[Seminole]

So right now I have two lenses that came with my T3i, a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens and a EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens.

I'm looking to pick up one more lens for right now and have been thinking of the 50MM f/1.8 II (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8...9689156&sr=1-2).

For it's price I think it would be a good buy and would compliment my other two lenses well, but just wondering if any of you had other suggestions before I pull the trigger.

[rodi]

suggestion: sell the other two, and get the 50.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by rodi

suggestion: sell the other two, and get the 50.

For what you could get for the other two you might not be able to afford the nifty-fifty.

In all fairness, thought, the 18-55mm kit lens can be made to take some decent pics in the right light. The nifty-fifty will be much sharper, though. Plus with the f1.8, you can start to play with bokeh and selective DOF shots.

[Chewy734]

IMO, get the 50mm f/1.4 if you can afford it.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

IMO, get the 50mm f/1.4 if you can afford it.

Agreed. Or even the 85mm f1.8 if you have the room to shoot. It takes a bit more distance for portraits, but it really is an awesome portrait lens.

[MATT0404]

The nifty-fifty is a great lens for the price. Do you have a budget in mind?

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by rodi

suggestion: sell the other two, and get the 50.

I don't think I'd get very much for them. Keeping them has to be better then nothing right?

Originally Posted by Chewy734

IMO, get the 50mm f/1.4 if you can afford it.

It's almost triple the price, but from what I've seen when I did some research it seems like it is a better lens (i.e. the bokeh appears more round because of more elements in the lens). I'm just not sure if it's worth 3 times the price. I supposed getting the right one now is cheaper than having to buy another one later though.

Originally Posted by M_Six

Agreed. Or even the 85mm f1.8 if you have the room to shoot. It takes a bit more distance for portraits, but it really is an awesome portrait lens.

I'd say most of the shooting I'm doing will be of buildings/landscape/cars. The 85mm is around $430 which is a tad more than I wanted to spend.

Originally Posted by MATT0404

The nifty-fifty is a great lens for the price. Do you have a budget in mind?

I'd say around $350. I'm buying a ring soon so I don't want to go too overboard with my new hobby!

[Chewy734]

I would get the one you suggested then. The nifty-fifty should be in everyone's bag.

[typemoon]

Sell the 75-300 and pick up a 50 1.8/1.4 I strongly recommend 1.4 mainly due to build quality and hard edges for 1.4 (vs 1.2 IMO is soft and it cost 4x the 1.4) or sell both and buy 17-55 2.8 used ones like 875 on eBay cause 50 is nice but u will hate life sometimes u want to be closer to the subject and still get wide shots. So that's why I said sell only 75-300 unless you sell both for 17-55 2.8

[M_Six]

The 85 can be had at $398 on Amazon. But I know where you're coming from. I've been watching my $$$ get sucked into this hobby. You gotta have your priorities.

If you can swing the 50mm f1.4, do it. It is really a nicely built lens. If not, grab the 1.8. Not a huge difference in IQ, just in build quality.

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

I would get the one you suggested then. The nifty-fifty should be in everyone's bag.

Actually, I've been browsing camera sites all night long trying to decide which one to buy and then all of a sudden the 85mm price changed on Amazon from $430 to $358, below even the the price of the 50mm 1.4, so I went ahead and got the 85mm. Should be here Wednesday!

[M_Six]

Cool!!! Pays to keep an eye out. Looking forward to pics.

[MATT0404]

Originally Posted by Seminole

Actually, I've been browsing camera sites all night long trying to decide which one to buy and then all of a sudden the 85mm price changed on Amazon from $430 to $358, below even the the price of the 50mm 1.4, so I went ahead and got the 85mm. Should be here Wednesday!

[The1]

Here's your problem now...

you just bought a decent lens. You're about to hate the other 2 kit lenses you have as you're about to find out just how.... simple.... they are.

I would sell the 2 of them and get that 17-55 F2.8. It is a phenominal piece, and would compliment the 85mm well. yes the price is a bit steep, but you get what you pay for in it.

If you're doing landscapes and buildings, the 50mm on the camera body you have will have you standing back a little ways just to get everything in the image.

