£200 to spend in USA - what lens?

[barreti]

The Mrs is going to Florida on a business trip in a couple of weeks and I think its only right and proper I make use of the opportunity and buy something to fill a space in my camera bag next to my Canon 300D - well it's either that or an IPOD

I was looking at my next lens being an IS as the current range is only the cheaper end of whats out there - but then I'm not great at taking pics yet either!

So, I've got the following - can you give me some ideas and tell me what would you add or replace for up to 200 pounds sterling ?


Canon Ef 50mm f1.8 - bought after recommendations on here and its brilliant indoors.
Canon EFS 18-55 f3.5-5.6 which was part of the kit
Canon EF 55-200 f4.5-5.6 Ultrasonic
Canon EF 90-300 f4.5-5.6 Ultrasonic

Thanks, and keep up the great work. I don't often post on this forum (I bore the TVR Griffith forum to death instead) but I visit it every day and it staggers and inspires me regularly.

[Bee_Jay]

Where is she going in Florida? - I found a great camera shop in Orlando.

[barreti]

Del Ray. (she said it like it means something !)

[lotusfan]

seems to be a gap for a macro in there mate

[Ballistic Banana]

Seems you could do with one for Motorsport Days Mr.Barreti

BB

[Andy M]

My choice would be a Canon 85mm 1.8

This lens gets excellent reviews (www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=32&sort=7&cat=2&page=1 ) and is said to have 'L' like build quality.

[barreti]

Thanks for the suggestons guys.
A Macro lens? - what's the difference between one of these and a converter for one of my current lenses LotusFan?

Ballistic Banana (aka BB or Simon)
Wouldn't the 300mm lens do the job? Would a teleconverter on the 200mm be better than the 300mm

Andy M - what a great suggestion. Definitely on the list that one. The reviews are fantastic. I guess this is another of those 'unknown' lenses like the 50mm f1.8

Its dawned on me that it might be an idea to tell you what photos I like to take so here goes;
Although I go to motorsports events I'm too much of a scaredy cat to take my camera to motor sports events in case it gets damaged, and because I'm also just a pleb I'm always behind the wire and get rubbish shots anyway. I gave up on the idea of taking photos at motorsports events a while ago because they were all so rubbish.

At the moment static stuff is good because I can compose the shot. So things like parked cars at events or wildlife/scenic shots. Because I've not had the camera long I need to think about it and static gives me the time I need.
Parties are good. I like to take unguarded shots of people rather than posed but they are proving bloody hard to do. I guess this is why the 85mm lens Andy M suggested is appealing.

Now I come to think about it, perhaps I shouldnt be buying a lens at all. Perhaps I should invest time and get better at taking pictures! Have I fallen into the trap of expecting a better lens to take a better pic for me I wonder?

mmmm