to take on a trip to Seattle just to try out a zoom lens. It's a very inexpensive lens and certainly not a walk-around lens but under the right conditions the IQ blew away anything I have done with the kit lens. Even to my untrained eye there's some loss of sharpness at max zoom but most anything in between was so much sharper and I swear more vibrant than the kit lens.
I can see where it would be great to have a lens with more reach as my daughter is getting older and soccer games, t-ball, etc make it tough to get close enough to the action without alot of cropping.
Question - Finally!
I have a budget of about $400-500. I know thats about half of what I should spend for a higher quality lens but I just can't spend $1k on a lens. My options seems to be:
1. Get the 55-250 I tried along with Canon's new and supposedly VERY MUCH improved 18-55 IS lens. I'd have a wide coverage range and the 2 lenses would be within my budget. I believe this has been used more recently as a kit lens combo too.
2. Go with Canon's EF 28-135mm 3.5-5.6 IS USM which runs around that price. Would give me alot more reach than the single lens but I don't have enough experience to calibrate whether this is not wide enough. Would this be a good "walk-around" lens or would you constantly be looking for room to "back up" indoors or in crowded places?
3. Canon makes a 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 IS lens which would seem to give a 1 lens solution but reviews I've read are not conclusive as to whether this is better than a 2 lens solution - also closer to $600.
4. Canon 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS lens, give up alot of zoom for a single lens solution but is much wider (probably more important in day to day use).
There are good choices from Tamron (24-75), etc. Any guidance would be appreciated, knowing that there is not just 1 clear answer.
I did read the lens review sticky.
Background - I have a Canon XTI with what is widely regarded as one of the poorer kit lenses, the EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6. I also have the inexpensive 50mm 1.8. I bought the camera a few years back and really want to become much more proficient in using it.
I borrowed a friend's EF-S 55-250mm 4-5.6 IS lens to take on a trip to Seattle just to try out a zoom lens. It's a very inexpensive lens and certainly not a walk-around lens but under the right conditions the IQ blew away anything I have done with the kit lens. Even to my untrained eye there's some loss of sharpness at max zoom but most anything in between was so much sharper and I swear more vibrant than the kit lens.
I can see where it would be great to have a lens with more reach as my daughter is getting older and soccer games, t-ball, etc make it tough to get close enough to the action without alot of cropping.
Question - Finally!
I have a budget of about $400-500. I know thats about half of what I should spend for a higher quality lens but I just can't spend $1k on a lens. My options seems to be:
1. Get the 55-250 I tried along with Canon's new and supposedly VERY MUCH improved 18-55 IS lens. I'd have a wide coverage range and the 2 lenses would be within my budget. I believe this has been used more recently as a kit lens combo too.
2. Go with Canon's EF 28-135mm 3.5-5.6 IS USM which runs around that price. Would give me alot more reach than the single lens but I don't have enough experience to calibrate whether this is not wide enough. Would this be a good "walk-around" lens or would you constantly be looking for room to "back up" indoors or in crowded places?
3. Canon makes a 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 IS lens which would seem to give a 1 lens solution but reviews I've read are not conclusive as to whether this is better than a 2 lens solution - also closer to $600.
4. Canon 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS lens, give up alot of zoom for a single lens solution but is much wider (probably more important in day to day use).
There are good choices from Tamron (24-75), etc. Any guidance would be appreciated, knowing that there is not just 1 clear answer.
08-30-2009, 12:55 PM
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Start out with the Tamron 17-50 2.8. You can find them used for $350-400. Your wide angle zoom lens will get most of the usage for daily stuff. You don't get the reach like the other lenses, but overall it's a much sharper lens that has a constant max aperture. (the other lenses are soft due to design and optics; you can't have a lens that has that type of range and have it remain sharp at both the wide angle and longer focal length).
When you have money, but the Canon 70-200 4.0L non IS. I don't know what the current market price is, but I'm guessing $550.
A hotshoe flash would also be something on your wishlist. You can find a used 430EX for about $200. This will drastically help your indoor shots (being able to bounce the flash).
When you have money, but the Canon 70-200 4.0L non IS. I don't know what the current market price is, but I'm guessing $550.
A hotshoe flash would also be something on your wishlist. You can find a used 430EX for about $200. This will drastically help your indoor shots (being able to bounce the flash).
08-30-2009, 05:29 PM
#3
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^ Those are 2 nice suggestions. 
But do get the tamron to start the 2.8 will help you in a lot of situations. One thing to remember on a crop body 18mm is barely wide enough and 24mm is not very good for small rooms. As far as zoom the 70-200mm F4l is a perfect L lens choice for someone on a budget.
But do get the tamron to start the 2.8 will help you in a lot of situations. One thing to remember on a crop body 18mm is barely wide enough and 24mm is not very good for small rooms. As far as zoom the 70-200mm F4l is a perfect L lens choice for someone on a budget.