What are the Lenses I should have??

[Mrjeans]

Hi,
I am an ameture trying to learn photography. I am following this forum from the past 6 months and enjoying my Canon Rebel Xsi till now. Now i want to go further and i need suggestions from you guys. Right now i got only 18-55mm lens from the original kit and i would like to expand my kit. Can you guys suggest me the 'MUST' have lenses?? (May be one for Macro photographs and other for zoom/wide-angle zoom) or anything which would be good for me.

Thanks,
Kalyan.

[RichardTaylor]

It depends on you.

How is your existing lens restricting your photo ops or what are you trying to achieve?

Consider:
(1) Low light shooting.
or
(2) Your existing lens doesn't shoot close enough.
(I feel all the macro lenses out there are pretty good, however the Canon 100mm F2.8 IS L lens is possibly the best - I don't own one however I am happy with my Tokina 100mm F2.8 Macro))
or
(3) You want something wider (zoom).
(The Canon 10-22 EF-S lens is reportadly very good. I use a Tokina 12-24 F4)
or
(4) You want to capture action from a distance.
or
(5) you want more shallow DOF
and
What sort of budget are you looking at?

[Mrjeans]

Richard, Thanks for asking me the right questions.....

Consider:
(1) Low light shooting. = > YES, i am struggling to get crisp pictures in low light.
or
(2) Your existing lens doesn't shoot close enough.=> YES, the existing lens is not close enough, and if i try to move close to the object, it is cutting the edges of the subject

(I feel all the macro lenses out there are pretty good, however the Canon 100mm F2.8 IS L lens is possibly the best - I don't own one however I am happy with my Tolina 100mm F2.8 Macro))
or
(3) You want something wider (zoom). => YES, i am planning for a big fat indian wedding where i need to capture at least 10 members besides the couple in various lighting conditions.

(The Canon 10-22 EF-S lens is reportadly very good. I use a Takina 12-24 F4)
or
(4) You want to capture action from a distance. => i am intrested to do this...but i know i am trying to hold everything at once... i can wait for this action.or
(5) you want more shallow DOF => YES, if i can do with anyof the above lenses.
and
What sort of budget are you looking at? = may be 400-600 bucks for two lenses??

[RichardTaylor]

Prices are as at Adorama.

(1) The Canon 50mm F1.8 for $99 will give you a taste of shallow DOF and improve your capability of low light shooting. Very good value for money. I own one.

(2) Around $450 will get you a third party 90/100 F2.8 macro which will also give you a taste of shallow DOF and can double up as a longish poprtrait/landsacpe lens as well as being excellent for close up photography.

(3) For a similar price you can get a third party wide angle zoom.
10-12/20-24. Not much good for shallow DOF.

I have only had experience with Tokina lenses for (2&3)

[Mrjeans]

Thanks alot Richard... i will order the 50mm now.. and will check for the 100mm/F2.8 too.

[mitchcook]

The 85mm f1.8 is available for 400 dollars on amazon right now.
It Is a light weight prime lens, lots of bokeh, great for portraits...

[Mrjeans]

Thanks For the info mitchcook but i already placed an order for 50mm f1.8. Do i cancel this order and go for 85mm f1.8??. Is it worth doing ??
Thanks

[RichardTaylor]

I wouldn't. It is a good lens (I own one, but it doesn't see a lot of use). I would go for a bit more flexibility with a zoom or the macro.

[mitchcook]

I shoot on a full frame body so it's a different story for me.
The 85mm has much, much, higher build quality. It produces better images altogether. But the 50mm prime is a great introduction.

[Mrjeans]

@mitchcook: I keep that in mind. As i am an ametuer and trying to get some variation, 50mm F1.8 would be a good one start. I will consider this 85mm F1.8 as my next upgrade

Thanks alot friends