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Lens Upgrade Recommendation for T3i from Kit/55-250

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  • Aug 14th, 2012 11:35 am
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Member
Dec 5, 2010
445 posts
28 upvotes

Lens Upgrade Recommendation for T3i from Kit/55-250

So I am looking for a lens upgrade for my t3i...

Looking for something faster in low light....

I looked at the Tamron 17-50... but with VC or non-VC??? Where is the cheapest? Secondhand?
Any other recommendation?

Price Consideration < $750
If it's over 750, state reason...(Is L lens worth the stab at the wallet??)
Prefer not weight like a brick...
State Outdoor or Indoor...tho I mostly use it outdoor...
18 replies
Sr. Member
Dec 10, 2006
999 posts
492 upvotes
Mississauga
Canon 17-55 2.8.

Fast, has IS, and you can prob get one used for a bit more than 750...maybe like 800-900 depending on seller. One of the best lenses for a cropped camera like the t3i, i only used this lens on my t1i back when i had it. But this is not the cheapest since it's a "Canon" lens lol. You got the right idea with the Tamron if you want to save money, but i got no experience with that so maybe another RFDer can provide feedback on it.
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Oct 23, 2003
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10-22 EF-S. its the best wide angle zoom lens for outdoors but not only; and yes the L series are on a different level and are made for professionals. do some research yourself. www.the-digital-picture.com / dpreview.com
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May 5, 2007
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Do you prefer primes or zooms? Looks like you want a zoom. You could get 2 or 3 decent primes for $750, eg, a 50mm 1.4 and an 85mm f1.8. Or if you want a decent zoom you could look at the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 non-VC or the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 for well under $750 each. I currently use the 28-75 as my walkaround and I love it. Both are great for low light, but are a little bit slow at focusing in low light. You said outdoors is your main thing though.

Great place is RFD to pick up used lenses as well as Kijiji and Craigslist, but make sure you know how to check for used lenses. I've bought one new lens out of 8 that I've owned. Do a google search and you'll see a guide, but I'm too lazy to look right now for it ;)
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Jan 27, 2010
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Scarbontario
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is an underrated lens. Give it a shot... you'll be happy.
Member
Jan 6, 2008
434 posts
48 upvotes
you really didn't specify what length you need. replacing the kit lens will cost you 900 to 1300 for new. this sigma is highly regarded:
http://www.henrys.com/60462-SIGMA-OS-17 ... CANON.aspx

any 2.8 lens will be heavy. you'll have to just accept that. personally, i would add either an ultra-wide or telephoto lens before i replaced a working kit zoom. most photographers have a 70-200 for outdoor stuff. unless you mean street in which case, a shorter focal length may be more useful.
Member
Jan 6, 2008
434 posts
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dr wrote: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is an underrated lens. Give it a shot... you'll be happy.
"faster in low light". a variable zoom just doesn't work well in cloudy shady conditions.
Member
Dec 27, 2010
399 posts
40 upvotes
|Naruto| wrote: Canon 17-55 2.8.

Fast, has IS, and you can prob get one used for a bit more than 750...maybe like 800-900 depending on seller. One of the best lenses for a cropped camera like the t3i, i only used this lens on my t1i back when i had it. But this is not the cheapest since it's a "Canon" lens lol. You got the right idea with the Tamron if you want to save money, but i got no experience with that so maybe another RFDer can provide feedback on it.
+1
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Sep 24, 2009
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London
Depending what you like to shoot, you can just get a 70-200 f4 to replace your 55-250.
I found I only shot telephoto so I just got a 70-200 f4 and used the kit lens for emergencies where I needed the focal range
It is $750 on sale, $550-600 used
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Sep 18, 2009
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Southwestern Ontario
ThaChingster wrote: Depending what you like to shoot, you can just get a 70-200 f4 to replace your 55-250.
I found I only shot telephoto so I just got a 70-200 f4 and used the kit lens for emergencies where I needed the focal range
It is $750 on sale, $550-600 used
If you only shoot tele a Canon 200mm f/2.8 USM L is a razor sharp intro to L at $800+
...



Packard
Ask the man who owns one!
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Sep 23, 2009
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Oshawa, ON
^this guy doesn't know what he's talking about...used goes for $100, retail is $119+ tax

But yes, go for the 50mn 18 II, go for used. Plenty of people selling this.
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Mar 23, 2008
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Toronto
Theres also the pancake 40mm 2.8 which i would choose over the 50mm 1.8 due to the usm.

50mm 1.4 would be my choice for a fast prime.

Canon 17-55 f2.8 would be my choice for a fast telephoto. I used the 17-55 for a wedding and it is TACK sharp
Sr. Member
Feb 10, 2005
785 posts
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Richmond Hill
Both kit lenses from T3i performs very well in good lights, no doubt about it. Therefore, my first consideration in upgrading those already superb kit lenses is a lens with a wider aperture.

I learned from a hard way that 2.8 is not good enough for low-low lights and Canon nifty fifty 1.8 sucks at low-low lights also. So, I say a lens with at least equals to or wider than 1.8 aperture might be in order.
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Mar 23, 2008
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Sigma 30 1.4
Canon 28 1.8
Canon 50 1.4

All good choices
Sr. Member
May 29, 2012
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MAPLE RIDGE
Sigma 30mm f/1.4

I wouldn't bother with the Tamron 17-50 unless you ABSOLUTELY need the zoom range. You're missing a lens for low-light situations so I'd work on that first. The f/1.4 can be very handy and fun. It's a very sharp lens.

Then sell the 55-250 and replace it with a 70-200mm f/4L. It's a step up.

There, now you can have two higher-up lenses instead of blowing all your spare change on one.
UBC Year 3 BA Student: Major in Mathematics
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Jan 18, 2005
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If you can get over the plastic cheap feel of the tamron 17-50 f2.8 (non vc), I believe this is the best choice for the price. yes its pretty much the same focal length of the canon kit lens, its much faster, has very good optics, doesn't cost a arm and a leg, and gets him into some faster glass.... The primes are a good choice but not nearly as versatile. plus, since this will overlap the kit lens, you can easily put the kit lens on ebay and sell it for $100 to go towards this lens since you won't be needing it.

I think your best choice for a UWA (ultra wide angle) would be the tokina 11-16mm f2.8.. very very nice build, fast (not necessarly needed for wide angle but nice to have in low light situations).

My choice for a telephoto zoom would be the 70-200 f4l. since people sell these things used around $500 its a steal! not very fast, but for the price, very very nice optics.

regardless of what you got, go out, take some pics, and enjoy!
Nikon D810, 16-35 F4 VR, 70-200 F2.8E VR, 50 1.8
Member
Dec 5, 2010
445 posts
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thx everyone!~ i'll have to digest all these choices since they all sound very reasonable...

i'll take a look at ultra wide and the 70-200 f4l tho... haven't thought about that..
Deal Addict
Aug 30, 2007
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I love my Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 OS (was 700$ on sale here in Canada; came with 10 years warranty) - pretty much as good as much more expensive Canon 17-55, and better built and has faster and quieter AF than the cheaper Tamron. (Also, OS can be very useful, like in this series of inside Parliament shots I did recently: http://www.flickr.com/photos/syamastro/ ... 009339326/ ). I wouldn't consider Tamron VC - as expensive as the Sigma, but optically inferior.

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