Lens Suggestions - Help me decide!

Hi all -

I am currently shooting with an XSi and want to add another lens to my collection. Current lenses I have are:

• Nifty 50
  
• Canon 18-55 "kit" lens
  
• Canon 55-250 zoom

Welcome to the forum. However, the longer the initial post, the less likely any one will read it all. Which kit lens do you have? If not the 18-55 IS, trade up.

It's the 18-55 IS kit lens with IS that I have now.

Sorry for the excessive detail - I figured I'd outline what I was looking for up front. Hopefully it doesn't scare people off

I've had the Tamron and also it`s fast at 2.8, it`s awful at focusing in low light and searches way too much. That was with a Rebel XT. I don't know if it would do better on you XSi.

While I haven't used it myself, the new 15-85 has been getting a lot of positive buzz. It's expensive, but you get a lot of range and IQ for your money.

Another option that will give you some more length is the Sigma 17-70. While there isn't a whole lot of info on the new OS version yet, I've used the older (f2.8-4.5) non-stabilized version and I will say that it's a great lens for the money.

If you don't need the wide end so much as the longer end, you might also want to take a look at the Tokina 50-135/2.8.

BTW, I've used the Tammy 28-75 and it is a GREAT lens for the money, especially if you can pick one up gently used.

HTH,
Heather

have you thought of leaning on a UWA lens?? like a sigma 10-20, canon 10-22, tokina 11-16. since you have your 18-55mm and the 50mm, use those for now for portairts and stuff and take out the landscape on the UWA lens. just my 2cents.

+1 for Tokina 11-16. 18-55 is bit too long on 1.6x crop body for my taste.

ProD1gy_KiD wrote in post #9622804
have you thought of leaning on a UWA lens?? like a sigma 10-20, canon 10-22, tokina 11-16. since you have your 18-55mm and the 50mm, use those for now for portairts and stuff and take out the landscape on the UWA lens. just my 2cents.

Honestly, landscape right now is such a minimal focus of mine that I don't think adding a UWA is going to be a priority. Then again, I've never shot with one before so I don't have any clue as to what it's like.

When you get down to it, I guess I'm really looking for a solid walk around lens with more reach than the 18-55 I have now.

Maybe I just need to go with something that will have reasonable resale, and be prepared to sell it if it doesn't end up being something I like. I found a used 24-105 locally on Craigslist today for $850, and thought that would be worth pursuing. Unfortunately I was the second to inquire, so I'm back to the drawing board unless the sale falls through

The lens decisions are so darned difficult! I went around and around on this topic a few months back, couldn't decide and dropped it. I don't want that to happen again.

So after all of that I went with the EF-S 17-55 2.8

Since I was looking for a true "walkabout" lens, I didn't feel comfortable going with one of the 24 - XXmm lenses, as I was concerned that I'd be giving up too much on the wide end on my cropped body. And a little extra speed never hurts

So, now the decision to make is whether I keep my kit lens (18-55 IS) and nifty fifty. The kit lens seems redundant & I can't imagine I'll want to go back to it. Not sure if the extra speed on the nifty fifty will come in handy.

Thoughts?

mjsmn wrote in post #9651053
So after all of that I went with the EF-S 17-55 2.8

Since I was looking for a true "walkabout" lens, I didn't feel comfortable going with one of the 24 - XXmm lenses, as I was concerned that I'd be giving up too much on the wide end on my cropped body. And a little extra speed never hurts

So, now the decision to make is whether I keep my kit lens (18-55 IS) and nifty fifty. The kit lens seems redundant & I can't imagine I'll want to go back to it. Not sure if the extra speed on the nifty fifty will come in handy.

Thoughts?

I used to have the exact same setup as you.
Ide get a 85 1.8. Superb bokeh and great for portraits outdoors.

Otherwise maybe sell your 55-250 and get a 70-200 f4

forthewinwin wrote in post #9651122
I used to have the exact same setup as you.

I still think the kit lens + 55-250 + the nifty fifty makes a good setup, especially for those that are getting into the SLR world. I'm just excited to have more light available with the 2.8!

At some point I still need to address my desire to get a lens that falls between the short end (now 17-55) and my long end (55-250). I think the 24-105L may be that lens, but I decided not to do it now because I don't want to give up the wide end on the lens that will likely be on the camera 90% of the time