Canon 18-55 & 55-250 combo or Canon 18-200 lens on 50D

Hi,

I have done so many reading on this forum, and I couldn't make up my mind on lens.
I will be purchasing Canon 50D; however, I need your recommendation on which lens to go with.

First Choice, Canon 18-55mm and 55-250mm combo
Second Choice, Canon 18-200mm

Or, if you have any recommendation on other lens (price up to about $600)

This is going to be my first DSLR as I am a beginner.
Again, thank's for your advise.

AW

18-55. 55-250

I was in your boat a couple months ago. I started out with the 18-55 and the 55-250 (not knowing that I would really start to love photography), but found they weren't meeting my needs. I do a lot of indoor shooting, so the f/4-5.6 wasn't cutting it. The 55-250 was great for the price, but I wanted a faster lens for night/indoor sports, so I ended up selling it. I got the Tamron 17-50/2.8 for $270 on ebay. That's way more flexible than the 18-55. For $600, I'd get the Tamron 17-50/2.8 ($275-300 used), the Canon 55-250 ($200 used), and the Canon 50mm/1.8 ($80 used).

If you are happy changing lenses occasionally, go with the 18-55 IS (N.B. IS) 55-250 IS combination.

If you want a one lens solution, it isn't the 18-200 anyway, it's the Tamron 18-270 VC.

Nitecruiser wrote in post #8951332
Hi,

I have done so many reading on this forum, and I couldn't make up my mind on lens.
I will be purchasing Canon 50D; however, I need your recommendation on which lens to go with.

First Choice, Canon 18-55mm and 55-250mm combo
Second Choice, Canon 18-200mm

Or, if you have any recommendation on other lens (price up to about $600)

This is going to be my first DSLR as I am a beginner.
Again, thank's for your advise.

AW

go for 18-200 as your walk around lens (but before it, what lenses u already have?)

Canon 18-55IS and 55-250IS
don't be too concerned about changing lens

You are always going to get better image quality out of zooms that have a less aggressive zoom range. The 18-55IS and 55-250 are pretty good lenses at a pretty good price, but as mentioned you will have some trouble shooting indoor images of moving things. For that, you will really need an external (i.e. hotshoe) flash. Although the 50d has a built-in flash, the "look" you will get from that isn't much better than from a point-n-shoot camera. A hotshoe flash allows you to bounce the flash off of the ceiling (making the light look more natural since it is coming down), or at the very least add a diffuser (that softens the light). Probably the best choice of flash is the canon 430 or sigma dg500.

I have a good friend that *hates* having to swap lenses on his XTi....so he loves his 18-200mm. You could talk all day about how the 18-55 + 55-250 combo is better optically, but he'll have none of that. He wants his all-in-one!

So that's really what it comes down to -- if you really don't want to mess with swapping lenses in the field, the 18-200mm gives nice range. Otherwise, go with the 2 lens combo!

I like the 18-200 IS a lot for what it is
A nice vacation/casual outdoor one lens solution, and it's main feature is convenience
Many people put these "super zoom" lens down without even try one
Is a very fun lens that will give you great pics par to the kit lens
The 18-55 + 50-250 IS will give you a tad better image quality if you check pixels at 200%, but you have to ask your self what you need.. convenience or if this difference will make a huge impact to you and your pictures.
In my case There are times where is not practical to have a bag with two or three lens and taking care of the family at Disney for example

You can take a look at an informal unscientific comparison I did between my 18-55IS and my 18-200IS in similar situations here:
http://www.flickr.com …8/sets/72157622​216147556/
or visit lightrules Tamron super zoom review here
http://www.pbase.com/l​ightrules/superzoomtes​t

Make your own conclusion
A super zoom has it use and place for the casual/ serious hobbyist shooter and you are the only one that can determine if it's of value for you

Cheer
I hope this helps

hpulley wrote in post #8952184
I just wonder if someone who doesn't want to change lenses really wants an SLR. Sure it has advantages like start up time and less trigger lag but the high end Canon P&S cameras are probably similar. To each their own of course but to me an SLR with one lens is missing some of the utility of the design.

Not necessarily.

For example, if you have 2 little kids at the park, changing diapers just might become more of a priority than changing lenses. Ask me that in 6 months, and I'll tell ya first hand!

When I go kayaking, I usually don't want to mess with trying to change lenses in the midst of 6-8 foot swells!

There are numerous scenarios that could come up where 1 lens is better than 2.

Lenses with 10x zoom have serious limitations....but sometimes it's impossible to get all the shots you need if you're busy trying to change lenses. Why do you think the paparazzi love their 28-300's so much?

hpulley wrote in post #8952184
I just wonder if someone who doesn't want to change lenses really wants an SLR. Sure it has advantages like start up time and less trigger lag but the high end Canon P&S cameras are probably similar. To each their own of course but to me an SLR with one lens is missing some of the utility of the design.

Part of the utility of the design of the DSLR is that you can choose the right tool for every type of shooting you want to do.
The 18-200 or 18-370 etc is just another tool designed for casual / vacations one solution package.
If it just so happens that you are going to say Disney, or the beach with the family don't want to endanger your other lens or just carry a bag of stuff because is just impractical at the time,
But still want the creative flexibility of your body, the super zoom will give you the option to do so in a convenient one lens solution.. BTW is the same creativity that a 50-250 or a 18-55 IS will give you at very par quality standard for the "normal" hobbyist (IMO)
Again, this type of lens has it's place and use and it might not be the right lens for every shooter but might be is of value for others

I have both the kit lens and 55-250mm. I'm also a beginner and I'd say these lens are great for beginners. For the price and the IQ that you get it is really a bang for the buck. It is also a good couple to help you master your camera and the principles of photography.

IMO if you have gained enough experience and expertise with your gears then you can go ahead and purchase the more expensive lenses (i.e. L lens).

And just what they said, avoid low light conditions with these pair because they will be too slow. You can bump up your ISO but you might end up with a lot of noise in the end.

hpulley wrote in post #8952326
I'm not saying you can't use one lens for a day or a weekend or a vacation but some people really want to buy a DSLR and the Tamron 18-270 and don't ever take it off the camera. This is still cool if that's what they want that's great! But I would just get a super zoom P&S for that use if I never intended to use another lens.

Well hpulley
I dont think this is the case, chances are that the OP will fall in love with photography (if he is not already in love with taken pictures) and start to widen his tools with more and better lens and lighting as he starts growing and learning into the creative part of photography

I don't see myself being able to expand my creativity (what ever it is for me) with a point and shoot camera, even a Gxx.
I dont think that saying that you are better of with a P&S camera instead of a nice 50D with a 18-200IS is applicable and realistic, unless, you only will take family group pictures at once or twice a year.

Also, I dont believe that anyone will be at this forum searching and learning information to spend 1400$ on a DSLR if it wasn't interested to learn a more creative side of photography.

Again , I am not saying the superzoom if the solution for all.
Is just another tool in your bag, and a great fun starter lens if I may say.

plus the OP is specifically asking for the pros and cons of the kit combo or a superzoom and that is what I am trying to help with

Cheers

Tamron 17-50 2.8! The new VC version when it comes out.

borism, thank you.
Yes, I am falling to photography. This is not going to be my career, but I would like to have room to improved and get better lenses after I got better.

I may start with 18-200IS. But, someone mentioned about Tamron 18-270VC. It's quite nice. How's the build quality and image quality compare to Canon 18-200IS though?

Thank's.