Best lens setup for under $1400?

I'm new so I'll apologize now if this has been over-killed in previous threads.
I have been researching and talking to people at camera stores about which lenses I should buy for my Xti. I know there are a huge number of options. Currently I have the kit lens, 50 1.8 and a tamron 70-300. I've been taking photography classes and reading tons of books so my interest level is high and I'm not happy with my current lens performance (other than the 50). I would say the majority of my photos have been with the kit lens and 50 1.8. I have about $1400 to spend to improve my setup. What lenses would you buy?

Thanks for the help.

Andrew

what do you want to shoot?

the 10-22mm and the 17-55IS. Both are outstanding lenses and the 10-22 opens up a whole area of photography to you.

I enjoy shooting landscapes as well as my new daughter.

Gotmoose wrote in post #4015828
I enjoy shooting landscapes as well as my new daughter.

Then 0-22 for sure and if it's indoors, the 2.8 17-55 IS is great as well.

Thanks for the help. I'm interested in looking at the 10-22. Camera store dudes have been pushing the 17-40 L and the 70-200 4 L. Anyone agree with these choices?

Gotmoose wrote in post #4015766
I'm new so I'll apologize now if this has been over-killed in previous threads.
I have been researching and talking to people at camera stores about which lenses I should buy for my Xti. I know there are a huge number of options. Currently I have the kit lens, 50 1.8 and a tamron 70-300. I've been taking photography classes and reading tons of books so my interest level is high and I'm not happy with my current lens performance (other than the 50). I would say the majority of my photos have been with the kit lens and 50 1.8. I have about $1400 to spend to improve my setup. What lenses would you buy?

Thanks for the help.

Andrew

17-55 IS + 70-200L f4.

ed rader

The first two lenses I got with my XTi were the 24-70mm f/2.8L and the 85mm f/1.8. Have been very happy with both. At any rate, the most obvious hole in your setup is a normal lens. Choose one of:

24-70mm f/2.8L
24-105mm f/4L IS
17-55mm EF-S f/2.8 IS

After that, you have to ask yourself what you'd most like to change about your 50mm f/1.8 prime. Could you use something longer? shorter? faster? Then see what inexpensive primes (if any) are available in that range.

I have the current setup as Ed posted. I love both lenses, I just wish I was able to cut the gap on the long and short ends. The 10-22 is definitely the next lens to compliment my 17-55, and possibly replacing the 70-200 f/4 with the Sigma 50-500.

Canon EF-S 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM 670$ - ultimate landscape lens on APSC
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM 400$ - Outstanding low-light/DOF normal lens on APSC
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM 340$ - Outstanding low-light/DOF portrait lens
TOTAL : 1410$

Later on I would seriously consider a flash. The 430EX should do it.

Or you could just go for the 10-22 and the 50mm f/1.4 + 430EX

And the aesthetical reason i wouldn't go for the zooms, not to mention the speed

Gotmoose wrote in post #4015951
Thanks for the help. I'm interested in looking at the 10-22. Camera store dudes have been pushing the 17-40 L and the 70-200 4 L. Anyone agree with these choices?

There's nothing wrong with them. Is there a better combination? Arguably, as have been listed.

ed rader wrote in post #4015998
17-55 IS + 70-200L f4.

ed rader

That would be my pick.

Sigma 530 Flash $189
tamron 17-50/2.8 $449
70-200/4L $559
Nice tripod OR spend a bit more than your budget and get the IS version of the 70-200.

OR

24-105/4 L $1045 (get one used for cheaper)
Sigma 10-20 $499

OR

Sigma 10-20 $499
Canon 17-85 IS $499
70-200/4L $559 (get one used for cheaper!)

Having gone through the kit-building experience once, and going through it again for a second time, all I can say is do your research on here and on review sites, and look at Pbase's photo collections- you can scan their galleries for pictures taken by a certain type of lens- it can really help you decide on what would suit your needs.

Watch out for the red ring...it is infectious and often leads to financial ruin......

Sigma 10-20mm
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8

It's $1,817.00 at B&H right now or $1,603.75 at sigmaphoto4less...
If you can't stretch the extra, find them used... I've had that as a kit for a long time (except with the 12~24mm as I have a 1.3 and FF) and have been slowly upgrading them to Ls as I can... They're all fantastic lenses with IQ that rivals the canon comparable lens. The canons just AF faster and have slightly better build quality.

Well, the kit I plan on having (and have 1/3 of now) falls into the budget:

Tokina 12-24 f4
Tamron 28-75 f2.8
Canon 70-200 f4 or 70-300 IS (depends on whether you want more reach or better quality)

This covers a focal length range that will more than suffice for just about everything short of wildlife/birding. You have to look at your shooting style, however, as the 28-75 may not be wide enough for you and cause you to swap lenses all the time. If that is the case, I would replace the first two lenses with the Sigma 10-20 and Tamron 17-50.