lens suggestions

hey yall. i was just looking for some advise on buying some new lenses. i am planning on getting some cash for christmas to improve my camera equipment. i currently have a Cannon EF 35-80mm 1:4-5.6 III, a Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 II, and a Sigma 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 II Macro. so basically nothing to brag about.

i've been looking around at different lenses and i feel overwhelmed with all of it. i'm just a student but i will be graduating next semester and i would like to have some quality gear. not really sure how much i'm looking to spend. i would say around $500 or less for each lens. i'm basically just lost so any suggestions would be great and much appreciated.

What type of photography is your main focus? Knowing this would help narrow down a few suggestions. You mentioned around $500 or less for each lens. Are you planning on getting more than one?

well i would like to get at least two lenses that will work for several different types of photography. i usually stick with landscape/travel type photographs and then shorter distance still life photographs. i kinda like it all which is probably why this decision is so difficult. i do however know that i'm not really into serious macro photography so a macro lens would be out of the question. i'm basically looking for a good quality lens that will be very versatile.

You might want to consider some good, fast prime lenses such as the 50mm f/1.4 or the 85mm f/1.8. They're both sharp and are good in low light. Tamron has a couple of good zooms on the wide end, namely the 17-35 and the 28-75, that are very sharp as well. For the 70-200 range, I'd highly recommend the Canon f/4L version. It's a great introduction to L glass at an affordable price.

I am fond of my 28-135 IS for nature, (but its not quite wide enough for really good lanscape stuff)....but not everyone seems to like it.

Have you looked at the 50 1.8 or 1.4? The 50mm 1.8 is a cheap lens that is a pretty good steal for the price you pay.

thanks so much for the suggestions!

I'd suggest something wider than your current lens. Perhaps a EF-s 17-85, if you don't plan on going full frame.

yes. actually i have been planning on getting the 50mm 1.8 for quite some time now. my friend tried to talk me out of it because it's not a zoom but i hear so many good comments about it and i think i would really like that lens. however i wasnt really considering that lens as one of the upgrades of my older lenses since it isnt a zoom.

that is also something i have thought about. i will check into that lens. thanks for the suggestion

Go for the 50 f1.4, it will feel more balanced on your camera than the 50 f1.8.

For 2 lenses you would do well will something in the 24-70 range, either the Sigma or the Tamron 28-75, as well as a Canon 70-200 4 as previously mentioned. These would be in your prescribed price range. You could add some primes later as you come to realise the faocal length you like to use.

Another option would be the 17-85, a great walkabout lens. You could add the 50 1.8 & the 85 1.8 to that and still be within budget.

I'd keep your kit lens. Sell all others on ebay. Pool your money try looking at wide canon, canon 50 1.4, and canon 70-200l 2.8

the canon 70-200L 2.8 is a bit out of my range. i could probably go for the 70-200L 4.0. how do the two compare (aside from the obvious difference)? also, how would the sigma 70-200 2.8 compare?

i've read alot of good things about the sigma 2.8. I'll let the others go at that. I would get the 2.8 instead of the 4.0. The 4.0 is nice but you need light to fuel this monster. The 2.8 will give you more options and allow for lower light conditions.

thanks for all the suggestions yall. that at least points me in a more narrowed direction!