Canon/Sigma Lens suggestions?

J

Jhbgirl

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I have the Canon 18-55mm and the 55-250mm lenses and I wonder what I should invest in next (birthday coming up). A bigger zoom lens or a nice macro lens? I like doing close up photography more but I'm planning a trip to cape town and a further zoom lens would also be great.
But any ideas would be great.
 
Sounds like a Macro is the thing you lack. You have a pretty reasonable range between the two lenses you mention. The Canon EF-S 6mm macro is superb and not very expensive.
 
I have a EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens.

Very fun and versatile. As an added bonus between your 18/55 and the 100mm Macro you can do stacked lens photography (very close up macro).
 
Nothing wrong with some macro photography in the Cape. Take pictures of the wild flowers instead of the vistas.

You need the big glass if you are into wildlife photography.

And you'll need a tripod too.
 
Have a look at the Canon 500D close up filter. It screws onto the filter thread and reduces the focusing distance of your lens to allow for close ups. Check the web for reviews and example shots - but it is a very convenient piece of kit since you don't have to change lenses when you see a macro opportunity. Is it better than a macro lens? No, but it is a lot more convenient and cheaper. When you search the web, ignore the cheap close up filters you will see. They are a single element filter and not corrected for aberrations - rubbish IQ :)
 
If you are REALLY set on getting into macro, then I would go with the 100mm 2.8. If you don't own a fast prime however... that would be my next choice of lens. A 50mm f1.4. Both being prime (100mm and 50mm) they offer excellent quality images. The f1.4 also lets you shoot in low light and if you want to do paper thin DOF effects as well.

On the other hand, it all comes down to what you want to do. You might hate changing lenses if you shoot around the 50mm - 85mm range due to your current lenses and might prefer a more versatile zoom for what you shoot. As mentioned above there are tricks (tubes, diopters) to get closer focusing for close up photography but try and choose a lens that will be one that suits your style of shooting.
 
koffiejunkie said:
Sounds like a Macro is the thing you lack. You have a pretty reasonable range between the two lenses you mention. The Canon EF-S 6mm macro is superb and not very expensive.
Click to expand...

Do you mean 6mm or 60mm?

Where do you guys buy lenses?
 
Having just added a 70-300mm to our 18-55mm + 55-200mm kit, the next items I'm after are a 18-105mm for everyday use and a 50mm 1.4 fast lens. Roll on bonus month!
 
flarkit said:
Having just added a 70-300mm to our 18-55mm + 55-200mm kit, the next items I'm after are a 18-105mm for everyday use and a 50mm 1.4 fast lens. Roll on bonus month!
Click to expand...

Why do you want to duplicate range you already have with a lens that's not much better than what you have already? Rather look at replacing the 18-55mm with a 17-55mm f/2.8 - you'll get far more enjoyment out of that.
 
flarkit said:
Having just added a 70-300mm to our 18-55mm + 55-200mm kit, the next items I'm after are a 18-105mm for everyday use and a 50mm 1.4 fast lens. Roll on bonus month!
Click to expand...

koffiejunkie said:
Why do you want to duplicate range you already have with a lens that's not much better than what you have already? Rather look at replacing the 18-55mm with a 17-55mm f/2.8 - you'll get far more enjoyment out of that.
Click to expand...

My next lens: Canon 15-85mm. If I can just convince myself of the last little detail - forking out R8,000. :eek:
 
SiriS said:
My next lens: Canon 15-85mm. If I can just convince myself of the last little detail - forking out R8,000. :eek:
Click to expand...

Same problem here...

Its either save for a trip to Russia or buy the lens I would take on a trip like that...:(
 
koffiejunkie said:
Why do you want to duplicate range you already have with a lens that's not much better than what you have already? Rather look at replacing the 18-55mm with a 17-55mm f/2.8 - you'll get far more enjoyment out of that.
Click to expand...

Cos:

1) An "18-105mm F3.5-5.6G AF-S VR" means being covered across most of the everyday shooting that I'd have to switch between the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses for. I intend to flog the 2 kit lenses once I have that one.

2) A R3,500 lens for convience, vs an R11,999 lens for higher quality. Ahhhh, perhaps one day when I'm earning money from photography?

:D
 
Jhbgirl said:
I have the Canon 18-55mm and the 55-250mm lenses
Click to expand...

flarkit said:
1) An "18-105mm F3.5-5.6G AF-S VR" means being covered across most of the everyday shooting that I'd have to switch between the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses for. I intend to flog the 2 kit lenses once I have that one.
Click to expand...

18-105 is a Nikon - are you Canon or Nikon flarkit?

BTW, my day to day use lens is a Sigma 24-135mm (unfortunately, no longer in production). The 24mm short end works quite well with people as there's minimal distortion.
 
Last edited:
BigAl-sa said:
18-105 is a Nikon - are you Canon or Nikon flarkit?
Click to expand...

Yup, Nikon. In response to the "I have the Canon 18-55mm and the 55-250mm lenses and I wonder what I should invest in next" bit
 
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