Help, with budget lens...

I sold my Xti with the 18-55 kit lens. I have a 40d on the way, but no short lens for taking photos of people up close, or use for macro photography.

I am sooo on a budget right now. I have about 120.00 to spend any suggestions on a lens?

I know... you get what you pay for with Glass... well I can only afford what I can afford. Otherwise I would spend the 500.00 or more for good glass.

Any help would be appreciated...

Canon 50 f/1.8.

Or try to pick up another 18-55 IS.

The 18-55 is closer focusing than a 50/1.8, but neither is truly macro.

Buy used, and maybe you'll have enough left to get a set of macro extension tubes.

Pentax SMC 50mm 1.4 is an amazing piece of glass. They are about $100 on ebay.

i'd get the 50 1.8, hard to beat for the money

Get back 18-55 and use reverse ring and macro extension tubes.
All three are possible with $120.
18-55 reversed.

Get another 18-55 IS. It'll give you the short lens you need for group portraiture, and does about 1:3 in the 'macro' department.

What's with all of the 50 mm suggestions? I don't see how a lens of that FL could address either of the OP's stated requirements (except maybe for the 50/2.5 CM, which nobody has mentioned, and that would only start to address one of them).

you can also reverse ring the 50/1.8. if you look used you just might be able to get an older kit lens and a 50/1.8 on your budget.

mike_311 wrote in post #14229325
you can also reverse ring the 50/1.8. if you look used you just might be able to get an older kit lens and a 50/1.8 on your budget.

I was thinking the same thing ... if you take your time you probably can get both for that or pretty darn close!

If you're OK with manual focus, then look into some old m42 mount lenses, they can be had for cheap.

If you want AF, then look for a used 18-55 IS or a 50 1.8. They're pretty much your only options. For people, the 50 1.8 is probably the better choice.

I'd get the 18-55 first and foremost. I'd hate to have only a 50MM on a crop. It won't seem short by any means.. Yes, if you can get both- great- but 18-55 first..

Huntbear wrote in post #14226577
I sold my Xti with the 18-55 kit lens. I have a 40d on the way, but no short lens for taking photos of people up close, or use for macro photography.

I am sooo on a budget right now. I have about 120.00 to spend any suggestions on a lens?

I know... you get what you pay for with Glass... well I can only afford what I can afford. Otherwise I would spend the 500.00 or more for good glass.

Any help would be appreciated...

Get a used EF-S 18-55 IS for about $100. This is one example where you get a lot MORE than what you pay for. You'll be surprised to see that it has much nicer optics than the old 18-55 non-IS you sold with your XTi. You will also find that the Image Stabilization is very handy too.

Thank you everyone for the help and advice. I appreciate it. Now to get on ebay, and start looking.....