Which lens next? :)

Hey I'm an amateur photographer, I own a Canon t2i gripped with the 18-55mm, and 50mm 1.8 II lens. These lens are ok for now, but I am already growing out of them. I need something a step up, but not the absolute top lens out there.

I like to do candid family photos, cars(both stationary and moving), portraits, maybe something that is a little wider angle something decently fast, and sharp. Kinda like the mid range lens people move up to.

If you need more info on my needs and wants in a lens ill be sure to answer some advice would be great.

What's your budget?

As well as deciding on a budget, have a good look at your EXIF data. What's a common focal length you use at the moment? IF you are leaning to the 50, then a prime in that range would seem logical, but if you tend more for wider, then it speaks for itself. Try not to get 'lens blindness' and go for something other suggest initially: try and look at your work, see what your preferred tyoe of shot is, and work along those lines

Wider?
That's a 10-20 or 10-22 from Canon or Sigma, or the 10-17 from Tokina.
Faster? If it's a zoom, then that's 2.8. Not top shelf, so look at one of the Tamron or Sigma 17-50s (or thereabouts).

Is your 18-55 the newer, better IS version? If not, trade up.

how about the 15-85?

Looks like you're longest lens goes to 55mm. Maybe consider a 55-250mm IS?

srlthaballa wrote in post #11622797
Hey I'm an amateur photographer, I own a Canon t2i gripped with the 18-55mm, and 50mm 1.8 II lens. These lens are ok for now, but I am already growing out of them. I need something a step up, but not the absolute top lens out there.

I like to do candid family photos, cars(both stationary and moving), portraits, maybe something that is a little wider angle something decently fast, and sharp. Kinda like the mid range lens people move up to.

If you need more info on my needs and wants in a lens ill be sure to answer some advice would be great.

If I can make a suggestion, you used the words "candid", "portraits", and "moving cars" which screams longer lens, not wider. Have you considered a 70-200? The f/4 is $600, and the f/4 IS and f/2.8 are around $1,200. If that's too much 3rd party lenses are always an option too. Out of all the things you said you want to do, the only thing I would want a wider lens for is stationary cars.