New lens help

[DisneyFreak06]

I decided this weekend that I wanted to invest in either a new lens or a new camera. I have the XT but was seriously thinking about upgrading to the new T1i. I don't want to go to the xxd line because I find them big and bulky. I have smallish hands and I don't want too heavy. In fact, I don't like using my 70-200mm f.4L because I find it so heavy.

I think I might just try for a new lens and it might keep me happy for a little while, plus I don't have a teaching job lined up for September yet... Basically I'd like to keep it around the $500 range, but I am willing to pay a little more.

I have the kit lens that came with the XT, and the L glass that I already mentioned, and I have the 50mm f/1.8. That's it right now. I tend to zoom a lot, but I think I would like to try wide, so I was thinking about the Canon 10-22 mm or even better the Sigma 10-20mm (cheaper price!). I would also consider maybe getting a lighter zoom, or a medium length zoom to replace my kit lens.

I'm by no means anywhere near professional, I just really enjoy taking pictures, and I tend to do that a lot at any kind of event.


Here are the ones I've looked at on line:

Canon 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS (around $350-400, not too bad)
Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 (way too much right now)
Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS (a little high)
Canon 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 IS (a little less than the 28-135, but still high)

Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 (still a little high)
Sigma 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 (around $500)
Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 (high, but might be worth it and might find a more reasonable price on e-bay.)

I'm willing to listen to suggestions/opinions too.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ukcatfan]

A 28-70mm f/2.8 or even one starting at 24mm should be in your range from 3rd party like Sigma and Tamron.

 

[bob100]

I decided this weekend that I wanted to invest in either a new lens or a new camera. I have the XT but was seriously thinking about upgrading to the new T1i. I don't want to go to the xxd line because I find them big and bulky. I have smallish hands and I don't want too heavy. In fact, I don't like using my 70-200mm f.4L because I find it so heavy.

I think I might just try for a new lens and it might keep me happy for a little while, plus I don't have a teaching job lined up for September yet... Basically I'd like to keep it around the $500 range, but I am willing to pay a little more.

I have the kit lens that came with the XT, and the L glass that I already mentioned, and I have the 50mm f/1.8. That's it right now. I tend to zoom a lot, but I think I would like to try wide, so I was thinking about the Canon 10-22 mm or even better the Sigma 10-20mm (cheaper price!). I would also consider maybe getting a lighter zoom, or a medium length zoom to replace my kit lens.

I'm by no means anywhere near professional, I just really enjoy taking pictures, and I tend to do that a lot at any kind of event.


Here are the ones I've looked at on line:

Canon 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS (around $350-400, not too bad)
Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 (way too much right now)
Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS (a little high)
Canon 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 IS (a little less than the 28-135, but still high)

Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 (still a little high)
Sigma 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 (around $500)
Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 (high, but might be worth it and might find a more reasonable price on e-bay.)
I'm willing to listen to suggestions/opinions too.

Thanks in advance!

here's a suggestion: consider prices from B&H or Adorama, the 55-250IS is only $250 or if you buy refurbished even less, where do you get $400 ??? also, do you have the 18-55IS ? (the "IS" designation is important) it's a very sharp lens and only $100

 

[boBQuincy]

If you like the size of your Xt you will *love* the Xsi! It can be had with the kit lens, a *greatly* improved version of the original 18-55, for a pretty good deal. The new kit lens also has IS.

Canon's 10-22 is a very good lens, maybe even a great lens. It is a good match for the Xt or Xsi. Canon's 55-250 is lightweight, not as sharp as your 70-200 but not bad either. It also has IS.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

A 28-70mm f/2.8 or even one starting at 24mm should be in your range from 3rd party like Sigma and Tamron.

