Need advice on a lens

RVANANO

RVANANO

SWAGON
I have a Canon 40D. I usually take photos of cars and landscapes. But also want to take shots of my wife and stepdaughter and the tank of course.

I currently have a busted 17-85mm. It broke once before so I have no desire to fix it again.

My dad is going to get me a lens for Xmas and I cannot decide based on the criteria I listed above.

Considering....

A new 17-85mm
A sigma 10-20mm
Canon 100mm
as well as a decent 18-55mm

If I had to choose one knowing the others would take a while to follow, which would you all suggest?
 
The 100mm wont be good for pictures of your wife and daughter and landscapes unless you just want headshots... so I would avoid that. It would, however, be good for tank pictures (I assume you're talking about the macro).

The sigma you have listed would be OK for cars/landscapes but not really for people photography. Also you notice it has a f/4 LARGEST aperture, which means it wont be good for tank pictures, you will not be able to do a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the fish action.

My favorite lens for all of the things you listed, that does it all well is the 50mm. I'm amazed how much I use that lens, it's on my camera every day all the time. I bought the f/1.4 version and since your dad is buying it you might as well, but the f/1.8 does good as well.

Pros are incredibly sharp pictures for a "cheap" lens, very fast since it has a large aperture and it's right in between being a zoom and a wide angle. It's great for fish tank photography.

Anyway, hope that helps. If you're dead set on getting something that can zoom in and out, I'd go with the Canon 18-135mm that has IS. It gets good reviews and will do everything you want except the fish tank photography will be kind of hard since it's a max aperture of f/3.5, but it's hard to find a lens that does EVERYTHING for under $500 :)
 
Looking at your lens choices I'm guessing the budget is somewhere around ~$500? If you can try taking a look at what focal length you tend to do a lot of shooting at (if you have something like Lightroom this is extremely easy). See what it is - do you find yourself shooting extremely wide most of the time? Normal/50mm range, or are you always at the tele end and always wishing for a bit more reach? This might help you narrow down what you should be looking at. :)

The nifty fifty is a great bargain lens - the best "bang for the buck" lens in the Canon line up since it costs under $100 new. If the budget allows though the next step up, the 50mm f/1.4 is a nice step up. Better build quality, better bokeh, better focusing, throw a set of extension tubes on either and you even got a decent macro too (although tank photography might be tricky because of the short focusing distance, should be usable though for things close to the glass).

If you don't already something else you might get a lot of use out of is a really good quality CPL for your landscape and car photography (can be extremely useful for portraits too).
 
On another forum, it has been suggested that I get the typical kit 18-55 3.5 and the 55-250 3.5 instead of a 18-135. Any thoughts on this? The price is the same for the one lens as the two alternatives. I am of the mindset "You get what you pay for"
 
well, maybe price is similar,
but in my opinion very important is quality :)
If You have dslr You're probably know what it means: lenses lenses, and lenses.
If You have choice - select one good lens, than two worse :)
It is convenient not to change the still camera, and have overlapping focal.
Select good one, and then add next one, and next one, and next one :)
 
Brett9917 said:
I would say stick with one lense, I hate having to switch out between my 18-55 and 70-300.
Click to expand...

A couple of things:

1. If you don't want to switch lenses, why buy a DSLR?

2. The larger the zoom range a lens has, the less likely that it'll produce good results.
 
beerguy said:
A couple of things:

1. If you don't want to switch lenses, why buy a DSLR?

2. The larger the zoom range a lens has, the less likely that it'll produce good results.
Click to expand...

Let me clarify, I like to go to auto races. They usually have a paddock section where you can get up close with either the race cars and/or other people who like to show off their own private collection cars. The 18-55mm works great there. Once the cars actually start getting out on the track the 70-300mm is much better suited for those type of shots since it's generally safer to stay a bit farther back. The reason why I would prefer one lens is that can get dusty and dirty and I try to avoid getting my lenses and sensor dirty.

Also, it's nice to always be prepared for the shot haha.
 
Beerguy, That is what I am afraid of. I had always heard the same about the zoom range.

Thinking maybe I should just ask for my most desired lens currently (Sigma 10-20mm 3.5L) and then buy the rest myself since they are cheaper
 
I've got the sigma 10 - 20 and love it.

My next will the canon 100mm macro

already have a telezoom - just sorta waiting till it breaks so i "have" to upgrade!
 
Found a deal on a Canon 18-135mm 3.5L. Under $400. That seems like a great all around lens.

Unfortunately my ole mans max budget is $400. I can't find a Sigma 10-20 for less than $450 :(
 
Why dont you kick in a small amount of the purchase price, let him pay $400 and you cover the rest?
 
True that, it kind of ruins the "gift" part of it.

However, as the gift receiver I can say I'd rather chip in and get the gift I wanted, than not chip in and wish I had something else :)
 
Agreed. My only hesitation on that particular lens is that it will really limit me until I can afford some others. I know I can get the 50 1.8 cheap but all my other choices start to creep up in price. That being said, I would rather have to purchase those on my own as opposed to the slightly pricier 10-20. Which is the lens I have wanted the longest.
 
The Sigma 50 1.4 has been getting a lot of rave reviews, ever considered it? It fits your $400-ish budget. I've owned one for the Nikon mount, will buy one again. Astounding piece of glass IMO, despite the bad Sigma Stigma.

OR Ask your dad to buy you the 50/1.0L and just pay him back little by little every paycheck. That thing is a sexy beast. :D
 
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