Help picking new lens for vacation!

[subhashls]

Hi,

I have a Rebel XTi, and I am trying to decide on a new lens for a trip I am taking to NYC in December.

Right now, I have the 18-55mm kit lens, and a 55-250 f4/5.6 IS.

I really love the 55-250, but it is a bit bulky to be carrying around all the time, and it is not really good for just the normal shots of friends, etc...

What do you guys/gals think would be a good replacement for the kit lens? I am looking for something with a pretty good zoom range, maybe a 24-105?

I am not sure, but I would appreciate any advice! My budget is moderate. I would like a good quality lens, but am not looking to spend a ton.

Thanks!

Subhash

[FLiPMaRC]

How about the:

EF 28-135mm IS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/149629-USA/Canon_2562A002AA_EF_28_135mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS.html) (you can probably find it cheap on the used market)
EF-S 18-135mm IS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647015-USA/Canon_3558B002_EF_S_18_135mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS.html)
EF-S 15-85mm IS (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647013-USA/Canon_3560B002_EF_S_15_85mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS.html)

[subhashls]

Thanks! The 28-135mm looks pretty good, but in the reviews, people have said that a con is lens creep.

I read what it is. It seems like the lens kind of moves on its own due to front weight, right? Is this a big problem?

Also, I have a filter question. There are tons of filters, and I am kind of unsure where to start. If I just need a general purpose filter, I would be looking for UV, right? Any recommendations on brand/quality?

-Subhash

[01514]

maybe you would like that 15-85mm work pretty good for me and it gets good reviews here is one : http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-15-85mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

[subhashls]

Any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

[laydros]

Lens creep is not a huge deal, it is just annoying. Unless you are shooting straight up or down it probably won't affect shots, it will just mean you need to readjust the zoom more often. I have an older 70-210 USM that had very bad lens creep, it was obnoxious but certainly something you can work with. I tightened a few screws on the lens and it has been a lot better. If you get a fairly new 28-135 it probably won't have much trouble.

28 is not wide at all on a crop sensor camera. I used a 28-85mm as my walk around when I was shooting Sony and did fine, but you just need to know that things like indoor group shots are going to be pretty much impossible. You may want to still have the 18-55 with you for cases like that. If you can live with that the 28-135 will still have IS like your current lenses, but will be as good or better image quality, better build quality, and will have very fast/quiet USM focusing. Additionally since this is the kit lens for the 50D (and all of its predecessors) the lens is very common and fairly cheap.

If you think you can get away with the 28mm wide, go for it, if not then you may want to look at a couple of wider zooms. The 17-85 is out there and has been replaced by the 15-85. The 17-85 can be found fairly cheap and would give you all the wide angle you have now, with a pretty good telephoto range. It also has USM and IS. However it gets very mixed reviews. Some people find it to be just fine as a walk around lens in decent light, some find it to be pretty unusable. In my honest opinion I expect you would be happy with it, but beware of the possible issues. The 15-85 that replaces it seems to be an excellent lens, and is probably the best answer for you, but comes in a bit steep.

You can step down a notch in quality and look at some super zooms. Canon just released an 18-135IS. It is built like the lenses you have now. They all have very good image quality, but not quite as nice as the USM lenses, and they lack the build quality and USM focusing. Tamron and Sigma make a couple of super zooms, 18-250 or 18-270 I think are available, some with IS. There is a compromise in image quality when you build a lens with that kind of zoom, but they are still very solid performers, and would allow you to completely replace the lenses you have now. Those would get you very close image quality to the 18-55 and 55-250 (well regarded lenses in their price ranges) with all the range in just one lens, for not a ton of money, weight, or size. Build quality on those is arguably better than the Canon non-USM, but in my experience with the Tamron the focusing is louder and slower than Canon non-USM lenses.

[subhashls]

Thanks for the great post! I think you are right that the 28mm will not be wide enough for everything. I still might get that lens, but I will keep my 18-55mm with me as well.

I will also look into the 17-85mm you mentioned.