Lenses for Canon EOS

[sanjeeva7]

Ok so I jumped on the Canon rebate deal 2 weeks ago and picked up an XSi.

I have the kit and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0011NVMO8/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance). Now what should be my next purchases over the next couple of years? I'll be taking pictures for fun. Both indoors and outdoors. Events such as birthday parties, sporting events, weddings, concerts (there is a huge local band scene in atlanta that I follow). I know I'm going to need an external flash and battery grip eventually. I don't want Tamron or Sigma, I'm willing to pay for quality.

I have the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (http://forums.slickdeals.net/Canon%20EF%2070-200mm%20f/2.8L%20IS%20USM) on my dream list. But is there anything more affordable?

[kyzen]

Tamron and Sigma do make some quality lenses; whoever told you otherwise clearly hasn't looked beyond their cheapo zooms (which can still be great).

I'd pick up the Canon 50mm f/1.8, it's a really fun prime to play with, at a really low cost.

The Canon 70-200mm f/4 is another semi-affordable option with superb quality; though you'd be better off saving up for the sexy f/2.8 IS version.

Any of the Canon, Tamron, or Sigma f/2.8 17ish-50ish or 70ish lenses are great; you'll have a fast lens, and a somewhat useful range.

Really I'd suggest finding out what focal range you actually need, and then buy the lenses to suit that; if you use your 55-250mm lens 1/10th of the time that you use the kit 18-55mm, then you should look for a faster short lens. If your kit lens collects dust, and you're always peering at things through 250mm, look into a higher quality zoom.

[JackProton]

There's nothing wrong with 3rd party lenses provided you do the research. Some of them are quite good and offer high value for the money and they can fill niches where Canon doesn't offer anything comparable (e.g., a fisheye zoom). Not all Canon lenses are worth it either. For example, try to find a reasonably priced constant f2.8 aperture standard zoom in the 18-50mm range from Canon.

Your 55-250mm should serve well provided you don't need to shoot indoor sports. My advice is to wait until you become more familar with your camera and photography and explosre the subjects which interest you before making any major investments in lenses. As an exception, consider the reasonably priced Canon 50mm f1.8 which can be useful for studying portraiture, narrow Depth of Field shooting and low-light shooting. You migt consider jumping ahead in quality to the Canon 50mm f1.4 or 85mm f1.8 though for $100 or less, the 50mm f1.8 is a great starter prime lens.

[JustAnEngineer]

I'll third the recommendation for a wide-aperture prime lens as the third lens for your kit. The $100 EF 50mm f/1.8 (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=152&modelid=7306) is by far the cheapest option. The $500 EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7400) is a good choice if you're excited by close-up macro photography that can make a bug fill the whole frame. You'll probably want a good bounceable flash like the $250 Speedlite 430EX II (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=17302) or 580EX II, as well.

[sanjeeva7]

I've seen a lot of FP deals lately for the EF 50mm f/1.8. I thought about buying it knowing I was close to getting an XSi. Thanks.