Advice for my first lenses

Hi everyone! I've been lurking here the past few weeks looking at samples of these lenses and I just wanted to get some advice on what lenses I should start off with. So far, I'm thinking about:

1.) Canon T3i (body only)

2.) Canon 55-250

3.) Canon 50mm f/1.4

I was going back and forth on getting the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 instead of the 50mm, but I was smitten with the photo quality the 50mm primes put out.

What you guys think?

You might consider starting with the much-less-expensive "nifty fifty" 50mm f/1.8, and then moving up later, unless you really need/want the f/1.4 from the start.

If you can only afford the 55-250 + 1 other lens, then I'd go for the sigma 17-50. Having 50mm as your widest lens is not much fun on crop. You can always buy the nifty fifty to see if you actually like the 50mm focal length first as well.

Sirrith wrote in post #13773128
If you can only afford the 55-250 + 1 other lens, then I'd go for the sigma 17-50. Having 50mm as your widest lens is not much fun on crop. You can always buy the nifty fifty to see if you actually like the 50mm focal length first as well.

This is good advice.

Sirrith wrote in post #13773128
If you can only afford the 55-250 + 1 other lens, then I'd go for the sigma 17-50. Having 50mm as your widest lens is not much fun on crop. You can always buy the nifty fifty to see if you actually like the 50mm focal length first as well.

My budget is around $1600


Do you guys find that the 50mm 1.4 isn't a big jump from the 1.8?

I think the 50mm f1.4 is better than the 1.8, but consider that you are first starting out:
- You need something wider than 50mm on a crop.
- Don't overlook the benefit of a flash, if you ever shoot indoors or people.

50 as the widest lens on Rebel is total waste of money, IMO.
If you want sharp all around prime check Sigma 30 1.4 or Canon 35F2 they are one hundred times more useful on Rebels.
Check Tamron 70-300 as alternative to 55-250.
http://www.tamron.com …ns/di_telephoto​/a005.html

Also, 50mm is a slightly long lens on a crop sensor camera like the T3i. If you're set on a prime, you might consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, which retails in the high $400s. It's more expensive than the Canon 50mm f/1.4, but it's closer to what would be considered the "normal" focal length for a crop sensor, equivalent to the 50mm on a 35mm format camera.

A 17-85, 55-250 and a nifty-fifty, should cover most things in the start. Good luck, be carefull around the sample threads here, they can cost you heaps of money in the long run

You could get the absolutely outstanding EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS (in my and many others' opinion it has L-lens equivalent image quality), EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS, and T3i body for around $1600. Unless you really want to go with a prime or very fast lens, this would be a much more flexible package.

Yea, it's basically between the prime, the 15-85, or the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8

You can compare the image quality of the 15-85 and 17-50 here:
http://the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=4​&APIComp=0

cjjr72984 wrote in post #13773508
Yea, it's basically between the prime, the 15-85, or the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8

In that case, forget the prime for the time being. You then have to choose between constant 2.8. or more range and a variable aperture. If you know what you need/want, great. If you don't, then I suggest starting with something cheaper along the lines of an 18-135 or 18-55, that way you'll know if you want something with range, or if you need something faster for low light or shallower DOF.

My 2 cents...

T3i kit with 18-55is + 55-250is ------- $1000
Yongnuo YN-565EX ETTL Speedlite --- $160

You have $440 remaining to buy a nice prime. Use these 2 lenses first to see what focal length prime you prefer.

I first started out with the Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 75-300mm, and Canon 18-55mm. After a few years, I upgraded to the Canon 50mm 1.4 and Sigma 17-50mm. I find that those two lenses fit me perfectly. I will eventually snag a 70-200. I also would look into getting a flash.