Canon Lens Recommendation Needed

Hi. I have a Canon Digital Rebel that is about 5 years old. It's perfect for my needs, which is taking family photos and shots of the kids' soccer and baseball games. However, the stock lens that came with it is terrible, and is now broken. Can someone recommend a lens in the $300 to $500 price range? I need to take family shots at relatively close range, plus I'd like to get some good zoom shots of the kids' playing sports. Thanks in advance.

I would recommned:

for close up
Canon EF-S 18-55 IS (~$150) new

for zoom
Canon EF-S 55-250 IS (~$250) new

Especially new to photography... these are great lenses a very good prices.

If you need a prime then may be 85mm F1.8 .... It's good for portraits and fast enough to cover sports but not sure if the 85mm [around 135mm on rebel] would be close enough

Or may be an used 70-200 F4!

Within the budget range you mentioned, the 85mm/1.8 is a very good choice.
It's a good lens for indoors and outdoors.
You can do the zooming by moving the photographer.

Get the lens hood for it also.
Good luck.

crazyhorse76 wrote in post #8897472
I would recommned:

for close up
Canon EF-S 18-55 IS (~$150) new

for zoom
Canon EF-S 55-250 IS (~$250) new

Especially new to photography... these are great lenses a very good prices.

+1 to this, both of them are in your price range, and you would have 18-250 covered. the other idea i liked was a used 70-200 but that would be over your budget i think.

crazyhorse76 wrote in post #8897472
I would recommned:

for close up
Canon EF-S 18-55 IS (~$150) new

for zoom
Canon EF-S 55-250 IS (~$250) new

Especially new to photography... these are great lenses a very good prices.

+ another one for this. It would be a great setup for family photos, with lots of flexibility.

I'd buy both the 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS. Both are very sharp lenses.

Right on to the above....

If you've got some money burning a hole in your pocket, I saw a new Rebel T1i along with an 18-55 and 55-250 kit at costco for something around 900.

Might be nice to upgrade all around

Thanks all. I really appreciate everyone's input. I'm going to go with the Canon EF-S 18-55 IS and Canon EF-S 55-250 IS. Hopefully the economy will improve and I can buy the new Canon T1i camera as well, but the Rebel will have to do for now.

demichae wrote in post #8898491
Thanks all. I really appreciate everyone's input. I'm going to go with the Canon EF-S 18-55 IS and Canon EF-S 55-250 IS. Hopefully the economy will improve and I can buy the new Canon T1i camera as well, but the Rebel will have to do for now.

Found your thread. Was curious to know how you came out with your 55-250 lens as I'm considering this one for myself?
thansk