Best Zoom Lens for $400-$800 :)

I started shooting Maternity and Newborn pics this week.. and I have come to the realization that I prefer Zoom lenses.. Zooming in to the hand, the arms, ears of a newborn... and zooming out to get the background.. etc.. I actually ended up using the 18-55IS kit lens.. but I am missing the wider apperture of my nifty fifty even! (and even my useless-piece-of-cr@p-needs-calibration-sigma30mm)

I will be upgrading to a T2i by the end of the month and would like to buy a zoom lens.. I don't want to spend more than $800 on it..

I tried the 18-135mm at a local photography show.. I like it but anything in the price range with a wider apperture than f3.5?

Thanks guys!!

I'd get a used 70-200 f4, and use the change on remote flash triggers, modifiers and stands.

that will more than make up for the aperture of f4 and improve your photography heaps.

The fastest zooms you will find are 2.8 and will likely be over your budget. There really isn't anything that is as fast as your nifty fifty in a short zoom. You might want to consider getting into off camera lighting with a quality Flash and some type of radio trigger. Your upgrading to the T2i will likely gain you one or two ISO stops though so don't be afraid to bump up your ISO and make use of that advantage.

mikekelley wrote in post #10188122
I'd get a used 70-200 f4, and use the change on remote flash triggers, modifiers and stands.

that will more than make up for the aperture of f4 and improve your photography heaps.

+1 on the 70-200 f/4 lens. If you're going to be using it with off-camera flash, then the f/4 and lack of IS won't be an issue.

If you definitely want a shorter lens, you could look off-brand at the Tamron 28-75 and Sigma 24-70, both of which are well within your budget.

If you're satisfied with the focal range on your 18-55, you could get a 17-50 f2.8 Tamron. It has rave reviews and is at the low end of your price range at ~450$

I'm picking one of these up next month.
If you have a flash(as I see that you do), you can bounce it off the ceiling/walls and get some GREAT shots.

Looks like you want an f/2.8 zoom. About the only ones I can think of for under $900 are:

Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 EX DC Macro - $419
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di - $459 ($415 with rebate)
Tokina 16-50 f/2.8 AT-X 165 Pro DX - $549
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Macro - $569
Tamron SP AF 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di-II - $649 ($579 with rebate)
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM - $899

If you want wide there is also the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX - $600

Hi Theresa, We are in the same province! Nice to "meet" you here

Back to your question ... I'd suggest a Tamron 17-50 non-VC ( I heard the new VC version has some problems and may not be as sharp as the non-VC lens). I bought a used, like new Tamron 17-50 non-VC for $450 CND.

You can also find a used Canon 17-55 f/2.8 on Toronto kijiji for about $1000, if you can spend a bit more.

Good luck with your purchase.

THANKS Guys!!

I've been trying to use Natural Light when shooting Newborns.. So, I just find a spot with a window in the client's house and shoot there..

I looked up the different versions of the 70-200mmLf4, and whoa! So, there is an IS version too? but over my budget... what to do, what to do..

Acckk, where is my paypal tree?!?

PhotosByT wrote in post #10188251
THANKS Guys!!

I've been trying to use Natural Light when shooting Newborns.. So, I just find a spot with a window in the client's house and shoot there..

I looked up the different versions of the 70-200mmLf4, and whoa! So, there is an IS version too? but over my budget... what to do, what to do..

Acckk, where is my paypal tree?!?

Ide buy a 50 1.8/1.4 to accompany the 70-200 f4 just to have something fast when you need that extra light, instead of spending almost double the price for the IS.

The IS helps true, but then it's very close to the price of the f/2.8.. and honestly Ide rather have f/2.8 instead of f/4+IS

I know it's already been mentioned here, but I think the Tamron SP 28-75mm f/2.8 is a pretty impressive lens for quality. With the 1.6x factor on your Xti (and the same one on the T2i), it's the equivalent of 45-120mm, which is a decent zoom, and with babies you're probably working up close anyway. I got a demo one for 299, and it came with a 1-yr. warranty.

You're probably already doing this, but have you tried bouncing your flash off the ceiling? It's a softer light (provided your ceiling is low enough). Another option is a diffuser. The Sto-fen omni-bounce is nice, and I'm a big fan of the Gary Fong lightsphere. If you can, set your flash to E-TTL, and set your flash exposure to be about +1 stop. Before I had lightstands/umbrellas, etc., I solely used a Gary Fong, and people liked the pictures. Good luck!

has anyone mentioned a used 17-55 2.8 IS yet?

Bob_A wrote in post #10188188
Looks like you want an f/2.8 zoom. About the only ones I can think of for under $900 are:

Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 EX DC Macro - $419
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di - $459 ($415 with rebate)
Tokina 16-50 f/2.8 AT-X 165 Pro DX - $549
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Macro - $569
Tamron SP AF 17-50 f/2.8 XR Di-II - $649 ($579 with rebate)
Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM - $899

If you want wide there is also the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX - $600

These are all good options. I had the Sigma 18-50f2.8 for years and loved it. I still miss it, and it really lets you get up and close, so for taking pictures of babies hands and stuff.

There is also:
The new Sigma 17-50 f2.8 OS $670 (stabilized)
Sigma 24-60 f2.8 (cheap and highly regarded, if you can still find one new, or get a slightly used one for a great price)


And if you're willing to buy used (maybe through this site?)
Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS as someone else mentioned
Canon 24-105 f4 IS
Canon 28-70 f2.8 (the newer 24-70 is pretty expensive, but the older 28-70 is still great and often sell for around $800 used)

A fast telephoto lens in the US $400-800 price range is the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8.

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40dbaby wrote in post #10188757
has anyone mentioned a used 17-55 2.8 IS yet?

Probably not, as it is out of her budget range (~$850 used).

To the OP, do you really need the reach of a 200 indoors? Since you're upgrading your body (camera body! ), you should be able to crop in on things like the hands and face and still have perfectly acceptable images.

Have you considered an 85 f/1.8? I know you said you like zooms, but from what you've said, sounds like you can get what you want by cropping down from a larger image. The 85 will be sharper than your nifty, give you that fast app. and won't break your bank (usually ~$325 used). The extra $$ will allow you to get some additional lighting equipment (as someone else mentioned).

Other than that, the 70-200 f/4L non-IS is a great lens.