Help! Asap! Need new lens fast!!

[GoofyTroopOf6]

I've read a lot of the other posts on here about which lens to get. Ugh....I HATE making decisions. Can someone make one for me?

What I currently have or had:
I have a Canon EOS Rebel XS
Kit lens 18-55
Tamron 70-300

had the nifty fifty but never used it.

I love my tamron, but it's just not convenient enough. I have to switch between the two and is s-u-c-k-s to do so. I hate it. When inside trying to capture kids on stage, at weddings, ect. I'm not a professional photographer. I'm definitely a beginner and enthusiast.

We are leaving in 2.5 weeks for WDW. I'm looking for something pretty inexpensive (don't need dh mad before we leave). My budget is definitely under $300. I want an every day type lens that I don't have to switch between to capture portrait photos or have to zoom when sitting too far back to be able to see what kid I'm capturing in my photo.

Used lenses are fine (I do check feedback, ect very closely and make sure the item has paypal buyer protection) as well as non-Canon lenses.

So in short...I need an every day lens with decent wide angle and zoom that's not going to cost me an arm and leg.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Sounds like you want an 18-200 lens. They aren't cheap. Have you considered renting a lens for your trip and then taking the time to really shop after you get back?

 

[dansamy]

Definitely rent a lens! I've rented a 50mm before and also a brighter zoom than my kit lenses. CameraLensRentals has fair prices, on par with what I've seen from other companies as well, and their service is top notch! When I went in February 2010, there was a freak snowstorm and the lens was delivered to my home the day after I left. CLR shipped another lens to my resort, with no extra charge, and it got there the next day.

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

Sounds like you want an 18-200 lens. They aren't cheap. Have you considered renting a lens for your trip and then taking the time to really shop after you get back?

No, I haven't. I hadn't a clue they rented them until I saw threads here (I didn't look in them). I have no clue if they rent them here or not.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

They rent the lenses online and ship them to you. Google camera lens rentals and there are several online that operate this way. They have received good reviews.

 

[ukstitch]

If you're desperate to buy one then I'd agree with disneyfaninaz's suggestion of an 18-200. They have great range and the Tamron can be picked up reasonably cheaply (it's about $270 here in the UK).

Their image quality isn't as normally as good as the lenses with the smaller ranges, but the flexibility makes up for this in my opinion. I have one that I use when I can't be bothered with swapping lenses and love it for this

 

[photo_chick]

As far as used lenses.. KEH has the Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 (not to be confused with the entry level 4.0-5.6) for under $200. I've had mine forever and it's my walkaround lens on my 50D. For me it's a great compromise between quality, focal length and price. It's a little faster than the 18-55 kit as well.

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

As far as used lenses.. KEH has the Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 (not to be confused with the entry level 4.0-5.6) for under $200. I've had mine forever and it's my walkaround lens on my 50D. For me it's a great compromise between quality, focal length and price. It's a little faster than the 18-55 kit as well.

Awesome. Actually I just, literally, logged onto that site and saw this when i switched between the two tabs. I've never been to this site before. Off to check it out now.

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

As far as used lenses.. KEH has the Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 (not to be confused with the entry level 4.0-5.6) for under $200. I've had mine forever and it's my walkaround lens on my 50D. For me it's a great compromise between quality, focal length and price. It's a little faster than the 18-55 kit as well.

Okay, I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Can you post the link? All I see are the lenses for the non-digital cameras?

 

[photo_chick]

Okay, I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Can you post the link? All I see are the lenses for the non-digital cameras?

They list the EF lenses in the 35mm section since they can be used with all EOS mounts (35mm, full frame DSLR, and crop DSLR). The digital section just lists the EF-S lenses, which are crop only. Any Canon EF or EF-S lens will work on your camera.

Here's a link to one listing. You have to really read the different listings though. Some have caps, some don't. Some come with a hood.. etc. Some are the II version, which is almost identical optically to the original. Just pick one. And KEH is really spot on with their grading system. If it says like new, it really is like new.
http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-EOS-Zoom-Lenses/1/sku-CE079990462880?r=FE

Edited to add... I just saw they have the 28-135 for under $300 used (it's come down since I last looked at it). It pretty much replaced the 28-105 in Canon's lineup and has IS. If you want IS, that's a good price for a lens that retails at more than $400.

