7D and midrange focal length

Hi, I'm looking for a new lens to compliment my 7D. I currently have a 18-135 IS, and a 200 2.8L. I ran an exposure plot on my existing collection of around 2000 images I've shot so far with the 7D. I have spikes at 18mm(200+ images) and 135mm(500+images) and from 19-134 the shots taken average out around 20 images for every 10 mm in focal length that gets added. I have smaller spikes (30-40 images) at 24, 36, and 52. The 200mm is used to shoot football for a friend.

What I'm looking for to expand is indoor, low-light photos. I don't shoot anything in particular, it's simply for my own enjoyment (so no more than $1,000). Eventually I'd like to get a 135L because of the beautiful bokeh. One day I would like to go FF, so I'd prefer all new lens purchases I make are EF...ruling out the EFS 17-55 IS.

Here's what I'm looking at right now,
24-70L, 50 1.4, or a 35 F2. The other option is to just forget these three and go with the 135L now!

Anyone have any other suggestions for a crop camera? Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Rick

rshmn wrote in post #9213241
Hi, I'm looking for a new lens to compliment my 7D. I currently have a 18-135 IS, and a 200 2.8L. I ran an exposure plot on my existing collection of around 2000 images I've shot so far with the 7D. I have spikes at 18mm(200+ images) and 135mm(500+images) and from 19-134 the shots taken average out around 20 images for every 10 mm in focal length that gets added. I have smaller spikes (30-40 images) at 24, 36, and 52. The 200mm is used to shoot football for a friend.

What I'm looking for to expand is indoor, low-light photos. I don't shoot anything in particular, it's simply for my own enjoyment (so no more than $1,000). Eventually I'd like to get a 135L because of the beautiful bokeh. One day I would like to go FF, so I'd prefer all new lens purchases I make are EF...ruling out the EFS 17-55 IS.

Here's what I'm looking at right now,
24-70L, 50 1.4, or a 35 F2. The other option is to just forget these three and go with the 135L now!

Anyone have any other suggestions for a crop camera? Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Rick

I was just reviewing some of my 7D & 135L images and
looking at your current lens get the 135L and don't look back - next then get the 35L and you'll be all set

I have both the 24-70L and the 50 1.4
The 50mm is a great lens, it can be a little challenging to manage the dof when shooting portraits wide open. The f/1.4 is handy for low light, but I find 50mm to be a bit limiting indoors. I have to say that since I bought the 24-70mm, I haven't found much need for the 50mm for general shooting. If I could only have one of the lenses you've listed, it would definitely be the 24-70.

rshmn wrote in post #9213241
I have spikes at 18mm(200+ images) and 135mm(500+images) and from 19-134 the shots taken average out around 20 images for every 10 mm in focal length that gets added. I have smaller spikes (30-40 images) at 24, 36, and 52.

using the ends of a zoom frequently either means you often put it there deliberately or you need a wider and/or longer lens. If it is the latter, think about the 15-85 IS and a telephoto zoom, like a 55-250 or 70-200.

Frankly, that is a stupid reason to avoid EF-S. Don't delude yourself into thinking that you won't change lenses if you change formats.

A canon 28 f/1.8 would fit a full frame and on a crop it's considered a "normal" lens.

But I agree with Toxic about avoiding EF-S lenses. A sigma 30mm f/1.4 is magic on my 30D. Even if you move to full frame in 1 or 2 years you can get a lot of use from it. Buy it used, when you go full frame, sell it.

EDIT: Also, you seem to like the wide end. You might want to think about getting an ultra wide angle, but to do that you would have to buy lens for crop cameras (Canon 10-22, Tokian 11-16/12-24, Sigma 10-20, and etc.)

Thanks guys for the input. I suppose I never thought of it that way, that is, buy for now and not the future. Maybe I'll give the 17-55 IS a bit more thought, and if and when I ever go full frame, I'll sell it to fund an EF lens.

I have been actively looking for a 10-22! The few I've found have all sold before I was able to make a deal though.

Thanks!

Rick