Beginner purchasing third lens advice

[schambers]

Hello,

I've had my canon xs for about 4 months now with the kit lens 18-55 EF-S and the 50mm thrifty fifty.

In the next two months or so I am contemplating purchasing another lens. At first I started looking at wide angle lenses as I find myself doing more outdoor photography than portraits but the prices ($400+) is a little out of my price range atm.

I was looking at the Canon 28-105 USM as it seems to be a decent price and good quality/reviews.

Can anyone give advice to a beginner purchasing his first real glass outside the kit/prime lens purchase when I first got the camera? I would really like to grab a wide angle lens but unless it's in the $200-$300 range I don't have the cash and would rather buy decent glass rather than a cheap wide angle lens.

Thanks!

[inkista]

Just my $.02, but if you want telephoto reach, instead of duplicating the 18-55's walkaround range, why not go for a telephoto zoom, like the EF-S 55-250 IS?

I hate to say this, but there are very few lenses in the $300 and under price range that are going to top your kit lens. From what I've read the 28-105 is a decent consumer-level grade lens, but it's not a significant upgrade from your 18-55 kit, image-quality wise. You'd still have to stop it down to f/8 to get the best out of it.

Also, your 18-55 lens is a wide-angle lens. On film, 28mm was considered wide angle, which equates to 17.5mm on a crop body. The 10-22 and its ilk are ultrawides.

[schambers]

Ok,

I did realize that the kit lens is wide and isn't all that bad at 18mm.

Another lens I was looking at was the Sigma 70-300 DG APO which seems to have decent reviews for a very inexpensive price ~$200.

Anyone have this lens that cares to elaborate if it is decent?

I didn't mention in the original post that I was also looking at zooms and was considering some different ones as I think it would be nicer at times to have a further reach.

[schambers]

the only thing that concerns me with the 55-250 is the plastic mount. should i be concerned with this?

[inkista]

Does it concern you with the 50/1.8? That has a plastic mount as well.

The Sigma 70-300 is probably the choice for that price point. But the 55-250 has IS, and is only $250, so not that much more expensive.

In addition, you need to know that the 70-300 isn't actually a true macro lens, despite the name. It doesn't do 1:1 magnification, it's more 1:2 to 1:3.

[schambers]

Yeah, I did a little research when I saw that it said macro and realized that. I'm ok with that as it would allow me to try out somewhat macro to see if I like it.

The IS in the 55-250 is appealing, but thats the only thing that I'm torn on between the sigma and the canon. Perhaps I'll read through some more reviews. The sample photos of the 55-250 are nice tho.

Thanks for the info!

[lucas107]

ive just said this on someone else's post that was pretty similar
look into the old USM lens' with full time manual and ring usm like the 70-210 3.5-4.5 or the 100-300 4.5-5.6

[inkista]

Or, if you don't care about USM or the speed and only about the sharpness, there's the old 100-300 f/5.6L. I mean, $300 for an L lens...