Wanting to buy a new lens

[snoopygirl79]

Hello,

I'm off to Disneyland Paris in December with my family and it's my birthday before we go and I'm allowed to have a new lens for my Canon 550D!!

I've already got a Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR VC Di II LD Aspherical (IF), a Tamron AF 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro and Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens.

I was thinking of getting either a Tamron SP AF 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens or the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens. Does any one know if either of these are a good choice? Or are there any more suggestions anyone has? I don't want to spend more than £500 ($800).

Thank you very much in advance!!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

What is the purpose of a new lens? You seem to have the focal lengths pretty much covered. When purchasing new lenses, it always good to think about what your are trying to accomplish. What are you trying to shoot that your current lens lineup is incapable or struggles with. Lenses are problem solvers. Without any further information and just looking at what you have, I think you are missing an UWA. something in the 10-20, 12-24 or 10-24 bracket. Can you provide some more information so someone can provide further guidance?

 

[hakepb]

In the states, most Disneyland and DisneyWorld visitors talk about needing more wide angle as zoom is mostly useless (except photographing in some shows if you have bad seats)
If you do not have a wide enough lens, you have to back up. And when you have to backup, the crowds fill in that gap, then your picture opportunity is blown.
I would think a 35mm or wider prime would be a better investment for your Disneyland trip.

That first Tameron sounds like a good walk around lens, but you probably want something brighter for dark rides.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

It really depends on what the OP is trying to do. If its dark rides, then the Sigma 30 f1.4 would be my recommendation, but her 50 f1.8 can work. On an APS-C the 50 is a little tight on the dark rides. She has a fast 17-50, so that is an area she has covered. Besided the UWA the only other area not covered is a fast (2.8) telephoto zoom (50-150 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8). Those tend to cost more than the OP is willing to spend at this time.

 

[snoopygirl79]

I was originally thinking about replacing my Tamron 18-250 as I'd quite like one with IS but I'm not sure if the other ones available now would be a better replacement for my current one or not. I'm not overly keen on swapping lenses, as it's not always practical having small children around!!

I got talked out of this replacement on a photography forum I was on as they recommended the 55-250 or the 70-300 as they'll be better at those focal lengths than my 18-250 as they didn't think very highly of super zooms.

Maybe I should just stick with what I already have?!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Every lens has its capabilities and every photographer their style. Its the blend of those two that decides what lens a photographer purchases. The key to my recommendation is the fact that you do not like to change lenses. Therefore, the 18-250 is probably the best lens as long you realize its shortcomings, which is its reduced low light capabilities. Its not a fast lens. In your case, you do have two other fast lenses, the 17-50 and the 50. As a matter of fact, you are not picking up a lot of speed with your selection of new lenses and introducing the lens changing factor. My recommendation is, for now, to stay with what you have. At some point in the future, you may find a "need" for faster lenses and not be adverse to swapping lenses. That would be the time to buy.

 

[photo_chick]

OP I'm not too keen on the super zooms either. However, the lenses you're looking at are not going to be a big jump up in image quality from the super zoom you have.