Might be worth considering a 24 or 30 mm, or going with a better normal zoom such as the 17-55 F2.8

Also, there should be lots of other kit lenses floating around out there on creigs list and the likes that are of better quality then the 2 you currently have. Also, the 75-300 looks best between 75-250mm, when you go past all the colours separate badly. So just something to keep an eye on.

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by The1

Here's your problem now...

you just bought a decent lens. You're about to hate the other 2 kit lenses you have as you're about to find out just how.... simple.... they are.

I would sell the 2 of them and get that 17-55 F2.8. It is a phenominal piece, and would compliment the 85mm well. yes the price is a bit steep, but you get what you pay for in it.

If you're doing landscapes and buildings, the 50mm on the camera body you have will have you standing back a little ways just to get everything in the image.

Might be worth considering a 24 or 30 mm, or going with a better normal zoom such as the 17-55 F2.8

Also, there should be lots of other kit lenses floating around out there on creigs list and the likes that are of better quality then the 2 you currently have. Also, the 75-300 looks best between 75-250mm, when you go past all the colours separate badly. So just something to keep an eye on.

After this one I'm going to have to wait a while until I can buy another lens .

I was actually wrong about my second lens since I haven't even used it yet. It's the EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS. Either way, I'll keep an eye out for a good deal on a used one, but at least for now I think I'm gonna stick with what I got.

[rodi]

kit lenses are like marketing gimmicks. they're just there to make that initial DSLR purchase possible, so that you feel like you're getting your money's worth versus those advanced point and shoots that have a 30-200mm or more lens bolted to it.

[M_Six]

The 55-250 is no slouch lens. Sure, it's not solidly built, but it will take great pics given a chance.

[Chewy734]

Originally Posted by rodi

kit lenses are like marketing gimmicks. they're just there to make that initial DSLR purchase possible, so that you feel like you're getting your money's worth versus those advanced point and shoots that have a 30-200mm or more lens bolted to it.

I agree with you when you look at most entry/mid-level dSLRs. But, the 24-105mm f/4L "kit lens" is no slouch.

This is not directed towards you or anyone in particular... but, just a comment/observation on my part. Whenever someone here asks about a lens recommendation (specifically Canon, since I'm not familiar with Nikons), inevitably people here (including myself) recommend L lenses. There is a reason for that, of course they are better in almost every way (there are exceptions). However, for a new photographer I feel like that it's overkill. If you were a pro, can you get better results from an L lens over a kit lens? Sure. But, if you're learning, I see no problem using a kit lens. Not everyone needs an f/2.8, f/2, hell even an f/4.

[rodi]

i agree. however, i'm of the camp that thinks new photographers should limit themselves to a simple cheap SLR or DSLR and one standard prime lens like a 50mm or 35mm. it forces them to think about everything other than "zooming in" on a subject. forces composition awareness and the full range of effects that the exposure pyramid provides (full range of shutter speeds, ISO's and apertures (not just f/5.6 to f/11)).

[E90Mario]

I have that 50mm you posted, and also bought it from amazon. I love it, really cheap and takes awesome portraits. I say do it.. If you don't like it ship it back!

Edit: just read you bought something else.. Congrats anyway!

[TimZ]

I was in the same situation you were about a month ago, I had the kit lens for my t3i and badly wanted a new better lens. I had the chance to try my best friends 50mm f1.4 and a wide angle 17-40mm f4.0L. Both lenses were amazing and I ended up getting the 50mm f1.4, amazing build quality and quiet focusing motor. I will be getting a wide angle lens sometime soon, it's an expensive hobby
I would save up just a little bit more and get the 1.4 not the 1.8

[The1]

the only good thing about the "normal range" kit lens is that it has a macro function.

otherwise, you're better off with the 55-250 then the 75-300, it's just a better lens, so you got lucky there

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a prime between 24-35mm range like rodi is suggesting, it will encourage you to learn other parts of what the camera has to offer instead of you just standing in one place and zooming to solve your problems, a prime will encourage you to think.

The 85 is excellent and will give you great portrait type shots and some limited zoom. but add one more mid priced prime more in the wide end of things and you will be set.

you don't need an L series lens to get great shots, but you will struggle to get the best performnce possible with the 17-55 (or whatever the stock kit lens is)

Good luck and start posting up some pictures