Lens recommendation based on current usage

Hi, I'm new here and relatively new in photography; I would like your opinion on which lens I could buy next.

I've been using my canon T4i since 2013, before that i used a couple unremarkable point and shoot cameras.

Trying to learn what i enjoy the most in photography, my original plan was getting an all around lens with the biggest focal range i could find, and use it for a while to see what range I prefer. In my first weeks I sold the kit lens and got a canon 18-200mm IS. After a couple of months I learned some things about balancing aperture and focal distance and tried my luck with a 40mm f2.8 pancake that was replaced later with the newer 24mm f2.8 (both canon).

So my lens experience is only:

• 18-200mm
• 40mm f2.8
• 24mm f2.8

You can see I stayed with cheap lenses with arguable bad image quality. I can't invest in expensive lenses as of now, i consider prices > $600 USD expensive given my current income.

The next (current) part of my plan is to sell the 18-200mm and buy something with better image quality in a focal range better suited for my use. Here's were the data gathered comes in.

I've plotted some stats from my lightroom catalog (2458 photos), shown here is focal distance and aperture graphs. I used JF data plot plugin.

focal distances

aperture

Most of my photos are from trips and vacations, and occasionally a night out with friends. I enjoy mostly landscapes but indoor group shots take a considerable amount of my catalog. Considering this, I've been looking at wide to normal lenses and wide and (or) fast primes.

I'm in Mexico, but can buy from the USA (adorama, B&H or ebay) and don't mind buying used lenses. Specifically I'm currently interested in these:

• Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC
• Canon 15-85mm F/3.5-5.6
• Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS

I would like to read your opinions and suggestions about which lens would work best for me.

P.D. I apologies for any errors in my writing, English is not my first language.

I really like the 15-85mm on my 70D as a walkaround - great IQ combined with a good range from wide at 10mm to long at 85mm.  I got the 18-135mm STM as part of a 70D kit but I feel that the 15-85 produces better quality (not pixel-peeping but overall "look") so the 18-135mm is sitting unused for now.  I also have the 10-22mm for wider view and the 70-200 f/4L IS for longer zoom.  But the 15-85mm is on my camera for over 90% of the time.

These were from using it with my 40D:

cesar rf wrote:

Hi, I'm new here and relatively new in photography; I would like your opinion on which lens I could buy next.

I've been using my canon T4i since 2013, before that i used a couple unremarkable point and shoot cameras.

Trying to learn what i enjoy the most in photography, my original plan was getting an all around lens with the biggest focal range i could find, and use it for a while to see what range I prefer. In my first weeks I sold the kit lens and got a canon 18-200mm IS. After a couple of months I learned some things about balancing aperture and focal distance and tried my luck with a 40mm f2.8 pancake that was replaced later with the newer 24mm f2.8 (both canon).

So my lens experience is only:

• 18-200mm
• 40mm f2.8
• 24mm f2.8

You can see I stayed with cheap lenses with arguable bad image quality. I can't invest in expensive lenses as of now, i consider prices > $600 USD expensive given my current income.

The next (current) part of my plan is to sell the 18-200mm and buy something with better image quality in a focal range better suited for my use. Here's were the data gathered comes in.

I've plotted some stats from my lightroom catalog (2458 photos), shown here is focal distance and aperture graphs. I used JF data plot plugin.

focal distances

aperture

Most of my photos are from trips and vacations, and occasionally a night out with friends. I enjoy mostly landscapes but indoor group shots take a considerable amount of my catalog. Considering this, I've been looking at wide to normal lenses and wide and (or) fast primes.

I'm in Mexico, but can buy from the USA (adorama, B&H or ebay) and don't mind buying used lenses. Specifically I'm currently interested in these:

• Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC
• Canon 15-85mm F/3.5-5.6
• Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS

I would like to read your opinions and suggestions about which lens would work best for me.

P.D. I apologies for any errors in my writing, English is not my first language.

Based on your usage charts I would say you should get a constant f2.8 lens that starts at 17 (or wider).  I would say something like the Canon 17-55 f2.8 (or Sigma equivalent) would be a good choice.  You will miss the longer reach occasionally but if you keep the 18-200 it can provide that when needed.     The 10-18 would be my suggestion for your next lens down the road and your 3rd "new" lens might then be something with longer reach (70-200 f4 IS or if on a tighter budget consider the 55-250 IS).

Good luck with your decision.

Hi, I'm new here and relatively new in photography; I would like your opinion on which lens I could buy next.

I've been using my canon T4i since 2013, before that i used a couple unremarkable point and shoot cameras.

Trying to learn what i enjoy the most in photography, my original plan was getting an all around lens with the biggest focal range i could find, and use it for a while to see what range I prefer. In my first weeks I sold the kit lens and got a canon 18-200mm IS. After a couple of months I learned some things about balancing aperture and focal distance and tried my luck with a 40mm f2.8 pancake that was replaced later with the newer 24mm f2.8 (both canon).

So my lens experience is only:

• 18-200mm
• 40mm f2.8
• 24mm f2.8

You can see I stayed with cheap lenses with arguable bad image quality. I can't invest in expensive lenses as of now, i consider prices > $600 USD expensive given my current income.

The next (current) part of my plan is to sell the 18-200mm and buy something with better image quality in a focal range better suited for my use. Here's were the data gathered comes in.

