50mm 1.8 vs 28-135 is usm

I have a question. I know this has probably been asked before. I just got purchased my xti and love it. I have the kit lens which does not seem that bad to me, although I have not seen how much better nice lenses are. I do not like how there is no markings on kit lens which my old completely manual camera used to have for focus.

I am itching to purchase a new lens. I don't have a ton of money to spend on it. The lens I have been looking at is the 28-135 is usm which is about 450-500 dollars US. My birthday is this Saturday so I will get some money to buy new toy.

The photography will be allot of inside and baby pictures (We have a 17 month old son at home) I Enjoy photography allot and take a TON of pictures. I also enjoy outdoor pictures (scenery, waterfalls, and whatever is out to take pictures of) I am looking around for an all around lens. I just got back from Gatlinburg and took 600 or so pictures. I have an old sigma 70-300 or so mm lens that I used on old film camera. Lens was only 250 dollars if I remember 4 years ago. It is very hard to handhold and allot of my pictures were fuzzy with it on. Not a very fast lens. I think around f5 or so.

Here is my dilemma. This is the actual question. I have learned a TON of information in the two weeks since I have found this site. Thanks allot. Do I get the 50 mm 1.8/1.4 (which ever one is the $70 dollar lens, or do I get the 28-135 is usm. I do like the image stabilization feature. And I know that the image stabilization lets you step the lens down 2 f stops or so which would be the equivalent of f3 or so?? I do like the range it has on reach also with the 135, not super far, but better than nothing, especially with 1.6 crop factor.

Or do I get the 50mm fast lens and have a good portrait lens (which I don't see my self doing allot of posed portraits, just allot of candid’s with my young son)

Also in my head is getting a good flash with a swivel so I can bounce light off of ceiling instead of straight on. But that is a whole other post.

I know allot of people will say get both, which I would love to do. But my wife says I have used up my toy allowance when I bought the camera and new computer.

Any opinion I would appreciate. This is so nice where you have such access to professionals and amateurs all at one time and get such diverse opinions to make a decision and not worry what b/s a salesperson is trying to get you to believe. I run my own business and am in sales, so I know how it is. Wow, that did not come out right, ohh well

I'd recommend that you get a zoom instead of or in addition to the prime. You could look at the Tamron 28-75 and the 50 f/1.8 and still come in under $500.

Probably under $400!

I "started out" with the 28-135mm lens, and while it gets a luke warm reception around here most of the time, I still think it's an all around great lens.

That being said, I rarely ever use it anymore as I have other lenses that cover that focal range. You may be better off with the 50mm 1.8 and the external flash since you already have the kit lens and your sigma. Maybe invest in a tripod to help with that sigma if you have problems handholding it?

Your indoor baby shots would really benefit from a good flash. How about the 50 and a 430ex flash, still under $400. Nothing wrong with the 28-135 IS as long as you are ok with only having 28mm on the wide end, it wasn't for me, which is why I opted for the 17-85 IS, the cropped body equivelant.

This is of limited use since you will use the lens for a different purpose, but you may like to see it.:
http://www.tawbaware.c​om/canon_lens_test.htm

What ever you do get the 50mm for added indoor speed.

the 28-135mm is great if there is enough light and you take your time, but in low light, it's not very good, but overall it's a great walk around lens for the price.

I sold my 28-135 because it was too soft for my liking. I almost never used my 28-135 when I had it because the 50mm f/1.8 is just so much sharper. I agree with crn3371 that you should get the 50mm f/1.8 and a flash.

runninmann wrote in post #2207509
I'd recommend that you get a zoom instead of or in addition to the prime. You could look at the Tamron 28-75 and the 50 f/1.8 and still come in under $500.

I have this setup and I spent under $400. Absolutely love it.