Help me pick my lens!!!!

I do not know much about lenses. I just got a Canon 30D with a 18-55 kit lens.

I am thinking three lenses maybe

macro
portrait
and zoom

I am looking at spending about $1000-1500 maybe???

I would like stabilization on them too.

Any help please?

With no idea what currency you are talking in :
Macro 100m f2.8
Portrait 50mm F1.8
Zoom (how far do you want to go) 17-85 has IS and is a general lens, but you already have a kit lens. 70-200 IS is awesome, but there goes the budget. Can you define your zoom specs?

Regards,

Well Canon 70-200f4 or 70-300 IS,Canon 100 f2.8 Macro or Canon 60 macro(good for portrait too) or Tamron 90 f2.8 and a 50(f1.8 or f1.4).You can skip the 50 if you buy the 60 macro.My best choice 60 macro,17-40L f4,70-300 IS or 70-200L f4

24-70 2.8, 50 1.8 and an extension tube or two ought to do the trick, all for under $1500.

sorry US

General walk-around: Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 around (350)
Zoom: Canon 70-200 f/4 (around 500, second hand is OK)
Macro: extension tubes (around 100) combined with either of these lenses
You'd even have a bit of budget left to buy a nifty fifty (Canon 50 f/1.8 around 100) for low light shots.

P.

I'd look at the Canon EF-S 17-55 F/2.8L IS and the EF-S 60 Macro. Covers all your needs for close to $1500

Can't really get 3 good lenses for Under $1200. I would advise you pick the greatest need of the 3 and spend the money on that right away. I did baby steps and don't regret it too much, but would have loved saving a little more, waiting a little bit to get the good lenses I have now instead of buying something not as functional. I might have done more pro shooting earlier. It's a trade off. I would recommend the 17-40L to start and then decide if you need a f2.8 or better for indoors. For macro, everyone raves about the 60 or 100 and I've seen both, wonderful lenses. That covers your budget.

thedoc wrote in post #2015639
My best choice 60 macro,17-40L f4,70-300 IS or 70-200L f4

I agree.

Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 ($350 after rebate); Canon EF 70-300 f/4.0-5.6 USM IS ($550); Sigma 150 f/2.8 macro ($600); Canon EF 50 f/1.8 ($80). All B&H prices in US dollars. Total under $1600. Throw out the Tammy and you're under $1250, or stretch your budget a bit and you have a "complete" set of lenses. I've found that the Tammy is a suitable protrait lens in many circumstances, so you take the 50 out of the mix if you don't need the speed and you're right at $1500.

That's kind of a tall order on your stated budget. Save your money for a while and get:

Macro: Canon 100mm f/2.8
Portrait: 50mm f/1.4
Zoom: Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

liza wrote in post #2019062
That's kind of a tall order on your stated budget. Save your money for a while and get:

Macro: Canon 100mm f/2.8
Portrait: 50mm f/1.4
Zoom: Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

As usual, excellent advice. Buy one lens at a time, so long as you have done a little research, you won't be disappointed - they are ALL good fun!

liza wrote in post #2019062
That's kind of a tall order on your stated budget. Save your money for a while and get:

Macro: Canon 100mm f/2.8
Portrait: 50mm f/1.4
Zoom: Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

That makes his shortest decent lens a 'short telephoto'. I do see he already has the 18-55mm kit lens but I also once had that lens and it ain't so great.

jr_senator wrote in post #2019920
That makes his shortest decent lens a 'short telephoto'. I do see he already has the 18-55mm kit lens but I also once had that lens and it ain't so great.

It's okay if you stop it down to f/8. And he can always use foot zoom with the 50mm until he can afford a good midrange. That's what I did for about 18 years. Never did own a short zoom lens when I shot film.

liza wrote in post #2019954
It's okay if you stop it down to f/8. And he can always use foot zoom with the 50mm until he can afford a good midrange. That's what I did for about 18 years. Never did own a short zoom lens when I shot film.

I notice, from your signature, your shortest focal length lens is 28mm. That would put it in the 'normal' focal length range for an APS size sensor. I find it interesting that 5 of the 8 lenses (all primes) you list cover 85mm -200mm exclusively. And, that the range is repeated with a 6th lens (a zoom). Especially having the experence with photography that you do; I would not even consider challenging your selections, for you that is. However, I would venture a guess that the vast majority of shutterbugs would want something wider than a short telephoto in their stable either from the start or near start of their collection. I think it would be interesting, entertaining and informative to have a poll that adresses the question. I'm going to start one when I finish this posting and hope it will be fun. I'm also prepared to be surprised and enlightened.