Next lens for SL1

jaimac wrote:

Hi,

I plan to upgrade to full frame once Canon 6d Mark 2 is out. In mean time, I would like to buy a lens to go with my SL1. What lens should I get?

I use the kit 18-55 STM most, followed by 40mm STM. I have 55-250mm lens too. I am quiet tempted by 50mm f 1.4, 85mm f 1.8 or go all out for 70 -200 mm f4. Some of the EF-S lens are very tempting like the 17-55 f 2.8 and 10-18 F 4.5 or even 24mm F 2.8 but I feel that if I upgrade to full frame these lens will go waste.

I do want to enjoy the SL1 with the next good lens. Next trips to Cancun and Sweden.

Thanks for your input.

Jai

Hi Jai, this is my story and my 10c. Feel free to ignore it.

I came to a 100D via a long route, starting with rangefinders in the 70s. I had a Pextax IstD, replaced it with a 40D, bought a Canon SX1IS, and then a 100D. I purchased it for 3 reasons:

Firstly I travel a lot for work, to some interesting countries. I need to cut down on weight and space, and every bit helps. I dislocated my shoulder in Tonga a few years ago, picking my bags up at the airport. At that point I knew the 40d was going.

Secondly, I travel to some pretty unsafe places, and take a lot of street photographs. You really don’t want to be seen photographing armed rascals in PNG, beggars in Jalan Blora or a pimp beating up a girl in Pasig. I use the 24 or the 40mm pancake, I set it to proximity focus, and often dont even use the viewfinder. I can just get it in a pocket in cargo pants or a loose jacket. No one even sees it. I have taken some great shots with it.

Thirdly, lugging a big 5D Mk3 around attracts attention – people “pose” and ruin the shot, or they try to take it off you by force. I don’t want either.

However – I also take a lot of phonographs in sunny Sydney and outback Australia, so it needs to be dual purpose.

Lens wise – for street photography I use a 24/40 pancake for candid/unsafe stuff, 17-40 L for a middle of the day stroll down the main street. Its not perfect but it works for me. I can cover the whole street, and zoom into an individual.

For portraits I use a 50mm F1.4 and a 100mm F2. I love both lenses even though neither is perfect.

For landscapes, I don’t take a lot. I have an aging Sigma 10-20. Works fine.

For events/sport, on sunny days I use a 70-200 F4L IS, sometimes with a 1.4 extender. It works ok on a 100D, just. I use a wrist strap, and hold it by the lens. If the light is anything less than perfect I pull out either the 100mm F2, or a 200mm F2.8 L depending on the situation.

IS will help you if you have Parkinson’s and cant afford a tripod, but it wont freeze a soccer player or a dancer flicking her hair on stage. To catch that you need a fast lens not IS.