[Penisvergroesserung]

I know nothing about SLR cameras and their lenses, but my wife is into it. It's our 5 year anniversary in a few days and would like to get her a lens. She has a few, not sure what they do, but found this in her Amazon Wish List.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-85mm-Med...I3RYME1WUO4SGI

She has a Canon DSLR. Is this a lens to get or is there a newer one I should look at? This model is discontinued on Newegg, not sure if it's been replaced with a newer model or just older now. IIRC, she only has the lens that came with her camera and another cheap lens that she uses for adding background blur.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Fetowip]

That lens is not discontinued. Its one of Canon's best selling prime lenses for lowlight use.

When you refer to the other cheap lens she has - could it by any chance be the 50mm F1.8?

Also - do you know which camera body she has? If I know that, then I can tell you if its full frame or crop sensor. For example - if its a crop sensor then the 85mm will probably be a bit long.

What type of photography does she normally do (or want to do)? If I know that, then I can help suggest the most useful lenses.

[Evoryboypoto]

That lens is not discontinued. Its one of Canon's best selling prime lenses for lowlight use.

When you refer to the other cheap lens she has - could it by any chance be the 50mm F1.8?

Also - do you know which camera body she has? If I know that, then I can tell you if its full frame or crop sensor. For example - if its a crop sensor then the 85mm will probably be a bit long.

What type of photography does she normally do (or want to do)? If I know that, then I can help suggest the most useful lenses.

Yes, the cheap one I was referring to was the 50mm F1.8. I looked through her Amazon account, she just bought that in March. She's having a lot of fun with that lens.

Her camera body is a Canon EOS Rebel XSi.

Most of the photography she has been taking has been of people's babies. We just had another baby as well so she's been doing shots of her. She also does shots of nature etc, she really has a camera with her at all times....can be kind of annoying actually. We can't enjoy a moment, it always has to be photographed.

[Sleedyhex]

In that case I would not bother with the 85mm you linked, as that will be too long on a crop sensor camera (which she has). On that camera, the 50mm she already has is perfect for portraits, and indoors lowlight shots without flash.

What new lens you could potentially buy her will really be determined by the photography she will want to do. If she just has the kit lens and the 50mm, then maybe she could benefit from a flexible "walkaround" zoom, that could replace the kit lens and give her more reach at the same time.

At "normal" consumer level, something like a Tamron 17-200mm could be an excellent choice. Yes, you will loose a bit of image quality when compared to the more expensive Canon zoom lenses, but the Tamron is a fraction of the price, and covers the full focal range out to 200mm. As a "jack of all trades" lens it does a good job for the price. The quality will be better than the kit lens she has (which I'm guessing is the 18-55?).

Or alternatively you could decide not to go for a lens, but maybe camera accessories instead? (decent strap, separate flash, tripod etc).

[Alulursuifold]

In that case I would not bother with the 85mm you linked, as that will be too long on a crop sensor camera (which she has). On that camera, the 50mm she already has is perfect for portraits, and indoors lowlight shots without flash.

What new lens you could potentially buy her will really be determined by the photography she will want to do. If she just has the kit lens and the 50mm, then maybe she could benefit from a flexible "walkaround" zoom, that could replace the kit lens and give her more reach at the same time.

At "normal" consumer level, something like a Tamron 17-200mm could be an excellent choice. Yes, you will loose a bit of image quality when compared to the more expensive Canon zoom lenses, but the Tamron is a fraction of the price, and covers the full focal range out to 200mm. As a "jack of all trades" lens it does a good job for the price. The quality will be better than the kit lens she has (which I'm guessing is the 18-55?).

Or alternatively you could decide not to go for a lens, but maybe camera accessories instead? (decent strap, separate flash, tripod etc).

I'm pretty sure the kit lens is the 18-55.

I've already purchased accessories in the past, filters, external flash, remote, tripod, sd cards lol.

The Tamron sounds like a thing to look into, but having trouble finding one and they range in price from $250 all the way to $1000. I'd like to keep it under $400 if possible.

Also, what about something like this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

People say it's a good combo with the 50mm F1.8 lens for all around amateur photographers. Again, I have no idea.

Hate to ask to be spoon fed, but any chance you could take a look here and recommend something?
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...=Camera-Lenses

[Dapnoinaacale]

Also, what about something like this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

People say it's a good combo with the 50mm F1.8 lens for all around amateur photographers. Again, I have no idea.

