Keep, Sell or Buy?

[NJKEV]

I'm doing indoor and outdoor modeling shoots as well as low light concerts.

Shooting with a 60D and I'm trying to keep my set up to 3 lenses. This is what i have currently, so what should I keep, sell or buy.

My current lenses are
85mm 1.8
50mm 1.8
28-135mm
18-55mm

I really like these lenses.
Canon 50mm 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 OS
Canon 28mm 1.8
Tamron 70-300mm vr

Money is an issue as I can't afford L lenses yet.

[bpark42]

Well a good way to start answering your fairly broad question would be for you to tell us what lenses you use the most/least and what you like or dislike about them. How are your current lenses limiting you for the types of shooting you listed?

[Capeachy]

Sell the 50mm, 28-135 & 18-55 and get the 17-50. This will work as your modelling shoots indoors and out. The 85mm will work nice for head/shoulder shots.

For low light concerts, does the 85mm have enough reach? I can't see the 70-300 helping you here in low light situations.

[NJKEV]

Originally Posted by bpark42

Well a good way to start answering your fairly broad question would be for you to tell us what lenses you use the most/least and what you like or dislike about them. How are your current lenses limiting you for the types of shooting you listed?

I mostly shoot with the 85mm and the 50mm. I love how sharp the image is compared to my other 2 zoom lenses.

As for the lenses I listed
Since I really like the 50mm 1.8 I thought I upgrade to the 1.4
Canon 28mm and the sigma 30mm, I really love how wide they are.
Tamron 70-300 vr I listed because of its reach
Sigma 17-50 OS for everything in between.

[thestone11]

There is one L lens that you may afford. 70-200 f/4 non IS

[gonzogolf]

For the most part you arent going to want anything much wider than 50 for modeling shots.

[CanonYouCan]

Well I did almost a complete modelshoot with my 35L as had limited space with my 85L

On your crop I would sell all of them and buy :
Budget/quality zooms : Tamron 17-50 2.8 (non VC) + Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS
Budget/quality primes: Sigma 30mm 1.4 or Sigma 50mm 1.4

Don't underestimate the power of an external flash to flash at the second curtain and keep the atmosphere of the background for evening shots.
My friend joined me for a shoot with his external flash and his background was completely black, he couldn't elevate his iso too much as he has a 40D, so too much noise.

Originally Posted by gonzogolf

For the most part you arent going to want anything much wider than 50 for modeling shots.

[gonzogolf]

Originally Posted by CanonYouCan

Well I did almost a complete modelshoot with my 35L as had limited space with my 85L

On your crop I would sell all of them and buy :
Sigma 30mm 1.4 or Sigma 50mm 1.4
Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

I understand the space issues, but its not the best recipe for great photos because of the issue of perspective distortion. I find too many new users pick lenses based on the convenience, not undestanding whats likely to make the best photos. Not saying thats what happened with you.

[bpark42]

Perspective distortion is unlikely to be much of an issue with a 35mm lens on APS-C.

[bpark42]

Originally Posted by NJKEV

I mostly shoot with the 85mm and the 50mm. I love how sharp the image is compared to my other 2 zoom lenses.

As for the lenses I listed
Since I really like the 50mm 1.8 I thought I upgrade to the 1.4
Canon 28mm and the sigma 30mm, I really love how wide they are.
Tamron 70-300 vr I listed because of its reach
Sigma 17-50 OS for everything in between.

The 50/1.4 is a decent upgrade from the 1.8, though I would look at the Sigma version over the Canon.

As for the 28 or 30, I wouldn't call either of those "wide" on APS-C, but since you like the focal length and may have low light requirements, one of these lenses might be a good first choice for you.

If your main limiting factor is reach, then the 70-300 definitely makes sense.

The Sigma 17-50 would certainly give you a stronger lens covering the wide to short tele range. If you don't need the extra speed from one of the primes, or if you need to flexibility of the zoom, this might make a good first choice.

[gonzogolf]

Originally Posted by bpark42

Perspective distortion is unlikely to be much of an issue with a 35mm lens on APS-C.

More than you might think if you are doing anything tighter than full body shots.

[bpark42]

Originally Posted by gonzogolf

More than you might think if you are doing anything tighter than full body shots.

We might be debating semantics here, but there really won't be much in the way of unnatural-looking distortion. Perspective is a function of distance, and the reduced angle of view on APS-C dictates a shooting distance comparable to the distance called for by a 56mm lens on full frame.

[gonzogolf]

Originally Posted by bpark42

We might be debating semantics here, but there really won't be much in the way of unnatural-looking distortion. Perspective is a function of distance, and the reduced angle of view on APS-C dictates a shooting distance comparable to the distance called for by a 56mm lens on full frame.

I understand that, but there is a difference between unnatural distortion, and flattering photos. Since flattering photos is pretty much the goal of shooting models the longer focal length is usually a better option unless you are doing environmental portraits.

[1Tanker]

Have you considered selling your 60D/kit lens, and picking up a 5D II? That will give you wider FOV with all your lenses, while giving shallower DOF..as well as better high ISO performance.