A list of lenses to get, but in which order?

As I am quite new to photography (not including taking snapshots with P&S cameras), I would appreciate some thoughts on a small “lenses to get”-list that I’ve written down.

I got the 350D kit, the battery grip and two Lowepro bags early this year and bought the Speedlite 430EX a while ago. In other words, it’s getting time to start thinking of getting a few lenses to take the place of the kit lens.

As I read on some forum before: “if you’re not rich, you can’t afford to buy cheap lenses”. Which I translate to, buying cheap lenses, just wants you upgrade fast, plus they don’t hold the second hand value as well as more expensive ones.

On my “lenses to get”-list I’ve got:

Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM

I’m thinking that the 70-200mm f/4 would be a good beginning, since the kit lens already covers the 18-55mm length. The 100mm Macro is probably going to be the last lens I get (of these), but it would be nice if one wanted to play around with macro (and it can double as a portrait lens).

Any suggestions? I’m probably going to get 2 lenses a year, so this will already take me a few years to get.

-Fi20100

Well ask yourself what do you want to shoot the most. If you are finding that you want more than 55mm then the 70-200mm will be a good start.

The 70-200 was also my second lens (after the kit lens) but I found out about its marvellous sharpness and colour rendition only much later.

I discovered that I needed wide angle more than tele. Now it's probably 50/50.

P.

At some occasions, the kit lens has definitely felt a bit too short. Especially when shooting portraits or candid shots, some more length would be nice. When taking urban and landscape pictures, there’s of course a need for a shorter lens.

If the 70-200 would be the first to get after the kit lens, would the 17-40 be a good second?

In the beginning, I think I rather give up some speed for picture quality. And L lenses usually keep their value quite well, if one later wants to exchange them for more expensive, faster lenses?

-Fi20100

I just got the 70-200. I needed the reach that it provided over the Kit lens. I think it would be a good choice for you. It is a great lens, fast sharp etc. I also plan for the 17-40 to be my next purchase. Just my $.02.

Yes. Remember even at iso 1600 you can get perfectly acceptable results with a bit of post processing. Just see how your shooting style develops over the next 6months then decide on what you want / need next.

My list is rather similar to yours! goes as follows:

Kit Lense - purchased
50mm f/1.8 purchased
100 f/2.8 macro - will buy when in stock
Kenko extension tubes to go with the macro.
70-200 f/4 L - to buy in around 6 months to a year.
1.4x extender to follow.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM (no question - the best "first" upgrade)
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM (an upgrade to your "kit" lens)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (time for prime)
Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4 (would get used more than macro most likely)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (this is the last lens used for most people, unless you can't get enough macro)

That's the route I'd go in your position...

70-200mm F4L was my second lens (kit lens came with the 20D). It is awesome and will spoil you. One of the best bangs for the buck out there. My thirds lens was the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro. Pretty awesome lens too.

i'de beg to differ with basically everyone on this. SINCE you are new to slr photography, get the 50mm first and wait for everything else. you need to go back to the basics before spending any extra money. when you feel that you know what the next lens you need is, then buy that lens. don't make a list right now and expect to actually go though with it. when i first made a list, i had 17-85mmIS, 70-300IS, and 60mm macro. first lens i got? 50mm 1.8, then 17-85IS, then 70-200IS. very different, but just because i knew what i needed. next lens on my list as of now? probably the 10-22 or 100-400IS. don't limit yourself to your original ideas, let those ideas evolve, and change your lens lineup to fit your ideas.

Shoot more. The decisions will become no-brainers.

Agree, got myself the nifty fifty first as well, great way to learn and understand f/stops, DoF and all the basics, now I just crave some macro then some zoom L glass, just got to put it in order as I can't afford it all at once

Well at some point you'll want to fulfil ALL your fantasies. Your lens selection should certainly reflect your style of shooting and your normal subjects. The 70-200 would be my first choice. And for my style, it's essentially my standard lens ie. it's always on the camera by default.

Thank you all for the input.

I actually borrowed the Canon 50mm f/1.8 Mk I and the Canon 24mm f/2.8 from my brother-in-law for 3 - 4 weeks to try out them out, and I must say it was an eye-opening experience. I loved the way the 50mm lightened up the viewfinder, and how sharp it was. Not so easy to get hold of an Mk I anymore though, and from what I’ve been reading the Mk II is not nearly as nice as the older one (metal mount vs. plastic, better manual focusing). Let’s just say that the lens opened up my eyes to understand how much better the 350D is than the kit lens allows it to be.

But at the same time I got to experience the negative sides with primes. When my sister got married this summer, I borrowed again the 50mm f/1.8 Mk I, and shot at the wedding exclusively with that lens. I understood that I needed the light capabilities and the option to shoot at f/1.8, but being stuck at 50mm on a 1.6 FOVCF was not completely pleasant, and I missed quite a few shots that I could have made with a zoom lens (not enough time to zoom in or out with my feet).


During a little more than half year, I learned that this can be a quite expensive hobby to have (and it does not help reading the postings in this forum ), nonetheless a rewarding one. I guess this is also the reason for the list… trying to organize the investments for the future

-Fi20100

This is a great recommendation, although I'd switch the last two. I'm one of those people who has no use for shooting wide and can never get enough macro!