Next purchase?

I will have less than expected around my birthday to buy myself a little gift.

probably about.. eh. lets say $500 for now.

What I have
-Canon Rebel XS
-kit lens
-piece of garbage telephoto.
-50mm f1.8

-expodisc
-canon backpack
-tripod


what I'd like to buy with this money:
Battery grip- $112
430 ex ii - $280

this leaves me about $100.
What do you think would be a cool little gift?
any flash accesories, etc?

Or is there a good telephoto around $500?
I'd really like a better one. I dont mind buying tamaron or sigma, but I'd always prefer canon.
(new. i always manage to get screwed over when I buy used)

you can get a used canon 70-200 f/4 (non IS) L for around 500. new for between 600-700 depending where you buy from.

or if you really want the grip go for a non canon brand. they are legitimately(for the most part) as good as canons and cost a lot less. I used a Travor brand grip on my Xsi when i had it and it was great...in my opinion much more comfortable than the actual canon version. So yea, look into that.

Id go for a flash as well. if you get a little more ive seen used 580exII's go for as low as $435!

just out of curiosity, which telephoto do you have? 75-300mm? if so, im in the same boat and taking the 700-200f/4 option

jcarp618 wrote in post #9988990
you can get a used canon 70-200 f/4 (non IS) L for around 500. new for between 600-700 depending where you buy from.

or if you really want the grip go for a non canon brand. they are legitimately(for the most part) as good as canons and cost a lot less. I used a Travor brand grip on my Xsi when i had it and it was great...in my opinion much more comfortable than the actual canon version. So yea, look into that.

Id go for a flash as well. if you get a little more ive seen used 580exII's go for as low as $435!

just out of curiosity, which telephoto do you have? 75-300mm? if so, im in the same boat and taking the 700-200f/4 option

i'm assuming that's a typo, because that's way to much for a used 580exII.

but i do like his recommendation.

another option could be a 55-250 IS, and a 430exII flash along with your third party grip. that would give you the typical XS/XSI gear list with your nifty fifty. you could also sell your "garbage" lens to fund something else.

klr.b wrote in post #9991059
i'm assuming that's a typo, because that's way to much for a used 580exII.

yea my bad. i meant $335 haha. Thats the absolute best ive seen on craigslist. they go here a lot for around 360ish+/- though so keep a close watch