One prime and one Zoom?

Photography is just a hobby for me, but I do take it seriously.

I recently bought a Sigma prime 30mm f1.4 specifically for indoor use only. (Museums, parties, group pictures etc.)

I`m thinking about getting another prime or maybe a zoom for outdoor shooting. Not too wide, but enough to cover the same focal length as the kit lens or a bit more. I will use it for downtown shooting like Chicago or Milwaukee. Urban Photography (Parks, buildings etc...). I would love to have a quality walk-around lens with nice IQ and not prone to internal dust. Speed is not an issue f4 is ok since I`ll be shooting around f9-11.

My second question is, if I choose to use the Sigma 30mm outdoor, what is a 2nd prime lens that compliments it outdoor? 30mm outdoor for me is wide enough.

If I decided to just get one quality zoom lens (good IQ, sharp) which one to get? My price range is $800-900 new or used...

I`m leaning toward an L lens with nice bokeh! My tax return is coming soon and have a budget for one last lens for this hobby.

(Note: I`m getting rid of the kit lens)

This is for Xsi crop body...

Canon 15-85IS is a little slow on the long end, but very sharp and has IS, and a great range, very wide, not L, but other than build it is as good as most L lenses.

17-55IS f/2.8 is the same, but you trade range for the larger aperture.

24-105IS f/4L would be good. Not very wide on a crop camera, but otherwise great, and gets you a little more on the long end.

The 15-85 sells around $800ish (I think) and the other two are going to be around $1000-1100ish.

For another prime to use outdoor the 85/1.8. Wonderful short telephoto and portrait lens on crop. A 50mm might be nice, but is pretty close to 30mm.

All of the above lenses will be sharp, decent build (24-105 is best build) and have fast USM focusing. All the zooms have IS, which is very nice.

I am also on crop. I have 30 1.4, 85 1.5 and 135 2.0L and the two lenses I really rely on are the 30 and the 135mm. Although the 85 1.8 is a great lens I haven´t really clicked with it yet. But as always, it depends on what you like to shoot.

I personally really like the Sigma 30 1.4/Canon 85 1.8 as a prime combination for both indoors and out on a crop. These two cover so many different situations that I often do not feel any need to carry around any other lenses.

100mm 2.8L?

The 100/2 is the sister lens to the 85/1.8. Same build and AF, equally great optics for the price. Just depends on what FL works better for you.

The 100/2.8 mentioned above is a macro, which might be nice. There is a cheaper non-L, still super sharp, and the L which is even better IQ and build wise, and adds IS. Macro lenses tend to be some of the sharpest, at the expense of some max aperture.

I use the 30/85 combo mostly. I throw the sigma 50 in there at times too, I found it great inside for close up portrait-like shots. But 30/85 is my combo of choice and love it.

I want to love the 135, but using it on my 50-135, it's just too long most of the time. And I find I struggle at keeping it steady indoors.

If you've got the 30 on crop I'd say a 17-5x variant or a tokina 50-135.

Very interesting feedback here guys! Thank you all

I`m thinking about the 85/1.8 vs. the new 100mm 2.8 Macro. The macro is handy if I decided to shoot indoors Macro photography too, specially during winter season. My only concern is, this end up @ 160mm for crop body. Would this be a bit to long for urban photography? How`s the bokeh on the 85 vs the 100mm macro? Seems like the Sigma has a very distinct BOKEH that I like compare to most Canon non L lenses. Is there an 85mm prime lens that produces a similar bokeh like the SIGMA`S prime? I noticed the Canon non L primes has a very distracting or busy bokeh.
I`m looking at Sigma prime also...but I have to draw my luck again to get a good copy. I was lucky to get a nice 30mm Sig. with no issue.


I`m also looking at 17-55IS f/2.8 but seems to have this dreaded dust issue that most Obsessive Compulsive Disorder photographers hated

Not a fan of the new 15-85mm yet...

gojirasf wrote in post #9456584
I personally really like the Sigma 30 1.4/Canon 85 1.8 as a prime combination for both indoors and out on a crop. These two cover so many different situations that I often do not feel any need to carry around any other lenses.

x2!

The 85mm f/1.8 is one of the best "bang for your buck" prime lenses. Spend a little time and check out the photo sample archive thread.

The 85mm is a great lens, it complements what you already have, and it's the cheapest of all the recommendations. 3 out 3 isn't bad

based on your description, a 24-105mm f4 L IS would be a good zoom for your needs- wider but not too much wider than your 30, and has great focal range for a walkaround. not to mention the constant f4 and IS USM. i tried both the 17-55 and 24-105 and in the end i liked the 24-105 more. plus the L build is much much better than the 17-55 and controls very well.

for your next prime, a 85mm 1.8 would complement your sigma 30 1.4 very well. they are my two favorite primes on the rebel. i had the 50mm 1.4 before i got the 85. i thought sometimes the 50mm didnt have enough reach outdoors, while 85 was perfect. indoors the 50 didnt work as well as the 30 did for me. so i got rid of the 50mm and concluded 30+85 made the smartest combination for the price.

Check my sig ; )

pthai-photo wrote in post #9458262
Check my sig ; )

Nice! You mean I would 1st get a 7D ?

I would save a bit mroe and get the 70-200 2.8 non IS