I've plotted some stats from my lightroom catalog (2458 photos), shown here is focal distance and aperture graphs. I used JF data plot plugin.

focal distances

aperture

Most of my photos are from trips and vacations, and occasionally a night out with friends. I enjoy mostly landscapes but indoor group shots take a considerable amount of my catalog. Considering this, I've been looking at wide to normal lenses and wide and (or) fast primes.

I'm in Mexico, but can buy from the USA (adorama, B&H or ebay) and don't mind buying used lenses. Specifically I'm currently interested in these:

• Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC
• Canon 15-85mm F/3.5-5.6
• Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS

I would like to read your opinions and suggestions about which lens would work best for me.

P.D. I apologies for any errors in my writing, English is not my first language.

I just picked up the EFS 15-85mm because I wanted a lens that made my 7D more fun to use as a walk around camera. 15-85mm is a nice range in one lens and I saw it being fun to use and it is! I have the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 which is crazy good but the focal range is too short for walk around use IMO. I am pleasently surprised with the 15-85. It's not as sharp as the Sigma and it exhibits some CA but I can say that so far it takes consistently very good image quality at all focal lengths. I can only see the differences with the Sigma when viewing images at 100%. Slightly less tack sharp on the EFS 15-85 images when viewed at 100%...and some minor visible CA at 100%. Minor enough that to me its not a problem and I will not shy away from using the EFS 15-85 instead for the Sigma 18-35. I will use the Sigma when I need a faster lens or use it like a prime. It's just so much fun to have 24mm to 135mm in one lens with consistently very good image quality.

I also have the EFS 10-18mm. This lens surprised me too. Highly recommended. It's slow but the IS makes up for that big time.

Ron

Thanks for all your input. I was checking my numbers and the lens prices on ebay and I think I'll go for a wide lens. I still need to sell the 18-200mm to get the money, I'll go for the better deal on either the 10-18mm or the 15-85mm which are surprisingly "cheap".

I decided on favoring focal length since fast and wide seems too expensive for me and because most of the shots i kept that were f2.8 are not among my favorites (I like to see them in my online albums, but I would not share or print them).

I would really like the canon 17-55mm f/2.8 and the sigma 18-35mm f/1.8, but those are over my budget. Hopefully after a couple of years as the 3rd stage of my photography.

While on the subject, what would you suggest as a usable companion for each the 10-18mm and the 15-85mm?

I just got some extra money and might be able to buy a 2 lens combo instead of just one. I think I can get the the 10-18mm under $300 or the 15-85mm around $400, so with a $600 total i could get a complementary lens.

I just received an EFS 15-85 off of ebay. It's a nice lens and you will love the focal range on this lens. And it's sharpest at 15mm F3.5. Take a look on DXOmark. The 10-18 is quite good too but limited range. Great when you want that extra width though. Get the 15-85. 24mm-135mm equivalent range is nice. The Sigma 18-35 is amazing but way to short a range for walk around use. I wanted to make it work but I needed more reach and like to shoot wider than 29mm equivalent so the 15-85 looked like the best option. I have tried the EFS 17-55 F2.8 before I got the Sigma and I like the 15-85 much more than the faster shorter focal range EFS 17-55. It's a fun lens the 15-85.

DOH...just realized I already posted a similar response in this thread...I guess I really like the lens.  LOL

I think you have to take some of the lens reviews with "a pinch of salt." By that I mean that the reviewers are connoisseurs and experts that are looking at images like an expert wine taster might at a wine competition.

But if 99.9% your images are only ever seen on a computer screen, never get printed bigger than 6x4 then worrying about image quality, IMO is a waste and could lead you to over investing.

That said, a faster lens will give you shallower depth of field and so you can get more opportunity for bokeh shots with your friends and family. You kind of have that with the prime lenses you already have.

I see that lots of users pair their 18-200 with a 10-22 to cover the focal length range.

HTH

Genghis7777 wrote:

I think you have to take some of the lens reviews with "a pinch of salt." By that I mean that the reviewers are connoisseurs and experts that are looking at images like an expert wine taster might at a wine competition.

But if 99.9% your images are only ever seen on a computer screen, never get printed bigger than 6x4 then worrying about image quality, IMO is a waste and could lead you to over investing.

That said, a faster lens will give you shallower depth of field and so you can get more opportunity for bokeh shots with your friends and family. You kind of have that with the prime lenses you already have.

I see that lots of users pair their 18-200 with a 10-22 to cover the focal length range.

HTH

Before responding it's good to check how old a thread is. Considering this one is 8 months old, I'm guessing the op has already made a decision.

diness wrote:

Genghis7777 wrote:

I think you have to take some of the lens reviews with "a pinch of salt." By that I mean that the reviewers are connoisseurs and experts that are looking at images like an expert wine taster might at a wine competition.

But if 99.9% your images are only ever seen on a computer screen, never get printed bigger than 6x4 then worrying about image quality, IMO is a waste and could lead you to over investing.

That said, a faster lens will give you shallower depth of field and so you can get more opportunity for bokeh shots with your friends and family. You kind of have that with the prime lenses you already have.

I see that lots of users pair their 18-200 with a 10-22 to cover the focal length range.

HTH

Before responding it's good to check how old a thread is. Considering this one is 8 months old, I'm guessing the op has already made a decision.

LOL, Or that the OP has only ever made 4 posts and all of them were in this thread 8 months ago. I doubt he even knows how to log back in.

Fair enough