Have Extra Cash Not Sure What Lens To Get

Ok so I have around $700 dollars and I want a new lens for my 60D all I have now is the EF 50mm f/1.8 II and the EF-S 18-135mm kit lens. I'm not sure what I want but I am leaning toward a macro lens. Not sure if I want a prime or a zoom lens but I would like it be at least F2.8. The 60mm EF-S looks interesting but so does the EF 100mm USM. I don't have much experience with Sigma or Tamron but would be interested in them.
Any Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks John

Have some wide fun....try the Tokina 11-16 pro

you know we have a total lens section ...that way >>>>>>>
:p

What do you shoot? Without knowing, a lens recommendation is a moot point.

x2 Tokina 11-16. I absolutely love mine when I had it

well, wide is a long way from macro. 700 will get you the 100 macro but a few dollars more will get you the 100 l macro or for not much more you can get a 17-40l. if you buy used you can get a couple of lenses, if you do go wide the ef-s 10-22 is great. but, aside from maybe macro what do you like to shoot? that's what you need to decide before you buy a lens. by the way, 700 would get you a 70-200 f/4 non is and maybe an ef 24 f/2.8 to go with it. i know you said f/2.8 but trust me that 70-200 (especially on a tripod) is an awesome lens. i've actually been thinking about getting rid of my 70-200 f/2.8 is for a 70-200 f/4 is.

$480 for the 100 mm at the canon refurb store, about $840 for the L 100mm. They're both very good, I've had both.

JM45ACP wrote in post #14681060
I'm not sure what I want but I am leaning toward a macro lens. Not sure if I want a prime or a zoom lens but I would like it be at least F2.8.

Make up your mind about what you want first and why you want/need it, then come back for advice, and you'll be able to get more help that way. Right now all you're going to get is people throwing suggestions out about whatever lens they personally like.

Sirrith wrote in post #14682012
Make up your mind about what you want first and why you want/need it, then come back for advice, and you'll be able to get more help that way. Right now all you're going to get is people throwing suggestions out about whatever lens they personally like.

Word.

If you don't know what you need just save the money until a need arises. Or better yet, take a little trip somewhere and take cool pictures with the lenses you do have.

More support for the "don't buy anything if you don't know what you NEED to buy" philosophy. If YOU can't define what type of photographs you are unable to shoot with what you already have, you don't need anything. That can be a good thing.

Add another vote for wait until you need a lens to do something that your current lenses can not do. You KNOW what you WANT when you NEED it. If you bought for every eventuality, you'd own one copy of everything. Nice selection, but your bag will be difficult to carry.

Sorry should have been more specific I'm still new to photography not sure what I want to take pictures of I not really into portraits but I do like close up really detailed photos like in the Macro section so I was thinking for my next lens a Macro would be fun to play with.I also like some of the more creative photos i.e.making moving water look like mist. I also like photographing animals so eventually I will be looking for a good zoom lens.I guess f2.8 is not really important. The only other thing I will be taking pictures of is my daughter cheerleading.Hope this helps.
Thanks John

Picking a lens is so easy. Just let your failures dictate what to buy.

Can't get close enough? Buy a long focal length lens.

Want more of the background in the image? Buy a short focal length lens.

Do you take shots of subjects with an ugly background that you want to blur out? Buy a lens with a large aperture.

Are you photographing events where you must change magnification or angle of view quickly? Buy a zoom lens.

Are your subjects small? Buy a macro.

See? Easy.

back to macro, you could also try the 60mm. i had one, again - great IQ and I couldn't detect any difference between the IQ from it and either of the 100's. It's cheaper and makes a nice inconspicuous lens for candid street shots, it's small. I moved to the 100's to get more working room between camera and subject when shooting macro.

Do you want to look at L quality glass? if i were in your shoes i'd look for a used 100 f/2.8L macro. it will do two of the three things you discussed (and do one of them very well). you should be able to take long exposure shots of water as well as macro with this lens. if L doesn't matter get the 100 macro and an ef 24 f/2.8 that way you'd have good lenses for both. animals? what setting? wildlife? in the woods 70-200 if you have more open areas you could shoot the 300 f/4is is really good. i understand the 400 f/5.6 is good as well but the lack of is on a lens that long would probably lower your keeper rate.