Prime lens to start with?

Consider the 18-55mm IS Canon lens. I just picked one up on POTN for 82 bucks in pristine condition. I haven't used it much, but it's a decent lens for the money. Take a look here and read the user reviews.
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …18_55mm_f_3_5_5​_6_IS.html

I think the 35mm or 50mm are both great choices, it just depends on how you typically frame your subjects.

I would recommend as others have the 50mm f1.8, but it is a little tight for shooting babies, most of the times they're laying down or in a position where is hard for you to get a good shot at that focal range so I think the 30mm is a better choice on a crop body. Once that baby starts to walk and run around a 50mm would be great for those nice portrait shots, in crop body is like having 80mm so it's perfect for portraits but you do need a little room.

James Emory wrote in post #11563896
Consider the 18-55mm IS Canon lens. I just picked one up on POTN for 82 bucks in pristine condition. I haven't used it much, but it's a decent lens for the money. Take a look here and read the user reviews.
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …18_55mm_f_3_5_5​_6_IS.html

+++ 1 ^^^

Another good suggestion but is not a prime!

kumicho wrote in post #11563805
This. I started out with just the 50mm 1.8 and found it to be a bit weird of a FL for my shooting, being too short for outside and too long for inside. Obviously it's all up to you as a shooter, so set your zoom on either and walk around and take some pictures to see how it "feels".

Agreed...Find your preffered Fl with your zoom and then buy a prime based on your shooting style.

I'm just echoing what others have already said. I bought the 50 1.4 as my first prime for my T2i. It's a great portrait lens, but for indoor candid shots, something in the 30mm range would be better. I ended up getting the 16-35 and that stays on the camera all the time now when I'm expecting to use the camera inside for friends and family.

Well back in the day when I did environmental portrature for a living (mostly kids), I mainly used short focal length lenses on 35mm cameras.Today if I was raising a family I would choose my Canon G10 (or 11, 12, etc.) over my T2i or 5DII unless it was for a big fine art wall print of a sitting in which case I'd use a large piece of film anyway (or my 5DII if only digital) The broader DOF of the G sensors would give me junior and his environment in focus with less hassle, and would be much easier to keep on hand physically all the time

The Canon 50mm 1.4 was the first and only lens I bought for my 50D for the first year I had it. I found that I sort of liked being constrained. Made me really think about each shot. And I Ioved the small size, still do! But then again I'm a minimalist lol For the few times I really needed something wider...I just pulled out my trust SD700.

i picked up a 50mm 1.8 and have been playing around with it. great lens for the money and should be wide enough for shooting the little one. set your 28-135 around 50 and take some shots at home to see if you like that FL.

Keep your 10-22 and the 28-135. Both are good lenses and with just these two you are all set for a lot of future shooting situations.

Set one of the focal length you're considering on the 28-135, tape the zoom ring in place, shoot some shots with that setting and see how you like it. Repeat with the next focal length, etc. This should give you a better feel for your own preferences.

Canon 28/1.8, 28/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Canon 35/2, 35/1.4, 50/1.8, 50/1.4, Siggy 50/1.4 and 85/1.4, Canon 85/1.8 are all prime lenses you might consider, at various price points, build qualities and capablities.

On a tight budget, the 50/1.8 is the cheapest.... capable, but nothing fancy.

For tight portraits, wider angle lenses used close to the subject will tend to exaggerate facial features in what can be a rather humorous way... Big noses, etc. Longer tele lenses can be challenging to use in tigher spaces, but give you more working distance from your subject, which might be less intrusive in candid situations.

Thanks, everyone, for the input.

I borrowed a co-workers' husband's lens today after work for a few minutes and decided that the lower focal length is probably our best fit. I also toyed around with the 18-55 kit lens and found the 30-40 range to work best. So, I'm now in the market for 3x primes. Now it's just a matter of figuring which gives the best value. L lenses, although I'd love to say I own them, are out due to budget alone.
I can swing $300 for a used lens, but that's really all I'd like to pay right now.
Given that, is there any specific suggestions that meet this criteria? Would increasing the budget to $400 be warranted or am I just chasing my tail here? If the former, then I'll hold off a week or two longer until I have cash in hand and try that route.
The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 seems like a great buy based on suggestions on this forum and reviews on the net. However, upon review on ken rockwell's site, he suggests going for the canon 28mm based on price/performance. A few other members here seem to be echoing as such. The 2mm focal length isn't a bother to me, necessarily. Frankly, I'd rather start on the shorter end of a prime than start with a prime with too long of a focal length, so I may try that route.

Anyway, just wanted to say I appreciate all the input.

- Erin

My daughters are a little bigger than your two month old (they are teen agers). In side I am okay with 35 to 85. Outside, I will use a 105 to 200.

Canon makes a wonderful 85 1.8 USM lens and is close to your budget. I sold mine and only use manual focus lenses. You mentioned getting into photography again - if before was with manual focus you can get a ton of focal lengths for $300. A Takumar or Nikkor 50 1.4 will run around $60 on-line, a Mamiya 645 80 2.8 about $50 on line.

If you want to extend your budget then learn to use inexpensive off camera flash and you can get a slower prime lens for indoors. strobist.blogspot.com is a great place to start to pick this up.

Taken outside with a Nikkor 180 2.8 (all of $150) on an inexpensive XSI.

Thanks for that input.
I think we are going to try the canon 28mm first and if we decide it isn't for us, we'll move on. Luckily we have zoom lenses to pretty well cover our normal spectrum. I just wanted to play around with some good primes as it seems they are a great 'no frills' lens. I'm definitely a "buy it and try it" person. I love data and reviews, but they can't replace emotion and joy of trying things.
Not to say I don't appreciate all the help here, of course.

rebootme wrote in post #11564298
Agreed...Find your preffered Fl with your zoom and then buy a prime based on your shooting style.

That's one of the best things about exif data. You can go back and see exactly what FLs you used the most.

^ that's a good idea. I didn't think to check some of my favorite photos to get a feel for the average focal length. thanks for that kick in the noggin'.