Best Dual Purpose Lens

[TyT41]

I am new to the realm of photography and would like some input as to what lenses would be best for my pusposes.
So far I have a Canon Rebel T1i with Kit lens and Canon EFS 55-250mm f/4-5.6

I would be using this new lens for two things:
#1 is Videoing, (I like to make short movies for fun with my friends...)
#2 is Sports Photography

Is there any lens which would work well for these two purposes

[gturner]

Budget?

You have 2 very different needs here.

Your first need is a fast lens, something like a 50 1.4 would be great for stills and video, allowing you to really control depth of field in what you shoot. The 1.8 version has a nasty manual focus ring and I don't think you will like it.

What type of sports are you doing? Indoor or outdoor?
If indoor, then a 85mm 1.8 or 100mm prim 2.0 or canon 70-200 2.8



Outdoor, you want to look at the 100-400L.
None of the 70-300 options are MUCH better than your 250mm option that you have.

[inkista]

Wait. You want best? or you want dual-purpose? Because you ain't gonna get both in one lens, and certainly not for such different types of shooting.

The reason we like dSLRs is that they can switch lenses, so you can have the best special-purpose tool at hand, not so that you can only put one lens on and do everything. That's what P&S cameras are for: so you can compromise on one-size-fits-all glass budget/convenience's sake.