simplyluck wrote in post #9103858
I'm not really looking to get shots of birds, there has been few situations where they would be on a fence or something. I managed to get the shot with the 18-55mm IS kit lens but it wasn't exactly what I wanted.
Lol, point is I don't care for birds, just trying to point out that I need decent distance. Another thing I'm worried about, will IS be necessary?
Also, I'm using the Canon Rebel XS with the 18-55 IS kit lens.
@wimg, agreed, but I plan on taking a few classes soon and in a year going to school. Might as well spend the money on this rather than games.
I wholeheartedly agree 
.
IS is not necessary, but certainly a nice option, especially on longer lenses. However, if you want both a 50 F/1.4 and a 70-200, you may not be able to get the F/4 IS variant.
The difference in IQ between the two 70-200s is quite minimal, but if I would buy another, I certainly would go for the IS version. Have you ever thought of buying used?
OTOH, these lenses don't really drop much in value, so you could get yourself both now, and maybe later, once you've saved a little more money, replace the F/4L with the F/4L IS. Oh, th e70-200 is great as a portrait lens too, although you will generally need a tripod indoors, if you are not using a flash (or two).
Other lenses on the shorter end you could consider, are the 28 F/1.8, 35 F/2, 50 F/1.8 Mk I or Mk II, and the 85 F/1.8. All of these are low light lenses because of their aperture. However, their uses on your camera would be different.
The 28 F/1.8 is a short standard lens on crop, and is good for, amongst others, small group and full body portraits on your camera, as well as for general photography. I always liked that lens. Fast AF (USM drive), good IQ.
The 35 F/2 is a somewhat older lens, and has an Arc-drive. Very sturdy, but a little slow when focusing. Very good lens however, and a slightly long standard lens on the XS, and relatively cheap. Similar uses as the 28. Just be careful, you have to like this FL, not everybody does (I don't for example). I'd suggest you set your 18-55 to the FLs of your choice for a few days on end and keep it there, and see how you like that FL.
The 50 F/1.4 is the faster brother of the 50 F/1.8 Mk II. They are generally used as short telelenses on an APS-C body, and more specifically for low light and portraiture. The build of the F/1.8 II is not so great, but for the price you can't really complain. If you can't find a good contrasty point to focus on, it can be hard in low light to get it to focus properly, however. Slightly better in this regard, buildwise and AF, is the predecessor of this lens, the MK I, It is sturdier, has a distance scale, and an Arc-drive AF engine (similar to the 35 F/2). The optics are the same. It generally sells for a bit more than a new Mk II, if you can find one that is. Of course, the 50 F/1.4 is 2/3 of a stop faster, and does focus a little better in low light, although it only really gets good from about F/2.8.
Finally, the 85 F/1.8. It is considered one of the best Canon prosumer lenses by many, and used for portraiture both on FF and on APS-C. It is fast at F/1.8, although it only tends to get real sharp above F/2.2, and is on APS-C great for tight head or tight head and shoulder shots. Maybe more formal portraits if you have more space available. It is used a lot for indoor sports photography too, because of its speed and fast AF.
Their are alternatives, too, namely the Sigma 30 F/1.4 and 50 F/1.4. The disadvantage with Sigma is that an extraordinary number of their lenses need recalibration for AF, en require sending in to Sigma as a result, or buying from a retailer with a good return policy of course, and try several until you have a good one. The 30 obviously is in a way similar to the 28, but faster, and the 50 could be a replacement for the Canon 50. It is more expensive however, although really sharp from F/1.4. There is the possibility of getting a not so good one with regard to AF, however.
HTH, kind regards, Wim
