Lens suggestions for noob's photographic needs

Currently shooting with an XSi (maybe 60D soon, still debating). I have the 18-55 kit and the nifty fifty.

Expressed my love for the 24-105 L I rented recently in another thread, but still fairly noobish when it comes to the world of Canon lenses.

I am starting to identify the kind of photos I enjoy doing and spend the majority of time on, and I'd like to build up a kit that really suits my photography.

I'm starting to shoot primarily friends/ family in mostly indoor settings. Candids and also some portraits. The same outdoors as well. After that, I'm enjoying shooting the occasional landscape and wildlife.

I know those are two divergent things that would necessitate very different type of lenses. However, if I can add maybe 1-2 "core" pieces that would be ideal for that style of photography (hopefully for under 1000 dollars), I think that would be great. I can always rent as needed for other situations.

Thanks!

When I had my XTi I bought a used 24-70 2.8L for between 1000 and 1100. It's still my primary lens for my 5d2 after I sold the XTi with the kit lens. I love the lens and would recommend it for the family/indoor uses. The other one I would recommend is the 17-55 IS. I rent this lens when I do chasing as it's wider on a crop body than the 24-70 2.8L which would be better for wider angle landscape with similar focal lengths as the 24-70 for family stuff. I also have 70-200 f4.0 L and would absolutely recommend that lens as an entry into the longer focal length world. On a crop body it gets quite a bit of reach. If you don't plan to go to full frame I wold say get a clean, used 17-55 and a 70-200 F4L. It will total a little more than $1000 but you'll have a good start on lenses.

One possibility would be something like the EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS. The wide end works well for outdoor shots, and you can go longer for indoor portraits, and even up to moderate telephoto at the long end when needed. That lens runs around $600-$700. Although it's slower than the 17-55 f/2.8, the image quality is about the same (that is to say, excellent), and if you put around $270 into an EX430 II flash unit you won't need to worry about lens speed when shooting indoors. Actually, you'll almost certainly find that the flash adds more to your portrait capability than changing lenses will. You'd therefore get both an excellent lens for your purposes and a flash unit for about the same cost as just the 17-55 by itself. I wouldn't recommend the 24-70, not only because of its cost but also because it's not very wide on a crop sensor camera.

stsva wrote in post #14951572
One possibility would be something like the EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS. The wide end works well for outdoor shots, and you can go longer for indoor portraits, and even up to moderate telephoto at the long end when needed. That lens runs around $600-$700. Although it's slower than the 17-55 f/2.8, the image quality is about the same, and if you put around $270 into an EX430 II flash unit you won't need to worry about lens speed when shooting indoors. Actually, you'll almost certainly find that the flash adds more to your portrait capability than changing lenses will. You'd therefore get both an excellent lens for your purposes and a flash unit for about the same cost as just the 17-55 by itself. I wouldn't recommend the 24-70 not only because of its cost but also because it's not very wide on a crop sensor camera.

Thanks. I should add that my primary goal by far is adding more lenses for the family pictures. I do enjoy wildlife photography, but that comes in a distant second or third in terms of what I shoot. That being said I do enjoy it enough that I was thinking of adding something inexpensive like the 55-250. But yea, family/ portrait type photography would be at the top of my list by quite a bit.

The Dark Knight wrote in post #14951581
Thanks. I should add that my primary goal by far is adding more lenses for the family pictures. I do enjoy wildlife photography, but that comes in a distant second or third in terms of what I shoot. That being said I do enjoy it enough that I was thinking of adding something inexpensive like the 55-250. But yea, family/ portrait type photography would be at the top of my list by quite a bit.

Based on that, I'd probably go with the 15-85 and flash, which together will be a pretty big upgrade to what you have now, and save up for the 55-250, which is relatively inexpensive.

EDIT: Another option would be to buy some or all used, in which case you might be able to get the 15-85, flash, and 55-250 for under $1,000. Take a look at the for sale forum here on POTN:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=14

stsva wrote in post #14951612
Based on that, I'd probably go with the 15-85 and flash, which together will be a pretty big upgrade to what you have now, and save up for the 55-250, which is relatively inexpensive.

Thanks, silly question: I've never used an external flash before. Is it pretty easy to learn?

