Purchasing Lens with a budget

[davsmiths]

Hi,

I am currently using the 18-55mm IS Kit Lens on my 30D and would like to extend my range, however I am shopping with a tight budget.

As my photography is still in it's infant stage, I don't see myself justifying the need for the L lenses.

My options:

EF 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 USM (choose this lens because it's close to the 24-105L in terms of range and aperture) + a 70-300mm f4-5.6 Sigma APO DG Macro.
With this, I should keep the kit lens for the wide angle shots.
Total cost = $580

or

Selling the kit lens, getting a Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 + the 70-300mm f4-5.6 Sigma.
Complete my range from 17-300mm
Total cost = $700++

or

Get EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS. Total cost $350. Might have extra budget for a EF 50mm f1.8 for those nice DOF shots.

Somehow, after writing all these down, my opinion is leaning on option 3, since it's cheaper.
Just want to get an opinion on the EF 24-85mm USM on cropped cameras.

Thanks!

[RayDream]

You may consider the Sigma/Tamron 70-300, which is perfect for exploring focal range.

Rgd.

[shahrulesa]

get the 55-250, I sold mine off for 300 bucks... value for money since it have IS.

Go for option 3.

[zj2000]

I vote option 3.

Actually may I suggest option 4, sell your kit lens and get the new 18-55 IS kit lens and the 55-250IS and the 50mm 1.8. You get IS from 18-250 range and a fast prime. Cost should be lower than your option 1 and 2. Oh the quality from the 18-55 IS is much better than your current 18-55.

[davsmiths]

My lens is the 18-55mm IS already. Yes, the centre is sharp but the corner softness is obivous, even when Im not viewing at 100%. Of course, I could stop down to f8 and smaller aperture but yea...

[Headshotzx]

Option 3.

The ultimate economical lineup would be:
Camera + 18-55IS + 55-250IS + 50 1.8II + 430EXII flash + Tripod

[calebk]

Option 3 is definitely the most economical, but let me throw a spanner into the works, just 'cause you wanted to know about the 24-85.

The 24-85 is probably one of the most underrated lenses in Canon's range of lenses. It is sharp wide open at all focal lengths. I wouldn't go so far to claim that it exhibits stellar corner sharpness wide open, but I'd say it is quite impressive for a consumer zoom. The copy that I had was bought new, and it was the first that I tested at the shop. It was excellent.

It exhibits nice, rounded bokeh, even stopped down. I do believe it possesses an eight-bladed aperture, so highlights in the bokeh won't show up as weird shapes.

Handling is better than that of the kit lens, but it does exhibit zoom creep after some usage. However, the lens is quite well put together, on the whole.

Here are some sample images that I shot with the lens on 30D:

PS: Last shot is shot wide open.

[davsmiths]

nice calebk. i love your shots.
yea, i didn't stumble upon many reviews but those that i read were full of praise for the lens at it's price.
man, really tempting.

thanks guy for all your inputs.

[iRaphael]

yeap. have to agree with calebk. i have a 24-85 and use it extensively. it does suffer from zoom creep and a little CA, but for mine, it is sharp when stopped down to f/4. nonetheless, i shoot at f/5.6 most of the time anyway, so its okay. can't give you anything about the 70-300 cos i don't have one yet.

my 24-85 was second hand btw. most shops i asked did not have the lens.

btw, the 24-85 has a 6 blade aperture, not 8, just to correct.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Headshotzx Option 3. The ultimate economical lineup would be: Camera + 18-55IS + 55-250IS + 50 1.8II + 430EXII flash + Tripod

+1`vote on this recession set-up.

[Zplus]

The 24-85 is indeed a gem. However, given your budget, I'd recommand Option 3. The Sigma 70-300 is not gonna offer you much range advantage over the EF-S 55-250 IS at the 300mm range - a few steps difference from 250mm. The EF-S has IS so that will help you. If your kit lens is nicely calibrated, it should offer you very good output. You may shoot it with IS off if the shutter speed is good enough.

[StrifeYun]

slowly buy ur lenses and enjoy each one of them, try the EF 50mm f1.8 first

[HoangHung]

option 3 + 430EXII + tripod
I'm trying to catch a 2nd 50 1.8, but maybe better purchase a new one. Like 70-300 more than 55-250IS

[davsmiths]

thanks.
i got a emobiltz flash for flash work, couldn't afford the 430ex at it's $300++ price range.
The emoblitz was only $120 brand new. no manual or wireless feature but it's e-ttl 2 and able to swivel left, right and up. good enough for me.

i guess the ef-s 55-250mm is a good choice then. will keep a lookout.

one more thing about the EF 24-85mm, other than zoom creep and CA issues, How's the usm focusing?
Really like the lens for it's range and aperture. 3.5-4.5 is not slow for outdoors.

[recca123]

Why not consider a Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 plus Canon 55-255mm IS?

The tammy is good.

[Anson]

Originally Posted by davsmiths thanks. i got a emobiltz flash for flash work, couldn't afford the 430ex at it's $300++ price range. The emoblitz was only $120 brand new. no manual or wireless feature but it's e-ttl 2 and able to swivel left, right and up. good enough for me.

May I know can your emobiltz flash be used when you are using LV to take your photo?

[davsmiths]

im using a 30D, no liveview, can't comment

tamron 28mm is too narrow for me if its gonna be my walk around lens.

[Russ]

When I bought my 300D in 2004 second hand, I got myself a 24-85 and used that with the kit lens. That worked well. The 24-85 is a good, affordable, well built (metal mount etc) lens that performs well and only loses out to the 24-105L if you pixel peep and in terms of colour and contrast.


But if you want something with a longer range beyond 85mm, I would suggest:

1. Get a 18-55 IS model for $120-150 2nd hand - much better than the non-IS that came with the 30D. Sell off the 18-55 kit for $40.

2. Get the 55-250 IS for $350

[recca123]

Originally Posted by davsmiths im using a 30D, no liveview, can't comment tamron 28mm is too wide for me if its gonna be my walk around lens.

Tamron 28mm too wide? ain't Canon 24mm slightly wider?

I use my Tamron 28-75mm as a walkabout lens.

[night86mare]

just get a telephoto lens to explore further

buying less is always better than buying more, until you know for sure what you want.

tamron 70-300 or sigma 70-300 are very very economical options that can be gotten at a minimal price. no, they aren't the most perfect lenses in the world, but they can produce good results still, if you know what you are doing.