Best lens for it's given price range.

Hey folks...

This lens research stuff can be quite overwhelming. I have been spending so much time researching lenses lately, it has become a daunting task choosing a lens. I've looked at various aspects/perspectives regarding lens use. Searched the forum and looked at hundreds of "What should I get" posts. Went to local camera stores (LCS) to get close look at various lenses. Etc, etc, etc....

But I still need some more info/perspective.

In your opinion, what's the best lens that falls within the following price range levels? It does not matter what type of shooter you are or what kind of lens it is (zooms, primes, etc) This is just your personal pov.

Lens under $99.99 =
$100.00 - $199.99 =
$200.00 - $299.99 =
$300.00 - $399.99 =
$400.00 - $499.99 =
$500.00 - $599.99 =
$600.00 - $699.99 =
$700.00 - $799.99 =
$800.00 - $899.99 =
$900.00 - $1000.00 =

I stopped it at 1K since chances are, I won't be buying anything remotely close to that price.
But it would be good for future reference though!

Just cut and paste I guess. Thanks for the effort!

I'm sure the lenses mentioned will all be at least decent so, help me out guys!

Thanks!

50mm 1.8 mkII for sub $100

Lens under $99.99 = 50mm f/1.8 MkII
$100.00 - $199.99 = 28-105 f/3.5-4.5
$200.00 - $299.99 = 35mm f/2
$300.00 - $399.99 =50mm f/1.4USM
$400.00 - $499.99 =Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC EX HSM
$500.00 - $599.99 =70-200mm f/4L
$600.00 - $699.99 =200mm 2.8L MkII
$700.00 - $799.99 =? ? ? ? ? ?
$800.00 - $899.99 =135mm f/2L
$900.00 - $1000.00 =Sigma 50-500mm EX DG HSM (Bigma)

My new favorite for the money is Canon's 70-200mm f/4 L for about $599

Also, Tamron's 28-75mm f/2.8 for around $350

The Sigma 70-200 F2.8 goes in this category. Of course, then you have to find an alternative for the Canon f/4 version.

Honestly, in the $100 range, the 18-55 kit lens is hard to beat.

Lens under $99.99 = 50mm f/1.8
$100.00 - $199.99 = ?
$200.00 - $299.99 = ?
$300.00 - $399.99 = 85mm f/1.8
$400.00 - $499.99 = 100mm f/2.0
$500.00 - $599.99 = 70-200 f/4L
$600.00 - $699.99 = 200mm f/2.8L
$700.00 - $799.99 = Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
$800.00 - $899.99 = ?
$900.00 - $1000.00 = 135L

It's tough to stratify this into such neat steps.

I wish I could boast some certification here, because, I've been reading wayyyy to many reviews and lens specs.

For me, I think of the prices as:

0 - 500
500 - 750
750-1000

There's so many outstanding choices within just 3 categories that it becomes important to start classifying the available lenses:

Primes
Zooms
Wide angle
Telephoto
Standard(?)

With that said, there's a clear set of lenses under 500 bucks that are, supposedly without equal, and most of them are primes:

Sigma 30mm
Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon EF-S 60mm 2.8
Canon 85mm 1.8
Canon 100mm 2.0
Canon 135mm 2.8 with Softfocus

And a number of great zooms, notable the Tamron 28-75 and Sigma 24-70 EX

For over 500 bucks, there's more of everything, of course:

Canon EF 200mm 2.8L
Canon 70-200mm F4L
Sigma 70-200 EX 2.8
Sigma 50-500 EX
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM (with some determination, this can be had for 1000 even)
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM
Sigma APO 100-300mm f4 EX IF HSM

2000 dollars clearly affords outstanding glass, all you would ever need. 1000 on some key primes, and 1000 for 2 usable zooms (24-70 EX and 70-200LF4)...

While I was initially sceptical about the value of such a listing, I think the list could end up with multiple well regarded lenses in each price bucket.

A suggestion - some buckets can be collapsed.

Here goes my listing :

Lens under $99.99 = 50mm f/1.8 ; Kit lens
$100.00 - $199.99 = Dont know
$200.00 - $299.99 = Dont know
$300.00 - $399.99 = 85mm f/1.8 ; 50mm f/1.8 ; Sigma 24-70; Tamron 28-75;
$400.00 - $499.99 = Sigma 10-20; Tokina 12-24
$500.00 - $599.99 = 70-200 f/4L
$600.00 - $699.99 = Canon 10-22 ?
$700.00 - $799.99 = Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
$800.00 - $899.99 = Dont know
$900.00 - $1000.00 = Dont know

That would be a good post on your website me thinks.

benca1 wrote:
That would be a good post on your website me thinks.

I added it to my FAQ, Q16. Thanks for the suggestion. And you got the credit.

I can't be bothered to do the currency conversion ...

.. ok, that gave me a giggle....

Curious don´t see (with the exception of the Sigma 30 mm) nothing bellow the 50 mm in your selection under $1000!!

stangster wrote:
Hey folks...


I stopped it at 1K since chances are, I won't be buying anything remotely close to that price.
But it would be good for future reference though!

That's what I thought myselt last year too, but....

$300-400: 50 1.4, 85 1.8, and 580 EX

I was also sceptical when I read the first post, but the results really look good.

Only very few additions, also think about buying quality used lenses ...

Lens under $99.99 = 50/1.8 MkII, EF-S 18-55, used CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5 w/adapter
$100.00 - $199.99 = 28-105/3.5-4.5, Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro
$200.00 - $299.99 = 35/2, used 28/1.8 USM, used CZJ Sonnar 200/2.8 w/adapter
$300.00 - $399.99 =50/1.4 USM, 85/1.8 USM, Tamron 28-75/2.8, Sigma 24-70/2.8 EX, used 100-300/5.6L
$400.00 - $499.99 =Sigma 30/1.4 DC EX HSM, used 20-35/2.8 L
$500.00 - $599.99 =70-200/4L, 75-300 IS
$600.00 - $699.99 =200mm 2.8L MkII
$700.00 - $799.99 =used 80-200/2.8L
$800.00 - $899.99 =135/2L
$900.00 - $1000.00 =Sigma 50-500mm EX DG HSM (Bigma), used 70-200/2.8L