The Dark Knight wrote in post #14951622
Thanks, silly question: I've never used an external flash before. Is it pretty easy to learn?

There is a learning curve, but it's really worth it if you want to do good portraits of people. Take a look here http://neilvn.com …h-photography-techniques/ to get an idea of how flash can be used and what's involved in using flash.

Also, take a look at my edit above - consider buying used and you might be able to get more stuff for under $1,000.

if the 17-55is is a tad out of your range, you could replace with a tamron 17-50 2.8. I prefer the non VC version as its very sharp and at a reasonable price. It is crop limited so not good if you plan to go to FF down the road, but its an excellent replacement for your kit lens.

EDIT: also gives you some room to add an external flash.

The Dark Knight wrote in post #14951622
Thanks, silly question: I've never used an external flash before. Is it pretty easy to learn?

"Easy" is all relative I suppose but if you are talking about just starting off with a single flash, that is pretty easy. Most people start with a dedicated flash and use it to bounce against the ceiling at first and from there migrate into off-camera-flash (OCF) and them into multiple light sources.

Here is "the" link for learning how to use flash:
http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com/2006/03/lightin​g-101.html

In case the layout of that website isn't intuitive, basically you use the drop-downs in the bottom-right corner of the page. Start off by going through all the "Lighting 101" posts and then "Lighting 201".

I think you should get the excellent beginner's telephoto zoom lens, 55-250 IS, and a decent flash (430 EX, cheaper Yongnuo E-TTL flashes will do as well), to have a full beginner's set. Save the extra cash for now, you'll need it once you figure out what style of photography suites you the most.

that 55-250IS is quite an excellent lens. When I dont feel like lugging around the 70-200 2.8 it fits the bill quite nicely.

As far as the flash goes, can they be pretty unobtrusive in a large gathering type setting? I enjoy taking candid shots at family gatherings and such, and don't want everyone turning around and asking WTF whenever the flash goes off...

The Dark Knight wrote in post #14951784
As far as the flash goes, can they be pretty unobtrusive in a large gathering type setting? I enjoy taking candid shots at family gatherings and such, and don't want everyone turning around and asking WTF whenever the flash goes off...

Not anymore obtrusive than when someone pulls out their point & shoot camera and the flash goes off. Honestly, I took a couple hundred shots with flash during the last party I was at and no one really paid attention to it.

I would buy a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS or a used Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS before I bought the Canon 15-85. As you already know from the 24-105 you rented, there is a huge value in having a constant aperture. f/5.6 at 85mm when the lens is wide open doesn't appeal to me.

Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 = $620
Canon 85mm f/1.8 = $369

Your total would be $990 with two fast, constant aperture lenses. You would be set for group shots, indoor portraits, and outdoor portraits. Both of these lenses can also be used for landscape photography - some of my favorite landscape shots are with my 100mm lens.

What kind of wildlife are you shooting? When I think wildlife, 300-500mm lenses come to mind.

Mark-B wrote in post #14951878
I would buy a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS or a used Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS before I bought the Canon 15-85. As you already know from the 24-105 you rented, there is a huge value in having a constant aperture. f/5.6 at 85mm when the lens is wide open doesn't appeal to me.

Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 = $620
Canon 85mm f/1.8 = $369

Your total would be $990 with two fast, constant aperture lenses. You would be set for group shots, indoor portraits, and outdoor portraits. Both of these lenses can also be used for landscape photography - some of my favorite landscape shots are with my 100mm lens.

What kind of wildlife are you shooting? When I think wildlife, 300-500mm lenses come to mind.

Thanks Mark. I live near some nature preserves and such, so we get a lot of interesting birds and the occasional rabbit, coyote, deer, etc...

But I don't mind going cheap in this area, like the 55-250 that's been suggested. I also enjoy shooting other things, such as buildings or the random street shot. But these type of shots aren't as "important" to me so I don't necessarily mind taking them with my 18-55 kit or whatever I happen to have on me at the time (heck even if it's my iPhone) if that makes sense.

The photos I enjoy taking right now and matter most to me are of people, so I guess I kind of want to get some decent quality lenses for that purpose as a priority.

Hope I'm going about this the right way.