What should I get next?

The more I read the more confused I get so I figured I would ask.

I mostly shoot grandkids sports (baseball and hopefully wrestling) and family pictures. The only photo editing software I have is what came with my 70D which I just got 3 weeks ago. I have a Tamron 18-270 and the kit lens (18-55 and 70-300) that came with my old Rebel. I have no flash either.
I have around $1500 to spend.
Should I get a flash, a 2.8 lens of some kind, photo editing software such as LightRoom etc.

Thanks Denzil

Get a flash and an off camera cable. Get lightroom. Sell your kit lens and get a 17-50 or 17-55 f2.8. Sigma and Tamron both make a very nice one. No need for you to spend all the extra money for a similar lens from Canon for personal use. You'll likely never know the difference.

tyler1 wrote in post #16883010
The more I read the more confused I get so I figured I would ask.

I mostly shoot grandkids sports (baseball and hopefully wrestling) and family pictures. The only photo editing software I have is what came with my 70D which I just got 3 weeks ago. I have a Tamron 18-270 and the kit lens (18-55 and 70-300) that came with my old Rebel. I have no flash either.
I have around $1500 to spend.
Should I get a flash, a 2.8 lens of some kind, photo editing software such as LightRoom etc.

Thanks Denzil

For baseball you're going to need a long lens. Take a look at a used 70-200 2.8, the older ones (non-is) are generally under $1000

What flash would you suggest.

Canon 430EXII or Yongnuo YN-565.

kfreels wrote in post #16883177
Get a flash and an off camera cable. Get lightroom. Sell your kit lens and get a 17-50 or 17-55 f2.8. Sigma and Tamron both make a very nice one. No need for you to spend all the extra money for a similar lens from Canon for personal use. You'll likely never know the difference.

I agree with this advice.

tyler1 wrote in post #16883010
The more I read the more confused I get so I figured I would ask.

I mostly shoot grandkids sports (baseball and hopefully wrestling) and family pictures. The only photo editing software I have is what came with my 70D which I just got 3 weeks ago. I have a Tamron 18-270 and the kit lens (18-55 and 70-300) that came with my old Rebel. I have no flash either.
I have around $1500 to spend.
Should I get a flash, a 2.8 lens of some kind, photo editing software such as LightRoom etc.

Thanks Denzil

The best "thing" to get is experience with your current equipment in a wide and challenging range of situations.

You already own equipment that can handle most photographic chores, and new gadgets won't make much of a difference. Unfortunately, experience isn't for sale.

If you want to get the most out of what you own, you'll need to learn the best ways to use it. That will take time and may require some lessons in photography and lighting.

DC Fan wrote in post #16883346
The best "thing" to get is experience with your current equipment in a wide and challenging range of situations.

You already own equipment that can handle most photographic chores, and new gadgets won't make much of a difference. Unfortunately, experience isn't for sale.

If you want to get the most out of what you own, you'll need to learn the best ways to use it. That will take time and may require some lessons in photography and lighting.

Good advice.

DC Fan wrote in post #16883346
The best "thing" to get is experience with your current equipment in a wide and challenging range of situations.

You already own equipment that can handle most photographic chores, and new gadgets won't make much of a difference. Unfortunately, experience isn't for sale.

If you want to get the most out of what you own, you'll need to learn the best ways to use it. That will take time and may require some lessons in photography and lighting.

You are right my wonderful wife got me a 101 class for christmas 2 years ago and I took the 102 next. As a result I found that I love this stuff and my pictures are getting better all the time. I think a flash and Light Room will be next. The place I took my classes have light room classes. Then a lighting class.

tyler1 wrote in post #16883192
What flash would you suggest.

This is a tricky one. Canon's flash, the 430EXII would be ideal. But it is expensive. About $230 last I checked. I have a Sigma EX-610 Super that was only $135 and as much as I'm a big fan of their lenses, I'm not thrilled with the flash. It just isn't as reliable as I expect it should be. I don't plan to replace it because I don't use it too often and because I can usually chimp and reshoot if it blows out, fails to fire, or anything else weird. But if I were still shooting film for hire there is no way I would walk into a wedding reception with this unit.

A lot of people here have reported good results with the Yongnuo YN565 for about $130.

Metz and Sunpak make some decent units as does a company called Nissin. I would pretty much avoid any other names that I haven't mentioned here such as Polaroid, Vivitar, etc.

If you think you might go to multi-light wireless setups in the future, you may want to just stick with Canon.

If you do indoor sports you want to look at a fast prime like the 85 1.8. You usually dont need a great long lens for wrestling/basketball/v​olleyball and the 85 is fast focusing for sports.