lens for 500D

[picpix]

Hi all,
I am new to DPS....and it is just an amazing place to learn the nuances!!!

So what brings me to post a thread....as usual Im on a task of assembling a DSLR kit!

I have made some basic reading.....and have decided on EOS500d as the body. It was pretty straightforward...However (as always), I am really in a dilemma about the lens.

So I am looking at good lenses (at good value)....lenses which can be carried forward, Here are my short lists with the price....

1. EOS500d+18-55mm+55-200mm (AUD 1091)-kit
2. EOS 500d - just the body (AUD750) to this I can add the below lens
a)Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM (AUD464)
b)the nifty fifty f1.8 is going in the kit invariably!!!


So my question would be should I stick on with the kit lenses since I get a better coverage? or Should I invest in 17-85mm to tune my skills and get pictures.....and of course get the telephoto range iin future?

The new 15-85mm is bit out of my budget!

BTW, the reason for 17-85mm is to get a bit of a wide angle for landscape photography. (atleast until I can afford a better wide angle lens in future)

I would like to hear your comments/suggestions!

Cheers!!!!

[OsmosisStudios]

The 17-85 may sound nice, but performance is less so. I'd skip it.

The 18-55+55-250 kit is a classic and gives you some great range at a low price. It won't blow you away, but it'll do very well for now. The 50mm f/1.8 is a great (CHEAP!) addition too.

Your best bet, in my opinion, is to try to get the money together to get that 15-85 and the body.

[picpix]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The 17-85 may sound nice, but performance is less so. I'd skip it.

The 18-55+55-250 kit is a classic and gives you some great range at a low price. It won't blow you away, but it'll do very well for now. The 50mm f/1.8 is a great (CHEAP!) addition too.

Your best bet, in my opinion, is to try to get the money together to get that 15-85 and the body.

Hey,
thanks for your suggestions!

I am kind of tempted for the 15-85, as it has a wider range but also with a bigger price tag!

Is there any other lens from Sigma or Tamron to cover the same range? In that case I can mix and match!

Cheers

[OsmosisStudios]

I dont advocate off-brand lenses. That's a personal choice, and some people swear by them, but I can't put money behind them.

The 15-85 isnt just better because of the range. The image quality, build quality and features are also better. It's a proper step-up

[BCampbell]

The Canon 17-85mm is a great general purpose lens on the crop bodies (thnakfully, since it's EF-S and won't fit full frame). Much better than the kit 18-55's. If the focal range works for you, you won't need another lens for a while.

It doesn't however, go much wider than the kit lens for your landscape shots, so don't make the mistake of buying it just for that. However, wide is not always the best way to shoot landscapes, so I think that focal range will be a good introduction to shooting landscapes at different lengths.

I would say go with the 17-85mm unless you know you want to use that 85-250mm range. Being able to shoot telephoto opens a few new doors, but honestly I don't that's a terribly useful range; for you, 85mm should be enough to shoot in most situations, and in the event you do want more reach -- say for shooting wildlife -- 250mm will be too short anyway.

In short, the 17-85 is definitely an upgrade over the kit lenses. You may not notice the difference, but it's a very handy lens and great quality for the price.

[inkista]

Another option to consider, the EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS.

Carnathan says:

While the 17-85 has Ring USM AF, the 18-135 is a more recently-designed lens with a longer focal length range and image quality that is at least as good.

Same pricetag as the 17-85, btw. If you can give up USM for the reach, it might be worth it.

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by inkista

Same pricetag as the 17-85, btw. If you can give up USM for the reach, it might be worth it.

+1 for the 18-135, a great walkaround lens. From what I know it has a couple minor deficiencies at the very long end of the focal range, but you wouldn't even have that range in the 17-85. They're both great lenses for the price, awesome to start with.

[picpix]

Hey all,
Thanks a lot for your suggestions!

I also did some extensive reading around and based on my interests and long term approach, I have short listed few lens range

1.50mm for sure
2. a perfect walk around lens - based on your comments it has to be 17-85mm or 15-85mm. So the price difference is 400 AUD, which Im ready to shell out for the image quality and also considering that its a new upgrade (and Canon is going to put this in a premium)

In future
3. Certainly a n ultra-wide angle lens for example 10-20mm....but this one is down the line as certainly some of the pictures on this forum and in others has impressed me and I think thats were my future is!
4. Also a 70-200mm with IS, say in a year or 1 1/2 years.........as Bcampbell pointed out it opens new vista!

Does it sound like a good approach for a novice to grow? So considering the fact that whichever lens i'm going to buy (along with 50mm) it has to hold good for another year (and certainly for years to come).

So the question here would be, is the 15-85mm worth the 400 AUD extra over the 17-85mm, if Im ready to pay for it? If not do you think I can put that 400 AUD to an another lens along with 17-85mm!

have a great weekend guys!