Hate to ask to be spoon fed, but any chance you could take a look here and recommend something?
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...=Camera-Lenses

It seems a little pricey compared to amazon, Newegg 279.99 / Amazon 199.99 Delivered


http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm...s+55-250+is+II
Plus on amazon the one listed is the new version 55-250mm IS II which was released around summer 2011. The 55-250mm IS from newegg was released back in 2008

The difference between the old IS and the new IS II are basically listed here:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/New...est-and-review

Comparing both lenses on a Canon EOS 7D, we see a small advantage for the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II — a DxOMark score of 8, 2 points more than its predecessor. This difference doesn’t come from the resolution: with a score of 42lp/mm and 44 lp/mm, for the 2 lenses, the sharpness didn’t improve. The distortion and vignetting are also identical.
But the transmission of the new model is on average 1/3 stop brighter. And the chromatic aberrations are better controlled in the corners at 55 mm. Basically it is a tiny tiny bit brighter and colours are focused to the same point better in the corners @ 55mm (zoomed out)

taken from wiki: (this is an example of chromatic aberration *bottom example*)



Although the difference will not be that pronounced. you can just expect a tiny bit of a difference, some may not even notice a difference at all.

Since you say she mostly photographs babies/people a zoom lens would give her a better advantage at capturing potraits, etc. on the street or out and about where you dont need or want to be close to a subject. but to make best use of a telephoto a tripod or monopod is really recommended. If you choose the Telephoto (55-250mm) since its a lot less than your budget if she doesnt already have a tripod/monopod she may greatly appreciate one. Handholding especially at 250mm is difficult for a still shot even more so in low light since it may be preferred to shoot with a lower speed to catch more light otherwise you risk blurring your shot

I actually have the 55-250mm IS II and the 18-55mm IS II myself and i defintely would not go beyond or even approach 250mm without exclusively using a tripod, (for example a 75-300mm would be without a stabilising aid and the IS standard on the lens is absolutely not enough zoomed out). To note i have just recently ordered a 15-85mm USM which will replace the kit lens which is much needed now as i have had my 600d now for over a year.

I like to photograph a wide variety of things so the 15-85mm will come in really handy for not just people but scenery too at the 15mm end. From my experience and what i generally like to shoot i now know the 15-85mm will completely replace the 18-55mm and almost completely replace my 55-250 unless i am willing to drag a tripod or monopod with me for great shots.

Having said all that if i was getting a gift of a lens from my significant other even though i may not use it a lot i would absolutely love a superwide lens that i dont have to pay for . since its a gift i dont have to justify using it all the time and dont have to feel bad if i dont but i know i would have a lot of fun with it. It would get use out of it, just not that much. In keeping with this i have found this on newegg for 449.99 after rebate if it doesnt break your budget too much

Tamron SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Lens For Canon

And as chrisinthesun20 said, it really does depend on what she would prefer to shoot. She could get a lot of use from a telephoto like the 55-250mm especially as those babies grow up, for sporting events and capturing play times or other childhood activities and even for general photography and such. But if she would like to get into wide field scenery or landscape then she would love a super wide lens like the 10-24 i just linked.

If your willing to let her know what you are getting her and just simply ask what she would prefer then that could make all the difference. It may spoil the surprise and i know myself i prefer to surprise but a lens is something shes going to want to keep for a very long time and choosing the right ones, considering things like how much use she would get for the types of photos she wants to take is important. It may end up as part of the furniture after a while which would be a shame because lenses are pricey, even cheap ones.

Update: Further thinking about it. One of these mini tripod could also be great for not just a telephoto but for a wide angle lens left on a table or wall or whatever just happens to be there

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=30-996-731


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=30-997-601

[cristmiff]

In that case I would not bother with the 85mm you linked, as that will be too long on a crop sensor camera (which she has). On that camera, the 50mm she already has is perfect for portraits, and indoors lowlight shots without flash.

Many would disagree with that and say that 85mm is an ideal length for portraiture on a crop sensor. It CAN be a bit long, especially indoors in tight spaces, but otherwise you can make the background much less distracting on an 85mm compared to a 50mm.

idchoppers, your wife probably has good reasons for putting the 85mm on her wish list and she will be the best judge of what lenses are ideal for her photography. If you get that lens, you probably can't go wrong.

[Ubgvuncd]

I decided to go with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm...s+55-250+is+II

And a mini-tripod. I think this will give her a different kind of use out of her camera, enabling her to do more with it. The limit we agreed to spend on each other is $100 anyway so spending double is better than 4x .

We're heading up to her grandparent's cabin this weekend and will be out in the woods quite a bit so I think the zoom lens will be fun for nature shots...

Thanks for the advice guys!

[padlabtard]

I decided to go with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm...s+55-250+is+II

And a mini-tripod. I think this will give her a different kind of use out of her camera, enabling her to do more with it. The limit we agreed to spend on each other is $100 anyway so spending double is better than 4x .

We're heading up to her grandparent's cabin this weekend and will be out in the woods quite a bit so I think the zoom lens will be fun for nature shots...

Thanks for the advice guys!

Thats a good choice, provided she is OK with the idea of swapping lenses for wider angle shots. I was going to suggest something like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997573

As a reasonable lens that would cover all focal lengths from wider angle walk around to zoom.

[LongaDonga]

Had my 55-250 mk1 for a few years now and served me well. Not a sports lens by any means, but good general purpose telephoto.