Telephoto Lens or 50 mm lens

[pdorman]

I'm purchasing my Mother's Day gift early! I currently have a 50D that came with a 28-135 mm kit lens. However, I don't find that it gets great far away shots, they are quite unclear. I had a sony point and shoot and it had an amazing zoom. These more expensive cameras are more challenging because there's a need to have all these extra lenses, my only drawback about DSLR's. I'm still learning how to use my camera, so I know I am proably missing something and have so very much to learn.

I'm divided by purchasing either a telephoto lens and/or also interested in purchasing the 50 mm. F2.5 or F1.8 (there are a few of these 50 mm's), not sure which one is best. I am a small person so to carry around everywhere all these lenses does not really work for me. I'm pretty new to the camera world so still learning a lot of new things. I am leaning towards portrait photography. So, any advice you professionals can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Patricia

[OsmosisStudios]

If you're going to get a telephoto, you'll want the 70-300 IS
If you're getting the 50mm, get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II

[gturner]

I would look at the Canon 70-200 F4 L USM

I had the 300mm and the IQ and AF speed and accuracy of the 200 F4 was far superior I tossed the 300 and haven't looked back. Still $600, but the best $600 lens on planet earth

[Elmo]

MOst 28-135's I have encountered do good for a lens in that price class. I have to wonder if something in your camera technique might need some help. But back to the question the 70-300 is does a good job for the price. Of course the 70-200 is better but it cost more and you loose some zoom range not to mention loosing IS.

I have both the 70-3000 IS and a 70-200 f2.8 non IS. I find myself using the 70-300 much more than the 70-200 as the quality is nearly as good and it is much smaller and lighter, Not to mention I can get lazy and depend upon the IS.

[pdorman]

thanks for all the great advice!

[Elvie]

You need to decide exactly what you want. You say the 28 -135 doesn't give great faraway shots. Most zoom lenses aren't so sharp at the extremes of their range so that's not surprising. If you want sharper distance shots you need a bigger zoom either 70-300 or one of the four 70-200's. If you Google reviews on these you'll get lots of information which will help you decide what's best for you. They'll also show test shots to give you some idea of the degree of zoom they provide.

I'm not sure where the 50mm prime fits in. They're great lenses, sharp, small & light so tick a lot of your boxes but won't help with distance shots. they're more at the portrait end particularly with a crop sensor camera such as the 50D.

Of course the ideal is to have both. It's a bit to soon for an early christmas present as well as Mother's day! When's your birthday?

[inkista]

Another small note about getting sharper "faraway" shots with the 18-135: check your shutter speed and aperture. I'm willing to bet that your shutter speed may have been too low, or that you were shooting wide open at f/5.6 when you zoom all the way in to 135mm. IS is not a tripod, even f/8 is much sharper than wide open, and you still need good handholding technique. I'd also check that you're holding the camera correctly. You've no idea how many people I see adjusting zoom/focus with their left hand on the top of the lens...