Thanks! So Sigma and Tamron are usually considered "safe" brands?

here's a suggestion: consider prices from B&H or Adorama, the 55-250IS is only $250 or if you buy refurbished even less, where do you get $400 ??? also, do you have the 18-55IS ? (the "IS" designation is important) it's a very sharp lens and only $100

I haven't checked out those companies as they are American based. Nothing against US companies, it just usually costs so much to ship across the border and then the exchange- which is doing well right now for me. The price I found was probably from Future Shop, Henry's or Camera Canada. I like the thought of IS, if that lens is as cheap as $100 here in Canada, I may jump on that one too.

If you like the size of your Xt you will *love* the Xsi! It can be had with the kit lens, a *greatly* improved version of the original 18-55, for a pretty good deal. The new kit lens also has IS.

Canon's 10-22 is a very good lens, maybe even a great lens. It is a good match for the Xt or Xsi. Canon's 55-250 is lightweight, not as sharp as your 70-200 but not bad either. It also has IS.

I've looked into the Xsi too, I just think I'd better get another good lens and then upgrade my camera in another year or two. (Except for when I get camera envy and start wanting more! ) I do like that they include IS with the kit lens now. I think the 55-250 and the 10-22 are the ones that I most thinking about at this point.

Thanks for all your input, I guess I'll have to keep researching before making a purchase.

 

[caniswolfie]

I'd say Tamron and Sigma are for the most part safe brands. Like anything else, even in the Canon line, is lens specific. There are certain lenses that have a bad reputation for quality. So it will come down to which Tamron, Canon, or Sigma lens you are looking at. One of things with the Third Party lenses is that since they don't necessarily have full information on the camera functions, is that they have to reverse engineer to make their lenses work with the camera. So if there is a brand new camera sometimes the lens will not work properly and gives errors on the camera. The manufacturer usually can upgrade the firmware on the lens to update it for the new camera.

The lens I purchased to replace my kit lens was the Tamron 17-50 f:2.8 lens which doesn't have IS but is a lot cheaper than the Canon 17-55 f:2.8 IS lens. Some of things that may be different on the different manufacturers lens. An example is that Tamron has the zoom function rotate is counter to the canon one (counter-clockwise to zoom out, clockwise to zoom in). That may annoy some people.

I've used the Canon 10-22 before and it seems like a specialized lens. If you enjoy taking super wide photos and landscapes it would be perfect. But you can really get a lot of real estate in the picture which can sometimes be hard to not get something you don't want in it.

 

[bob100]

Thanks! So Sigma and Tamron are usually considered "safe" brands?

I haven't checked out those companies as they are American based. Nothing against US companies, it just usually costs so much to ship across the border and then the exchange- which is doing well right now for me. The price I found was probably from Future Shop, Henry's or Camera Canada. I like the thought of IS, if that lens is as cheap as $100 here in Canada, I may jump on that one too.



I've looked into the Xsi too, I just think I'd better get another good lens and then upgrade my camera in another year or two. (Except for when I get camera envy and start wanting more! ) I do like that they include IS with the kit lens now. I think the 55-250 and the 10-22 are the ones that I most thinking about at this point.

Thanks for all your input, I guess I'll have to keep researching before making a purchase.

Oh, I didn't see you were from up north, that complicates things, but still the lens you are considering should be a good addition

 

[Wingman]

If you like your camera, then investing in a lens is the way to go.


Not sure why you are considering the 55-250 lens if you already own the 70-200 unless you are planning to sell that lens. I know you said you felt it was heavy, but to purchase a second lens in that range does not make sense to me.

If you are looking to gain better quality in the same 18-55, like others have said the new 18-55IS is head and shoulders above the old one. You can also find them for sale out of kits for around $110. You may also want to consider the Tamron 17-50 2.8. I just picked this up used for $330 and could not be happier with it. The pictures are really sharp and a consistent 2.8, I am thrilled.

I don't have any experience with the other lens you listed, so I can't comment on them. I think you should sell the 70-200 and use that with whatever else you have to get a couple of the items on your list.

Good luck.