Lens suggestion for Las Vegas

I am going to Las Vegas and I was wondering what lens would be good to have for photographing all the Hotels inside and out.
I am asumming a wide angle lens would be needed. I am also going to the PBR (pro bull riding event) but it might be hard to get the camera into that event but some sort of zoom for that.
I dont have a lot of money to spend.
Thanks for your help.

Jason

Take what lenses you have and use your lens budget at the blackjack tables.

Some casinos do not want you taking pictures inside, especially with a DSLR.

This wont be near the casino's inside more when im walking the sidewalk and being so close to the hotels and wanting to get a picture of the fronts.
Thanks for the reply
Jason

The two lenses you have are fine. A bit wider might help.

As far as shooting in the casinos, that is not a problem, as long as you don't stand near and directly aim at the tables.

check out Zigfried and Roy's Magical Garden at the Mirage. But be careful. When I was there, a huge white tiger peed on a girl standing next to me, and he was over 10 feet away behind a chain link fence.

mark

I think you need something a bit wider than 28mm - if you're really short of the readies, try picking up a used kit lens for the wider stuff.

but for a good general budget walk about, it personally go for the sigma 17-70 - it gos from nice and wide to nice and long, has a great reputation for IQ, and is probably all you would need. you probably need a tripod to get some of those great lights after dark.

Having said that, the best budget approach of all is 'making do' - it can force you to be creative, and your current lens line up is fine, except for that 28mm starting length.

BTW be strong in the casinos, you don't want to blow your lens budget on gambling. It's a mug's game, you can lose more than your shirt.

steve who once got burnt in a casino

I have made several visits to Las Vegas and taken many pictures without problems. But I (almost) never point my lens at the gaming areas. That is a NO-NO! And cameras and video are not allowed inside any show theatres. No one has every tried to stop me from photographing the free shows inside or outside the casinos along the strip, such as the "Sirens of TI" at Treasure Island. And no one seems to object to my photographing the non-gaming areas.

I would suggest a good wide-angle, even the "kit" 18-55 would help with the interiors. Low light levels will be the biggest problem. I have gotten may of my best shots with my Canon 17-85EFS-IS, but find shorter and longer lenses very useful.

Skip the gambling and spend the money on a good lens. At least you get to take the lens home with you.

Sorry, I couldn't resist posting a few samples. The cat is a white tiger on display in the Mirage. I took it with a 300mm lens (Canon 70-300IS) through heavy plastic. The fountain is in the shopping-mall area at Caesar's Palace. I took it with a 12mm lens (Sigma 12-24 EX-DG.)

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Was out there last March and the you'll find plenty to shoot. I took my 300D and the kit lens (18-55mm) which seemed to suffice for most all, the wide end being the most used for inside stuff. Take plenty of CF cards and an extra battery or two. For most inside shots I used a higher ISO and leaned against a wall to steady the camera. Bring your best, most comfortable pair of walking shoes.

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I always find architecture shots to be absolutely stunning with a super-wide like the Canon 10-22 or Sigma 10-20.

However, as mentioned above, the 18-55 kit lens holds its own for the price. Speaking of which, I've got one for sale on ebay

Get yourself an UWA like the 1022EFS, 1020EX, or 1224DX.

Yup, get an ultrawide for landscape/interiors.
For bull riding, you need a long superetelephoto lens/zoom.
The ultrawides are about $500, the supertelephotos are $1000 and up.
If this is too much, then conisder a Sigma 17-70 for under $400, I think a 28mm is not wide enough for cropped sensors.

I've seen lots of Sigma 10-20 EX's on ebay for well under $400.

that maybe the way to go then, I generally don't quote used prices as they vary quite a bit depending on condition and what not.

I always bring my 24-105L with me to Vegas, good overall lens

With your XT your 28-80 and a Ultra wide like the canon 10-22 or the sigma 12-24 would be ideal.

Thanks for all the ideas
Jason