 

[Diane♥Disney]

I have the Canon 28-135 with IS. I absolutely love it. I bought is a few years back for our trip to Disney. It's the only lense I use.

 

[crz4mm2]

I just received the Tamron 18-200 today. I hope I love it. Planning on taking it to China and Thailand next month was hoping for ONE lens to take... we shall see.
My wish would be a faster lens in the same zoom range, but this one is affordable for me.

 

[alloyd1170]

Tamron makes a 18-250 f.3.5-6.3. I've had mine awhile now and love it. It's my walk around lens until I can afford a L lens (even then I might keep it just for the range). However, I don't think it's in your budget, unless you can find one used (Ebay, KEH).

 

[WDWFigment]

I'd definitely look at one of the Tamron super-zoom lenses. They have like 54 iterations of this lens, get one of the more recent ones with more range (I believe it's up to 18-270mm with vibration control). It might be more than $300, but you can sell other lenses rendered redundant by it to offset the difference.

 

[alloyd1170]

Oops-sorry. I have the Tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 with image stabilization. Love it! Used it quite a bit in the Galapagos as the animals were so close that my 100-400 wasn't needed very often!

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

I'd definitely look at one of the Tamron super-zoom lenses. They have like 54 iterations of this lens, get one of the more recent ones with more range (I believe it's up to 18-270mm with vibration control). It might be more than $300, but you can sell other lenses rendered redundant by it to offset the difference.

Oops-sorry. I have the Tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 with image stabilization. Love it! Used it quite a bit in the Galapagos as the animals were so close that my 100-400 wasn't needed very often!

So are these quite a bit smaller and lighter than the tamron 70-300? Should I keep my 18-55 kit lens or sell it?
Any clue where I can get the ABSOLUTE best deal on one of these. They are $200+ more than what I wanted to pay.

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

I'm so excited. After searching for the 10-270 all day, night and this morning, I finally scored!!! I got a mint rated used lens for 379.95 shipped. Woot Woot! I never gift up untiul I find what I want. This was only 80 bucks over my limit, so I'm pretty happy with that. Now off to sell my big lens.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, WDWFigment and alloyd1170, FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION!!!
edit: oops....18-270

 

[alloyd1170]

Congrats on the score! Glad I could offer some help. Where did you end up buying it? Have fun using it and be sure to share your photos!

 

[GoofyTroopOf6]

Congrats on the score! Glad I could offer some help. Where did you end up buying it? Have fun using it and be sure to share your photos!

used www.cameras.com

I searched all day yesterday. (I hate having ocd) This morning I tried the bing search engine. I've found that google tends to use the same stores/sites when you research items. I only spent about 45 minutes looking on bing and found it. It was the only one they had and of course it had to be in top notch condition or no way was I buying it.

I'm going to take Tom's suggestion and sell my other lens. I loved it for sports, but I had to use a monopod or tripod with it which made it a PITA to use. I'm hoping the new lens is less bulky and a lot lighter. Now I can't wait for it to get here.

Any ideas of where to sell used lenses (preferably not an online "store"). A forum maybe?

 

[ukstitch]

used www.cameras.com

I searched all day yesterday. (I hate having ocd) This morning I tried the bing search engine. I've found that google tends to use the same stores/sites when you research items. I only spent about 45 minutes looking on bing and found it. It was the only one they had and of course it had to be in top notch condition or no way was I buying it.

I'm going to take Tom's suggestion and sell my other lens. I loved it for sports, but I had to use a monopod or tripod with it which made it a PITA to use. I'm hoping the new lens is less bulky and a lot lighter. Now I can't wait for it to get here.

Any ideas of where to sell used lenses (preferably not an online "store"). A forum maybe?

One thing to keep in mind before selling your 70-300 is that it's aperture is better than on the 18-270 when used at the same focal length (roughly 4 vs 5.6 at 70mm and 5.6 vs 6.3 at 270/300mm).

While it is a pain in the backside to switch lenses at times, if you're planning several shots of something that you know is far away in low light e.g. fireworks from further back, then the 70-300 is the better lens for this because it will most likely save you either 1 jump in ISO or 1 jump in shutter speed