Which Lens Should I Buy Next?

Ok, so i'm an avid photographer, and I'm getting heavily into it. I currently shoot with a Canon Rebel XT and the following lenses:

Canon 18-55mm (Kit Lens)
Canon 100mm USM
Canon 75-300mm Telephoto

In about 2 months I'll be heading back to the beach again and I want to have a full arsenal of lenses so I can cover everything I want to. I know I have a decent amount of lenses already but I was wondering if anyone knows of any lenses I should add to my collection. I was considering the possibility of a wide angle lens. I mainly do outdoor work with landscapes or wildlife.

Well I'm not a big fan of the kit lens so I second your possible choice of a nice wide-angle prime. That coupled with the 100 has you nicely covered at that end of the range seeing you already have 70-300mm.

yeah, the kit was nice to start out with but now that i've realized that it really isn't that great of a lens, it would be nice to find a replacement for it.

I'm looking to not go too far over a $500 price range if it comes that high.

I know this Lens is suppossed to be an amazing lens. I just don't know if I can justify shelling out $630 right now.

The Sigma 10-22mm seems like a reasonable wide angle Lens. $450 isn't too bad and it looks like it's gotten pretty good reviews.

I know there's a few sigma fans about but the Canon 17-40 is a pretty good lens and it's an L series. F4 across the range too. If your doing landscapes/architecture you'll be on a tripod so that's fast enough. If I was deciding between the two I would hold off, save up the dollars and buy the Canon. Just be warned once you go L you'll never go back...

hmm, yeah, the 17-40 is awful tempting. I may end up getting it. The L-Series lenses look really nice and I was looking for a lens to get the best quality and for a lot of the landscape shots I do a 17-40 would be nice. I probably will save up for it.

From what I've read on websites, a 50mm f/1.8, or "nifty fifty" is a great and cheap addition to replace the kit lense. Have you checked out www.pohotography-on-the.net. Good forum with lots of good people and information. It's the same format as M-F so it's easy to navigate too!

Yeah the nifty-fifty is almost compulsory. I like primes so my 50mm and 100mm are pretty much all I use. I am looking at a nice wide-angle prime and that should be enough for me. http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=151&modelid=7304

OSURico112 said:

Ok, so i'm an avid photographer, and I'm getting heavily into it. I currently shoot with a Canon Rebel XT and the following lenses:

Canon 18-55mm (Kit Lens)
Canon 100mm USM
Canon 75-300mm Telephoto

In about 2 months I'll be heading back to the beach again and I want to have a full arsenal of lenses so I can cover everything I want to. I know I have a decent amount of lenses already but I was wondering if anyone knows of any lenses I should add to my collection. I was considering the possibility of a wide angle lens. I mainly do outdoor work with landscapes or wildlife.

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Never buy the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM. Augh!

I don't know, when i first got into photography my dad already had a rebel and a few lenses and he had the 75-300mm and said it was a good lens and suggested I get it for my telephoto. So at the time I didn't know too much about it. I have noticed a lot of the complaints about it though and I rarely ever shoot with it. That 35mm is nice but way out of my price range for now.

I got the 70-300 IS a bit later on and it's decent. Costs a bit more but you can at least look at your photos at 100% without wincing too much. In dSLR, you get what you pay for, so the saying goes.

ok, now i'm looking either at the

Canon 17-40L Ultra Wide Angle or 70-200 f/4L USM Telephoto

IMO the best place to find out which lens is worth buying is at FredMiranda reviews. They'll tell it like it really is.

OMG! Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L! An L series lens! You really can't go wrong with one of those for optics. It really isn't in the same class as the 75-300mm that you mentioned at the start of this thread (like worlds apart!). And it's heads above what I got to replace that dinky lens... I wish I could afford an L series lens. *Drool*

OSURico112 said:

ok, now i'm looking either at the

Canon 17-40L Ultra Wide Angle or 70-200 f/4L USM Telephoto

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70-200mm f4 is the best value for money L series imo.

I'm thinking of purchasing the 70-200mm F/4L as my next lens, but that won't happen until later in the year.

Yeah, I was looking at the 70-200 as a replacement for teh crappy 75-300. It looks like an absolutely amazing lens and I could def get some nice nature/sports shots with it. I just may end up picking it up.

I'd say go with the 85mm f/1.2. I've used that lens a ton and it's incredibly beautiful. I stick with prime lenses for the sharpness and incredibly shallow depth of field.
Rent it, you'll fall in love.
Bryan

go for the canon 17-40 if you are going to shoot landscapes or wide angles. if you do decide to go for it, you can get it used cheaper on the canon digital photography forum. it goes for about $450~$500 shipped/pp. the 70-200 f4L is also around that price range. imo, sell the 70-300 and kit lenses.

cjay said:

70-200mm f4 is the best value for money L series imo.

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i second that. go for telephoto or the 17-40L!

i started to consider the 17-40L... or maybe a 10-22mm? or...15mm fisheye? or... lol too much choice i think i will wait untill i start uni where i can borrow cams like 5D and all the L lenses i can imagine of. Then maybe chose and buy one...

bryphotoguy said:

I'd say go with the 85mm f/1.2. I've used that lens a ton and it's incredibly beautiful. I stick with prime lenses for the sharpness and incredibly shallow depth of field.
Rent it, you'll fall in love.
Bryan

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if i am not mistaken the 85mm F1.2 is around £900 which is around 1700$, which is WAYYYYYYYYYYY over his budget. If you havent noticed he said "around 500$".

Yes the 85mm is incredible but wayy above his price range and also his level of photography (no offence, but he is new yeah?).I think such specialised lenses at such price ranges is more targeted at professionals/rich amateurs. Besides its best to wait untill you have a pro camera like 1DS series or a 5D to make sure you make the most of the quality of the glass. (i believe the 85mm is weathersealed, which could combine well with 1Ds etc).