Canon 500D - Lense advice

[Sabaki]

Hi everybody

I'm brand new to the site and been into photography for about 18 months now but due to lack of time for my hobby, I'm a relative newbie.

I've upgraded from the Canon SX 120 IS to the Canon 500D which came with the 18-55mm IS lens and the 55-250mm IS lens.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens is probably my next lense as I enjoy macro photography.

I really enjoy wildlife and landscape photography too and I often find myself looking at blurs when using the 55-250mm. I was wondering what recommendations you guys have. I honestly don't have much cash for a comprehensive lens collection but I would like to own 1 L series lens and preferably one that would give me good results with wildlife photography.

I hope you guys aren't fed up with the "which lens" question just yet

Thanks everyone

[inkista]

My advice is first make sure that the "blurs" you're getting with the 55-250 IS are from the glass, and not your technique. Because if you don't know how to stop down for sharpness, what shutter speeds you need to eliminate camera shake blur or to freeze the action, you're still going to get the same blurs whether or not you have an L lens.

Shooting with a telephoto zoom, even one with IS, is not the same as shooting with a walkaround zoom like the kit lens, or a P&S "superzoom" camera. You have never used focal lengths this large, even though your SX20IS says that it's "28-560" 35mm film equivalancy, it's only got a 5-100mm lens.

Without stabilization, the rule of thumb is that you need to shoot at a shutter speed of 1/focal_length or faster just to eliminate camera shake blur. So, if you're at 250mm, you should shoot at 1/250s or faster. If you have good handholding technique. IS can lower this requirement a stop or two, but you have to make sure your technique is good.

In addition, lower-cost lenses are not at their sharpest wide open (at their max. aperture). The 55-250's max. aperture at 250mm is f/5.6. You probably want to stop down to f/8 for added sharpness (and increased DoF to make focusing less critical). If you're at 1/300s and f/5.6, chances are good you need to be at at least iso 400, even in bright sunshine. If you're indoors without a flash, you probably need a tripod.

["Matthew"]

Originally Posted by Sabaki

I honestly don't have much cash for a comprehensive lens collection but I would like to own 1 L series lens and preferably one that would give me good results with wildlife photography.

For macro the 100mm 2.8 NON-L is the lens I would suggest. For wildlife there are more choices. What type of "Wildlife" do you do?

On the 55-250, Can you post some shots? that would help us with what this "Blur" is. Remember that with telephoto lenses You have to have a fast shutter-speed.

Originally Posted by Sabaki

I hope you guys aren't fed up with the "which lens" question just yet

Nope, I consider myself a bit of a gear geek. And love to give out my reserch/opinions.