Lens advice: Help me choose 3 for an APS body

I have the 15-85 and the 50mm 1.8 and love them both. The 17-50 range never really worked for me so I chose more range over f2.8. I also still use the 55-250 while I am saving for a better long lens. You can do a lot with these 3 lenses and a flash.

Get yourself a 100L 2.8 Macro and a plastic fantastic keep what you have got.

Refresh Image wrote in post #11737397
Looks like you not are rally upgrading, just swapping.
Buy that 50/1.8 you wanted and be done with it.
( I just saved you $900 )

+1....totally agree

Refresh Image wrote in post #11737397
Looks like you not are rally upgrading, just swapping.
Buy that 50/1.8 you wanted and be done with it.
( I just saved you $900 )

This. Although I'd also add, if you really want to upgrade, figure out the ONE area you want to improve. If you primarily want to improve your landscapes/cityscapes, spend all of the money you're looking at spending on a GOOD lens for those shots (Canon 10-22mm?). If you primarily want portraits/birding look at one of the 70-200mm lenses (although 200mm is a bit short). If you want flowers, look at a good macro. You're not going to be able to sell your current lenses and get lenses good for wide angle, macro, portraits and birding without spending a fortune.

Watt100, I figure I might use the wide end more, especially on Himalayan treks. Am still learning, so not sure if I would need to use 2.8, but might shoot at dawn/dusk. Again, might not use the 50-85 range so much, hence, the Tamron might make sense. But, point taken. The reason I was looking to move out from the 17-55 kit after more than a year was a lack of contrast and some softness in that lens, though I cannot say for sure whether it's operator error (me) or lack of proper PP (again me).

Kumicho, that's good fodder for thought. Am still figuring out what I like the most. Advice such as yours and that of Watt100 along with the others is what makes it worth to post here. It certainly helps a lot to listen to folks with such diverse experiences as the ones on POTN.

Thanks again, folks. I am glad I posted here. Looks like I am definitely going to save some $$$ and gain a lot in knowledge. Now that's what I call a free lunch.

If i were you, i'd think of buying a Canon 17-55 f/2.8 used off POTN (for about $900++), invest in a few quality ND, Polarizer, GND filters, and use that lens primarily for portrait or landscape work. If for some reason, you don't like the lens (too expensive, don't like the focal length, etc.) you can always sell it, and not lose out on a ton of money, since that lens seems to always be in demand. Then when I have enough money, I'd purchase a solid tripod and a flash.

So now, what you end up in your gear bag is:

17-55 f/2.8 (Portraits and Landscapes, maybe flowers as well)
ND Polarizer GND Filters (landscapes)
Stable Tripod
Canon Flash (For portraits, indoor, low light and fill-flash)

After a couple of months or so, you should have played around with your 17-55 enough to know what type of shooting you enjoy the most. If you want a longer reach, get a telephoto. If you want to go wider, get an UWA. If you want a faster lens, and creamier bokeh, get a nice prime.

note: This is what I am personally thinking of doing, except i'm getting myself a tripod and flash, before the lens.

I highly recommend the 15-85. Combine that with the 70-300 as KY707 recommends and you have high quality and a wide range.