is the EF 35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM a good lens?

i've got an XT and only the kit lens right now, and i'm thinking about buying a new lens for it. I was wondering if the EF 35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM was a good lens to buy as a first lens. i'm also considering buying a 50mm f/1.8, but i can't buy both at the same time. which one would you guys say is a better first purchase? and how is the overall quality on the EF 35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM?

I'd suggest buy the 50mm f/1.8 lens because it is such a bargain, and think about getting the sigma 70-300 APO macro - that will give you great coverage from nice and wide to nice and long, small gap 56-69mm but who cares?
This way you'll also have a fast prime for low light.
Don't beleive all the downers you read about the kit lens, it is perfectly adequate used at about f/8 or so, and unless you can spend quite a bit more, there is not much else out there.

The 35-135 is nothing special.

alright thanks a lot haha that's what i needed to hear to save me from buying what i wasn't sure i needed looks like i'll be grabbing the 50 f/1.8 when i find a good deal (as if it isn't always)... thanks!

sh0ebox wrote in post #2061616
i've got an XT and only the kit lens right now, and i'm thinking about buying a new lens for it. I was wondering if the EF 35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM was a good lens to buy as a first lens. i'm also considering buying a 50mm f/1.8, but i can't buy both at the same time. which one would you guys say is a better first purchase? and how is the overall quality on the EF 35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM?

the 35-135 is a piece of junk. it's also a very odd length for a crop camera.

i suggest 28-105, 24-85 or 28-135.

ed rader

dont get the 35-135, not only is it a piece of junk as ed rader indicated. its an OLD piece of junk to boot.