upgrading, what lens should I buy?

[KaraBee]

Photography started as a hobby for me, but now that I have built up the skills and experience I want to make it a profession. The camera I first bought was a Rebel T3, but I'm looking into upgrading to a Canon 5D mark ii. I have 3 lenses- a EF 50mm 1.4, the kit EF 70-200mm, and the kit EF-S 18-55mm. I really love using my 18-55mm but I know I won't be able to use it on the full frame camera. What's a good full frame lens that's kinda like the 18-55mm. I do have a budget and I love the canon EF 16-35mm, but that's way too expensive. I'm thinking about $500. Thanks!!

[RobertTheFat]

---

@KaraBee wrote:
Photography started as a hobby for me, but now that I have built up the skills and experience I want to make it a profession. The camera I first bought was a Rebel T3, but I'm looking into upgrading to a Canon 5D mark ii. I have 3 lenses- a EF 50mm 1.4, the kit EF 70-200mm, and the kit EF-S 18-55mm. I really love using my 18-55mm but I know I won't be able to use it on the full frame camera. What's a good full frame lens that's kinda like the 18-55mm. I do have a budget and I love the canon EF 16-35mm, but that's way too expensive. I'm thinking about $500. Thanks!!

---

The only one that springs to mind in that price range is the EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS. For around twice your budget (less if you buy it used), the 24-105mm f/4L is very good.

[TCampbell · Accepted solution]

If you're looking to Canon brand lenses, there are four that come to mind, but two that you may be able to get for something near your price range.

The EF 24-70mm f/2.8L is well out of the $500 range -- so that's probably out.

There's also the new EF 24-70mm f/4L version -- but even the f/4 version is well out of the price range.

The EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM will be within the $500 price range even when purchased as "new".  I have not personally used this lens so you should check reviews.  

However... the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a lens whose "new" retail price is well outside your range, but you can often find good deals on this lens ... frequently just around $600 for a lens which is technically "used" but you can think of it as "new".  

The 24-105mm is the "kit" lens included when someone wants, say, a 5D III body + lens kit.  But when I bought my 5D III, I was unable to find a retailer who had the "body only" version of the packaging.  The retailer sold me the camera as a "body only" and removed the lens from the "kit" (so my packaging is for a body + lens kit) and then "white boxed" the lens to be sold separately.  If you look at the price of a 5D III "body only" versus a "body + lens" kit, the price difference (last time I checked... I don't happen to be looking right now) was only about $550.

So there's a lot of people who will sell this lens for about $600.

[cale_kat]

---

@KaraBee wrote:
Photography started as a hobby for me, but now that I have built up the skills and experience I want to make it a profession. The camera I first bought was a Rebel T3, but I'm looking into upgrading to a Canon 5D mark ii. I have 3 lenses- a EF 50mm 1.4, the kit EF 70-200mm, and the kit EF-S 18-55mm. I really love using my 18-55mm but I know I won't be able to use it on the full frame camera. What's a good full frame lens that's kinda like the 18-55mm. I do have a budget and I love the canon EF 16-35mm, but that's way too expensive. I'm thinking about $500. Thanks!!

---

Probably not what you wanted to hear but I suggest you get some work first then follow up with the lens purchase. You'll know a lot more about what you want in a lens rather than having folks like me tell you, "get this!", without having the first clue of what you'll be shooting.

Good luck.

[ebiggs1]

And the correct answer was by Bob from Boston,

"The only one that springs to mind in that price range is the EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS. For around twice your budget (less if you buy it used), the 24-105mm f/4L is very good."

Well he was mostly right.  Like Tim said the 24-105mm f4 is selling for a little under $700 at a lot of places.  Even for a new lens and it is an "L".  Not even close to "twice your budget".  The 28-135mm is a very good starter lens.   I have one and I like it's focal length very much.

You mentioned it is also a hobby, so get the lens right now and learn it.  If you want to be succesful as a "pro" you must know your equipment and you must develop an "eye".

[cale_kat]

Yeah, this is where biggs and I differ radically. You have the lenses to "know your equipment" but have you considered that becoming a pro entails more than glass? Glass is just the "tip of the iceberg" in terms of necessary equipment.

Coming to this forum and asking what glass to buy will generate a lot of suggestions. Including those of the self-annointed "experts" who may have an inkling of lens performance but are deaf and blind to the needs of beginners.

It's your choice but if writing checks is what you like doing, go with the advice to spend. Frankly, the more excessively you show an interest in spending, the more excited some of these folks are likely to become. 🙂

[KaraBee]

Thanks for responding. Believe me, before investing a lot of money into lenses like these I'll be renting and testing them before I even think about putting that money down. 🙂

[KaraBee]

I've been doing photography for almost two years, have taken dozens of classes, worked personally with several photographers, I've learned the camera I have now inside and out, I have been doing people's pictures professionally with just my Rebel and the pictures have turned out phenomenal, and I have work lined up which is why I need to get a lens soon. And trust me, before I put that kind of money down I'll be renting and testing them to make sure it meets my needs. Thanks!

[cale_kat]

Your original post referenced the 70-200mm kit lens. I'm confused because I am not aware of any "kit" version of this lens or, more correctly, these lenses. Could you clarify this for me?

[KaraBee]

It might be 75-200mm, I dont have it with me at the moment to check. But it's just a cheaper lens that comes with the Rebels.