Low budget lenses for amateurs

[shumonsaha]

Dear Friends

I own a 600 D with 18-135 kit lens.

Recently I was suggested a 50 mm 1.8 in this forum. Big thanks for the tip. Really love this lens.

I want to expand my lens kit without rushing into big spends right now.

Request to recommend 2 more lens that can be really useful for amateur photography.

I have noticed the following

1. Although 50mm 1.8 is good , I find it difficult to us during events like weddings etc where moving closer physically is not an option always.

2. My kit lens 18-135 is good. But with zoom, aperture cant be opened wide. Blurring backgrounds become difficult with this.

3. For outdoor shoot , the kit lens is not good enough as the zoom is too small.

4. Please also recommend for any other occasions that an amateur photographer might need specific lenses and I might not have still figured out.

5. Most important - Want to constrain myself to maximum 2 more additions only to my bag.

6. Budget - Lower the better. A great recommendation eg. was the 50 mm 1.8. Works superb and at extreme low price.

                    Preferred budget between 150$ to 300 $ for each lens.

                    *** However, can increase budget if you feel any lens is critical and needs to be added to an amateurs bag.

7. I dont have any particular prefence for canon and open to look at all brands

Hope my query is clear and precise. 

thanks in advance for the help

rgds

Suman

[cicopo · Accepted solution]

Wide aperture lenses are expensive & in a zoom more expensive yet so I don't think there's any way to fit that budget short of buying a used Tamron 28-75 f2.8. As for longer look at both the Canon 70-300 IS and Tamron 70-300 VC, new or used.

[shumonsaha]

@ skirball

At the price I bought it, I already feel I have "got the world"

There is ofcourse no end to higher end lens if money can be spared.

I would prefer to practice more with basic lenses and get the max juice out of them for now before spending more.

Thank you for recommending bang on fit for my budget.

Feeling Happy. 

[Skirball]

---

@shumonsaha wrote:

@ skirball

At the price I bought it, I already feel I have "got the world"

There is ofcourse no end to higher end lens if money can be spared.

I would prefer to practice more with basic lenses and get the max juice out of them for now before spending more.

Thank you for recommending bang on fit for my budget.

Feeling Happy. 

---

It's truly good to hear that, thank you for posting.  The majority of the conversations that are had around here are people that insist they need that absolute top of the line, or really, people that come looking for information on a modest upgrade and leave convinced that they need the absolute top of the line.  It's really nice to hear someone that is happy with what they have and going to go out and make the best use of it they can. 

I'm not at all against the good L glass, but these forums make it sound like it's a requirement to make great images, and it's complete nonsense.  I hope the lens serves you well.

[ebiggs1]

“I'm not at all against the good L glass, … it's complete nonsense. ...”

Not really! Optics are not the only consideration in a lens. There are several other factors of which durability is paramount. If I buy a lens and I ware it out or it breaks and I have to replace it how much savings is that? Couple with the fact it will probably let you down at the worse possible moment.

A snap-shooter or even an advanced amateur, OK. Just be sure to take care with your equipment. Not often done in my world.

Everyone has to decide what level of equipment suits them and their budget. But the best in anything rarely comes cheap.