Help with a new lens pick

[Littlejon Dsgn]

I am currently using a T3 with kit 18-55 and 55-250. I just did my first senior session and everything came out looking great. I sold off some other hobby stuff and have a few dollars burning a hole in my pocket and I am thinking a new lens might be the cure for this.

A bit of what I like to do, I enjoy shooting landscapes/cityscapes, also action shots of my family while on the river (jetski and boating) and mountain, however I am wanting to take my senior and family shots to the next level (tired of shooting for free).

I have a flash, and triggers, I am picking up a gel kit as well (learn something new about the flash everytime I use it ... its so much fun lol), got a good tripod and filters so a lens to me is the next logical step.

I have been eyeing the Nifty Fifty for its price point and I have read mixed but good things about it. Honestly budget is a factor since I am dipping into honeymoon money dont tell the wife lol.

[Nightdiver13]

Do you have modifiers for your flash? If not, I think that would make the most significant difference in the quality of OCF for portraiture.

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Originally Posted by Nightdiver13

Do you have modifiers for your flash? If not, I think that would make the most significant difference in the quality of OCF for portraiture.

Currently I do not have modifiers, not sure how I over looked that as the next logical step Any recomendations

[LV Moose]

Canon 10-22 or Tokina 11-16 perhaps.

(for your landscapes/cityscapes)

[Nightdiver13]

I'm assuming a lot of your portrait work is done outside. Do you have an assistant? If not, the biggest concern is the wind when choosing modifiers, and definitely bring something to stake/weight down the lightstand. Beauty dishes are popular choices for this sort of use, although I prefer having a larger modifier myself, such as the Softlighter (or knockoff).

[ChuckingFluff]

I'd say keep saving and over time get the 17-55 f2.8 IS and the 70-200 f4.0L IS, in that order. If you need to add a prime to your bag I'd get the sigma 50mm f1.4 or canon 50mm f1.4 over the nifty fifty. I also buy most of my lenses used locally so I can test before I buy. Depending on where you live you may be able to save a small fortune on glass. I've made the mistake of putting loads of glass in my bag just for the sake of buying what I could afford at the time. It really is a lose lose if you do that with new glass all the time.

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Originally Posted by Nightdiver13

I'm assuming a lot of your portrait work is done outside. Do you have an assistant? If not, the biggest concern is the wind when choosing modifiers, and definitely bring something to stake/weight down the lightstand. Beauty dishes are popular choices for this sort of use, although I prefer having a larger modifier myself, such as the Softlighter (or knockoff).

Yes my work is outside, I have started looking into some basics studio gear to use in our spare room but I prefer outside natural backgrounds. My wife is a very willing assistant as well. I have seen some softbox's being used and I like the results (time to go do some reading lol)

Originally Posted by LV Moose

Canon 10-22 or Tokina 11-16 perhaps.

Yup those are the UWA's that are on my wish list just not sure picking those up will help with the money side of it for me yet and the wife thinks I should be using my gear to make money not just play now (upside I have the green light to spend a little money)

Originally Posted by ChuckingFluff

I'd say keep saving and over time get the 17-55 f2.8 IS and the 70-200 f4.0L IS, in that order. If you need to add a prime to your bag I'd get the sigma 50mm f1.4 or canon 50mm f1.4 over the nifty fifty. I also buy most of my lenses used locally so I can test before I buy. Depending on where you live you may be able to save a small fortune on glass. I've made the mistake of putting loads of glass in my bag just for the sake of buying what I could afford at the time. It really is a lose lose if you do that with new glass all the time.

Ok I was a little worried about picking something up that I would regret learned my lesson on that in past hobbies. I will keep saving for some better glass.

[watt100]

Originally Posted by Littlejon Dsgn

I have been eyeing the Nifty Fifty for its price point and I have read mixed but good things about it. Honestly budget is a factor since I am dipping into honeymoon money dont tell the wife lol.

just get it, the 50mm 1.8 is a sharp lens you're get to experiment with large aperture primes on the cheap

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Originally Posted by watt100

just get it, the 50mm 1.8 is a sharp lens you're get to experiment with large aperture primes on the cheap

Had that thought as well, however $100 is still a decent chunk of change to just experiment with lol. I got my name on the list for the traveling Nifty so may wait to see how I like a prime before purchasing one.

[gonzogolf]

Canon 85 1.8 and umbrellas for your strobes would be my suggestions. You need a fast prime for your portrait kit, even if you are using flash, so you can control background separation. The 85 takes a little more room to work on a crop camera, but well worth it as you get a more flattering perspective than using wider lenses.

[FEChariot]

Originally Posted by Littlejon Dsgn

Currently I do not have modifiers, not sure how I over looked that as the next logical step Any recomendations

I have this kit:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...lla_Flash.html

The nice thing about it is that it is very portable. The flash bracket has some shortcomings. One is that you can only place the flash straight in to the umbrella or 180 degrees out. It also doesn't point the flash at the center of the umbrella, its more towards the upper. The stand will not hold a large studio strobe, but it also make it portable so the stand is nice at least for my needs.

A better set up would be these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ite_Satin.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...djustable.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ght_Stand.html

I also have all of these for my second light. The umbrella is a little sturdier and the black backing is easier to remove and reinstall. The flash bracket allows you to turn the flash 360 degrees and points to the center of the umbrella.

[Darts]

Go with the canon 10-22mm. It's a wonderful lens. It is the best landscape lens I own. Go to www.flickr.com/photos/darts5/ and look at the landscape photos. They were shot with 10-22mm. Good luck
Darts

[pulsar123]

+1 to 50mm f1.8 - you'll have a great beginner's combo.

[bubbygator]

I have 28/1.8 and 85/1.8 for indoor action - I thought I'd get the 50/1.8 to fill-in the gap. Bad idea... I rarely put on the 50 because of it's flakey focusing. Perhaps it would be OK for a sitting portrait, but for anything moving I can never tell where the focus will decide to be.

If you're going to make money, you'll need the 70-200/2.8 - it's "the" pro lens.

But congrats on getting the 55-250; it's a great lens for the money!!

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Originally Posted by Darts

Go with the canon 10-22mm. It's a wonderful lens. It is the best landscape lens I own. Go to www.flickr.com/photos/darts5/ and look at the landscape photos. They were shot with 10-22mm. Good luck
Darts

The 10-22 is in the master plan for sure I am thinking about renting it and giving it a whirl

Originally Posted by bubbygator

I have 28/1.8 and 85/1.8 for indoor action - I thought I'd get the 50/1.8 to fill-in the gap. Bad idea... I rarely put on the 50 because of it's flakey focusing. Perhaps it would be OK for a sitting portrait, but for anything moving I can never tell where the focus will decide to be.

If you're going to make money, you'll need the 70-200/2.8 - it's "the" pro lens.

But congrats on getting the 55-250; it's a great lens for the money!!

I picked up the 55-250 in a combo deal when I got my body and 18-55, it was like $75 more to get it, kinda a no brainer lol. I do find myself needing more reach since the T3 does not allow for much cropping.

And yea the 70-200 is THE pro lens lol