Advice on Lenses

[shady]

Yep, yet another thread asking for advice, sorry for the pain. I am about to pull my hair out trying to decide what to do next though. I currently have the Digital Rebel, 18-55mm kit lens, 18-50 & 55-200 sigma lenses and the 'nifty fifty'. I am really thinking about trying to sell both sigma lenses and vouch for 2 replacements, but I can't decide which two, and thats where I need the help. I am trying to decide between these combos:

Canon EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM
&
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
combo (~$420)

Canon EF 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM
&
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II
combo (~$360)

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM
&
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
combo (~$510)

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM
&
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II
combo (~$450)

[shady]

Maybe I should just sell both Sigma lenses and just get the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro Super II and use my Canon 18-55 kit lens for awhile. Anyone?

[tim]

What do you take photos of?

[shady]

I'm just learning mostly, so really anything. Landscapes, some wildlife, etc. Mostly general photography as I'm not a professional nor am I looking to be one.

[tim]

I don't buy lenses slower than F2.8. I like the Tamron 28-75 as a general lens, it's my main lens, it works really well. For a zoom it depends how fussy you are and how many photos you need a zoom for. The 100-300 is one of the better Canon consumer zoom lenses, the Sigma 70-300 is pretty good too, I had it but I returned it because F4-5.6 (or whatever) was too slow for me. If you're more fussy try the 70-200 F4, or the Sigma 70-200 F2.8, both can use a teleconvertor. I just ordered a 70-200 F2.8 IS, it's not a cheap lens, but it's very good.

[Tom W]

I have the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5. Its a well-built mid-range lens. I would take it over the f/4-5.6 version due to the better build quality, faster aperture, USM, focus scale, and easy-to-operate full-time manual focusing.

As for the long lens, the Canon is good, but I don't know anything about the Sigma that you mention.

[shady]

Ok I've made up my mind, I'm going to pass on the 28-105 and get either the Canon 100-300 or the Sigma 70-300. Wow, decisions, decisions.

[ron chappel]

Having just a wide zoom (like the kit lens) and a telezoom is a very good, often used strategy for many photographers.
Frankly ,the small zoom length missing from where the wide leaves off and the tele starts is allmost unnoticable in practice.

Personally i'd say go for the canon 100-300usm instead of the sigma 70-300 Apo but they are both very good buys.Youre definitely on the right track there:)

Then put money into a better wide zoom because the Kit lens really is limiting i've found (i rarely get any good pics with it).Is the sigma 18-50 worth keeping?Maybe keep it instead of the kit lens ?

If you really do want a 28-105 lens then definitely forget the slower (f4-5.6) version-it's not very nice at all.It gives very similar optical performance to the kit zoom-maybe even a little worse form the pics i've seen(?)On the other hand the f3.5-4.5 version is universally praised for it's optical performance ( kinda close to a pro zoom)

[tim]

I almost never use my kit lens, but only because I don't need anything so wide more than about once every 3 months. The 28-75 works fine for me.

[cfcRebel]

If i were to choose, i'll select combo #4.
Good luck. ;)

[london]

I almost never use my kit lens, but only because I don't need anything so wide more than about once every 3 months. The 28-75 works fine for me.

My photography improved 400 percent when I got a wide-angle (the EF-S 10-22mm). At this point, I can't hardly imagine shooting without one.

Scott

[tim]

The lens you need varies based on your subject and your style. I'd rather have a telephoto zoom than a wide angle, though i'll probably end up with both eventually.

[shady]

Well now the Sigma 24-70 3.5-5.6 has come into the picture. Yes I know the price is really cheap, and I expect the quality is not that good, but how would it compare to the Canon 28-105 3.5-4.5? That is the question. I'm going to get either of these with a Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II so keep that in mind.

[bfaust]

Be sure the Sigma 70-300 works with Digital Rebel. If you are buying it new I bet it will. The older ones had to be sent in to be upgraded to function with the Rebel. Sigma used to do it free. I think the 70-300 is a good lens if it APO glass. You will need a tripod to use it most of the time.

Bruce

[Jesc]

I have the Sigma 70-300 APO, for my DRebel. This len works really good, nice DOF and picture´s sharp. It´s a little heavy, but is a good choice.

Jesc