New lens choices

[selwonk]

Folks.

Some advice in choosing a new lens would be much appreciated...

My current lens list for my Canon 350D (due to be upgraded probably next year) is:

o Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II
o Tamron 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 LD
o Canon EFS 18-55mm kit lens

I am completely in love with the nifty fifty. The shallow depth of field at 1.8 is amazing, and it's ability in low light is staggering considering how much it costs. My proficiency at flash photography is pretty poor at present, unfortunately, so I tend to find this lens on the camera most of the time.

The Tamron seems to be a reasonable lens, but I get mixed results at the longer end, and it's just not wide enough at the shorter end. My daughter also attends Stagecoach, and I often use the Tamron in dark auditoriums.

The kit lens, on the other hand, seems to be a very good little lens, but completely lacking in reach. It's 4.0 aperture means that I usually only ever use it with flash.

I'm looking for a lens which will provide reasonable all round performance. I do a tour of World War II sites in France every year in a friend's 911, and a "walk around" lens does have it's attractions in the respect of trying to minimize the amount of kit I carry around on those trips.

I don't have a massive budget, but after lots of reading up I've narrowed it down to offerings from Sigma including:

o Sigma AF18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Optical Stabilizer Lens

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-AF18-200mm-3-5-6-3-S...

Amazon - £292.40

o Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC HSM Optical Stabilised Lens

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-18-250mm-F3-5-6-3-St...

Amazon - £392.40

The main attractions are the reasonably large aperture, and I've read good things about Sigma's optical stabilisation system. The 18-200mm would suit my budget better, but I would consider the longer reach of the 18-250mm if people's opinions are that I would benefit from it. The longer reach would be mainly of use at places like the zoo; I don't get much opportunity to (for example) get to air shows or motor sport events, but would like to in the future.

If anybody has any experience of these lenses, or alternatives that I might consider, I'd be grateful of your opinions.

Thanks in advance, and apologies for the lengthy post!

[andy-xr]

I'm Nikon, so have no experience of how my suggestion would work out on your body, but a 24-70 2.8 would be fairly high up the possibiles list

[jimmy156]

IMO an 18-200, and even more so an 18-250, is too comprimised to be optially that good. i.e. it tries to cover to large a focal range. I would suggest looking at the Canon 55-250, or a 70-200 possibly from sigma as they will be cheaper then the canon alternative.

[14-7]

I know this probably won't have the reach you want but as a walk around lens I find it perfect.

Canon 15-85..

Edited by 14-7 on Saturday 14th August 18:40

[Lucas CAV]

The aperture of those Sigmas will not be as large when they are extended a bit.

I have the 18-200mm Sigma - bought it from ebay - surprisingly sharp and quiet in operation - and very light too.

[selwonk]

Thanks folks! Keep it coming. I'm going to look at the suggestions so far.

It's a good point about compromise. The ability of the 1.8 is an eye opener so if I'm likely to be disappointed by a super zoom I might have to think again!

Some of the other suggestions might be pushing the limit a bit. I'm looking at a new body some time next year so need to stick to a reasonable budget for the moment.

Cheers.

[RobDickinson]

I have a 17-55f2.8 IS.

Its kind of like royalty where crop zooms are concerned.

It doesnt measure up the the nifty fifty - not as fast, and I dont think ultimatly as sharp (tho better bokeh).

So forget an superzoom in comparison to the prime, primes are a whole nother game to zooms, which also top out at f2.8

I do see your need to replace the kit lens, but dont expecnt to replaec it with a superzoom and get better images, you get convinience.

[Lucas CAV]

Why not rent one or two lenses to see what you make of them?

[selwonk]

Lucas CAV said:

Why not rent one or two lenses to see what you make of them?

That might not be a bad plan actually. There is a Camulet in Manchester I could use.

Back to the drawing board for the moment!

[Fletch79]

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

See if they have any of the lenses you want and hire for a weekend
There a very good company, I've used on a number of occasions

[Dogsey]

Fletch79 said:

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/

See if they have any of the lenses you want and hire for a weekend
There a very good company, I've used on a number of occasions

Seconded, and usually considerably cheaper than Calumet too!

[selwonk]

Excellent! I'll give them a try.

Thanks very much.

[selwonk]

14-7 said:

I know this probably won't have the reach you want but as a walk around lens I find it perfect.

Canon 15-85..

Edited by 14-7 on Saturday 14th August 18:40

I think I need to scrub long length as part of the equation for now. I'm much more interested in high quality short and mid-range work. The Tamron is adequate for the moment for longer stuff - if I do find the need for a better long lens, I think the suggestions above mean that I should consider this as a different purchase altogether.

Is the 15-85 you mention this:

CANON EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

If so, the reviews are excellent.

[Dogsey]

selwonk said:

14-7 said:

I know this probably won't have the reach you want but as a walk around lens I find it perfect.

Canon 15-85..

Edited by 14-7 on Saturday 14th August 18:40

I think I need to scrub long length as part of the equation for now. I'm much more interested in high quality short and mid-range work. The Tamron is adequate for the moment for longer stuff - if I do find the need for a better long lens, I think the suggestions above mean that I should consider this as a different purchase altogether.

Is the 15-85 you mention this:

CANON EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

If so, the reviews are excellent.

That's the one, and I agree with 14-7 it's a great everyday lens.

[selwonk]

Ok - I've had a look around at the 15-85 and although it's more expensive than I was planning, I think it represents what I'm looking for namely:

o Better reach than the kit;
o Better wider end than the nifty fifty;
o Better low light performance than the kit lens;
o Image stabilisation;
o Good looking bokeh.

Looking at threads like the one posted above and this one on http://photography-on-the.net is quite compelling:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php...

I'm going to see if I have time to rent one before I go away in a couple of weeks. I've found a well priced listing for one on eBay from a UK seller, so there would be time to get hold of one if it represents what I'm looking for.

Thanks again for all the excellent advice.