gave my 30d to my daughter-in-law, need to add lens- help please

For Christmas I want to buy her ONE(two) lens(es). Budget <600 dol. She will not be buying any lenses so it will be all she will have. She photographs landscapes and wildlife, her son skateboarding, soccer, family portraits, etc - so pretty much everything you can think of. I realize there is not one lens which will do all of these things. Just trying to do my best with not more than 600 dol. What do you think about these lenses:

Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical IF Macro ~ $600
Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD VC Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens ~ $600
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS - ~$400

I do not particularly like any of these lenses but have no better ideas. Will really appreciate any input you may have,

m

do you only want to do one lens because you don't think she wants to switch in and out?, because you could go for the canon 18-55IS & 55-250IS combo, and still be below your $600 budget

there is also the new canon 18-200mm IS for $550

well, you could look at the Canon EF-S 18-200mm (f/3.5-5.6 IS)

or (I know you said 1 lens) you could get her a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 (for portraits), then get a used (or new if you don't mind going a hair over budget) Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L. if you did that she would have 2 good lenses that cover what shes going to want.

I like the 50 and 70-200 idea. But if you really only want to stick with one lens, I would go for 70-200

I am sorry I was not clear. Two lenses would be Ok - I just thought it would be asking too much - getting two lenses for under 600 dol.

DreDaze: Did not know of new Canon 18-200 mm. Sounds good.

Cotmweasel: I gave her nifty fifty with 30 d so I guess she can use it for portrait lens. Idea of buying used 70-200 f/4 sounds good, too - I just never bought any used lenses. How do you know what you are getting if you buy it on line? Scary idea.

m

marysia wrote in post #6822210
I am sorry I was not clear. Two lenses would be Ok - I just thought it would be asking too much - getting two lenses for under 600 dol.

DreDaze: Did not know of new Canon 18-200 mm. Sounds good.

Cotmweasel: I gave her nifty fifty with 30 d so I guess she can use it for portrait lens. Idea of buying used 70-200 f/4 sounds good, too - I just never bought any used lenses. How do you know what you are getting if you buy it on line? Scary idea.

m

Buy from someone that has good reputation. I would say buy here on the boards. I have yet to get something bad from someone here (half my gear was bought on here) and since she is getting the 50mm already then I would say the 70-200mm is what I would get. it's an incredible lens.

Edit: also if you deside to get a 70-200mm f/4 L new then amazon has them for under $600 (with free shipping)

DreDaze wrote in post #6822159
do you only want to do one lens because you don't think she wants to switch in and out?, because you could go for the canon 18-55IS & 55-250IS combo, and still be below your $600 budget

my thoughts exactly, with the two lenses she can get to play around more and gain experience with what she can do with them

Yup - 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS, and you could probably add a 430EX flash and still be within your budget.

xarqi wrote in post #6822329
Yup - 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS, and you could probably add a 430EX flash and still be within your budget.

+1

Why not the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Lens for Canon Digital EOS http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …00mm_f_3_5_6_3_​DC_OS.html and a Canon 50 F/1.8 http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Normal_EF_50mm_​f_1_8.html It stays withing your budget and leaves you enough left over for a flash or a bag or something else.

--Evan