$ 1,000 for lenses on t2i. Which ones. Please help!

I recently got a t2i and am looking to upgrade my lenses. Budget is $1000.

- I shoot mostly family type stuff including indoor portraits (don't mind using my 430 EX flash), outdoor sports, travel/landcape. Kids start playing basketball next year.
- Current lenses: 50mm 1.8, 18-55 IS, 28-135, 75-300. My favorite is the 50mm 1.8 and least is the 28-135. I may have a bad copy but I've been underwhelmed with 28-135. To put it in perspective, to my eyes the kit lens is sharper.
- I don't intend to go to a full-frame anytime soon so am ok with EFS lenses.
- I prize good bokah and like what the 50 mm 1.8 does in this regard so was considering 85 1.8.
- I like using a monopod so would employ with the 70-200

Possible combinations for ~$1000.
1. Buy Canon EFS 10-22 + Canon 85 1.8 keep other lenses
2. Buy Canon 70-200 4/L IS only and sell 28-135
3. Buy Canon 70-200 4/L non IS and Sigma 10-20 and sell 28-135
4. Buy Tamron 17-50 2.8 and Canon 70-200 4/L non IS and sell 18-55 and 28-135

What would you do? Or are there better alternatives! Thanks in advance for any direction you can give.

I have the t1i and a 24-105L I use it for every thing,

Since you mention basketball, you will need f2.8 or faster lenses

Sell 18-55,75-300 and 28-135, Get 70-200mm f2.8 (non Is) + Tamron 17-50 2.8

Given your options, I'd go with #3. I would also venture to say, I'd get rid of the 75-300 at the same time and invest in a tripod or upgrade the wide angle to a toke or canon. But that's just me. Goodluck!

Sell all but the nifty 50 for around $500, giving you a budget of $1500 or so. Buy the 15 - 85 ($600), 70 - 200 f/4 non-IS ($600) & 85 1.8 ($400).

For those that have the 10-22... do you feel that you use it often or is it more of a limited use lense.

Where do you think is the best bet to sell?

Sell 28-135 and 75-300, which would give you an additional $325 or so to play with. Then buy a used 70-200 f4 IS and a used 85 f1.8.

ceegee wrote in post #10378774
Sell 28-135 and 75-300, which would give you an additional $325 or so to play with. Then buy a used 70-200 f4 IS and a used 85 f1.8.

What he said.

OregonRebel wrote in post #10378728
Sell all but the nifty 50 for around $500, giving you a budget of $1500 or so. Buy the 15 - 85 ($600), 70 - 200 f/4 non-IS ($600) & 85 1.8 ($400).

This is perhaps the most work, but I think this is the choice I would get behind. Of course if you buy used you can get that 70-200 for $500 or less and that 85 for about $325. Haven't really priced the 15-85 since I don't look at EF-s lenses, but it has built a pretty solid reputation.

As far as "would I use the 10-22" goes, just ask yourself how often you bottom out the 18mm on the kit lens and think either "I wish this was a little bit wider" or "Man, I wish this was TWICE as wide."

If it's the former, the 15-85 would probably be a good bet that would consolidate most of the 18-55 & 28-135 into one lens that is sharper, wider, and has better IS and build quality. If you find yourself saying the latter, then you need to look at an ultra-wide angle (Canon 10-22, Tokina 11-16, or Sigma 8-16).

I would sell 18-55, 55-250, and 18-135 and rethink your kit.
For general purpose zoom: tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 or 17-50mm f/2.8 (non-VC). This will run you around $350.
Then get a telephoto - 70-200 f/4L will do just fine. New one retails for $595 at amazon.
For wide angle, if you have money left, get 10-20 Sigma. This will set u up for a long time, and you can later add primes if you desire to do so.

OregonRebel wrote in post #10378728
Sell all but the nifty 50 for around $500, giving you a budget of $1500 or so. Buy the 15 - 85 ($600), 70 - 200 f/4 non-IS ($600) & 85 1.8 ($400).

I'm with this one as well. You have your whole range covered with quality glass. If the 70-200 f4 isn't fast enough at the basketball games, reposition yourself and use the 85 1.8. Great suggestion

Three lenses I feel are a must on a crop would be

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
2. Sigma 30mm 1.4
3. Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8

Optional

Canon 24-70mm
Canon 70-200mm 2.8

mules wrote in post #10378766
For those that have the 10-22... do you feel that you use it often or is it more of a limited use lense.

Landscapes, architecture.. aside from that it usually sees little use since it's so wide.


Sell everything, including the nifty, getting around $600- totaling a budget of 1600. Then pick up:
Tamron 17-50 non-VC- $420 or so used
70-200 f4- $550 or so used
Sigma 30mm f/1.4- $400 or so used (??). This will be your "fast" wide prime for indoor use when you can't be bothered to use the flash.
And for something a bit longer and fast, especially for those basketball games- the 85 1.8.

The 17-55 IS is the King replacement for the kit lens, but then if you went with the Tamron (which is just still a great lens itself), you would have a lot more other options.

I don't have much experience buying or selling used lenses... any suggestions for where to do this.... things to look for? I'm not real close geographically to some of the big camera stores so if I went that way I'd be dealing over the internet.