Any suggestions for $200-300? I have a credit

I have the T2i and will keep it (love this camera).

So, my current lenses are the nifty fifty and the 28-135 USM IS. Great lens. It has a lot of limitations and is fickle, but it's a good lens for walkaround.

I have a 200-dollar Best Buy credit in town (through the store, not online) and was thinking of getting something they have in stock.

1. 40mm pancake (it's $199 and in stock). I could sell the 50 1.8

2. The 55-250 (it's in stock for for $249).

3. Something else?

If I get the 55-250 I'll have more reach, but it will be kind of redundant to have that and the 28-135, and it's less capable as a walk-around lens (55 on the low end).

If I get the 40mm I'll have fun with it, and then I can sell the nifty or whatever.

Any ideas?

I even thought of getting one of those Zoom H2 field recorders and become a goofy film director and maybe do something creative.

Thanks for any suggestions, even goofy ones other than (give the credit to me).

Tripod? Filters? Flash? Bags? Straps? SD cards? Editing Software? Memory Upgrades? (not sure about in store) Wireless mouse?, Styling mouse pad? Card readers? Another P&S? Case for the additional P&S?

430EX II- $299
rokinon 8mm fisheye- $299

Do they sell tripods? Get one if you don't have one.

tough choice, where do you find your kit is currently limiting you? if you could add some extra cash onto this I might look into a UWA zoom or a wide angle prime. or even look at the canon 17 - 55 f2.8 or sigma 17 - 55 f2.8 but that would also involve more cash on top of the gift card.

Oh and another option, a shutter release cable those can be very helpful!

Save your money and buy something better later on.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

i just noticed you have thru the store...and not online...can you go to the store, and have them order things for you?

I have a good bag, tripod, lots of sd cards. I don't have a flash, but I also don't think I'd use one all that often. I've tried one a few times and it's not really for me. I hardly ever shoot indoors anymore unless it's well-lit or I use a tripod. I just mostly take pictures around town and of my family. I don't take pictures of strangers or neighbors' kids or anything like that. I used to take a lot of photos of students, but it got to a point that people started asking me to take photos at just about every event at the school, and I don't plan to be the school photographer anymore. It's just too distracting and it lost its fun (I was on yearbook staff for about five years and need a change).

I think I'm going to get the 40mm, because the 55-250 can be had a lot cheaper than the current $249 that Best Buy wants. Then I'll get rid of the 50mm and save a little for the bigger lens.

We shall see. I used to do tons of portraits (mostly outdoors and in good light), but now I want to focus more on landscapes, architecture, travel, ghost towns/cars/barns, etc. I'm also going to do more HDR again. But I'm not interested in shooting sports (but love watching football and college basketball).

Any insight is helpful, but don't worry too much about this goofy post.

Hmm, maybe I'll go to all primes. That might be fun.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #14811507
I have a good bag, tripod, lots of sd cards. I don't have a flash, but I also don't think I'd use one all that often. I've tried one a few times and it's not really for me. I hardly ever shoot indoors anymore unless it's well-lit or I use a tripod. I just mostly take pictures around town and of my family. I don't take pictures of strangers or neighbors' kids or anything like that. I used to take a lot of photos of students, but it got to a point that people started asking me to take photos at just about every event at the school, and I don't plan to be the school photographer anymore. It's just too distracting and it lost its fun (I was on yearbook staff for about five years and need a change).

I think I'm going to get the 40mm, because the 55-250 can be had a lot cheaper than the current $249 that Best Buy wants. Then I'll get rid of the 50mm and save a little for the bigger lens.

We shall see. I used to do tons of portraits (mostly outdoors and in good light), but now I want to focus more on landscapes, architecture, travel, ghost towns/cars/barns, etc. I'm also going to do more HDR again. But I'm not interested in shooting sports (but love watching football and college basketball).

Any insight is helpful, but don't worry too much about this goofy post.

Hmm, maybe I'll go to all primes. That might be fun.

since you mention architecture a UWA may just fit the billing or any wide angle for that matter. Why not go in and check to see what the cheapest wide angle prime they have is, that way you can keep the 50 for when you need it.

Xbox 360

Sell the Best Buy credit to someone, pick up 55-250mm for $149 (Adorama Deal link), sell 28-135mm and pick up a used Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (non-VC).

First I'd see if they would price patch the Adorama deal on the 55-250.

I think picking up the 40mm, and selling the 50mm is silly. You already have the 40mm FL in your 28-135, you'll only get about $80 for your 50, and your only picking up 10mm in wide. With the 55-250, your expanding your available focal lengths, and getting excellent IQ.

With what you have, if I didn't get the 55-250, I'd look at a flash (which you said you don't want), or maybe a 'better quality than what you already have' photo printer.

Do you have to spend the credit right away? If not, hold on to it, as you will find you need something soon enough.

DiMAn0684 wrote in post #14811602
Sell the Best Buy credit to someone, pick up 55-250mm for $149 (Adorama Deal link), sell 28-135mm and pick up a used Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (non-VC).

That's a heck of deal for the 55-250 and it's new too

If you do not have a flash that would be my first recommendation, followed by a good tripod.

The 55-250 is a fun and sharp lens. For the price, the only better deal is the 50mm 1.8. It have a strong magnification ratio and can take good flowers (and other small things) photos.

I doubt the 40mm 2.8 will be more useful than the 50mm 1.8 on the t2i. Keep the 50mm for shallow DoF and low light situation.

However the tamron 17-55mm 2.8 (non VC) is also a very good recommendation. It's as sharp as the expensive canon and would give you a more wide range.