Good lens to replace Kit lens for 550D?

[zurichdo]

I bought a 500D with 18-55 IS kit lens last Nov to get into DSLR. I borrowed a Tammy 18-200 thinking of changing my kit to this but I was wrong. My kit lens did better than the Tammy. Don't be fool by your kit lens. 18-55 IS is quite good for a start.

:thumbsup:

18-55 IS kitlens coupled with a flash-gun, and it's really good to go already. If anyone find a flashgun a hassle, then by all means fork out 15x more and buy the 17-55 f2.8 IS. But I assure you the 17-55 f2.8 itself is also not sufficient in many occasions at night or indoor, and a flashgun will still be needed. I am not a 3rd party lens guy so I have left out any possible alternatives in that area.

 

[chooster]

I was in the same dilema when I out grown my 18-200mm lens. I wanted to get 17-55mm initially but the lens is just too big for the body. I was using 18-200mm and I feel that 18-200mm is already consider big for 550D body. I end up with 15-85mm. The lens feel right on 550D. I got 30mm F1.4 for my low light situation. Nice combo to have .

 

[Fit44]

Hi All,

Care to share what is the good replacement at a reasonable price for our EF-S 18 - 135mm lens?

Something that can justify the sensor because I find that the kit lens really not giving good results.

Thanks

Get EFS 18-55mm IS from DDE for only $120 & EFS 55-250mm IS for $240 DDE.
I bought EFS18-135mm IS from DDE at $400 but later sold it away b'cos its IQ is not so good compare to the abovementioned lens.

 

[kenmical]

A good replacement lens delivers the functions that you need and that the kit lens cannot deliver. Have you found them?
Have you made sure that the root cause of your dissatisfaction is not within your own skills? You are not the first one blaming equipment, you would not be the last one to learn about shortfalls in skills. What exactly is it that you see as 'not good'?
Do your skills already justify the sensor? Also judging from your question I would say they don't and you are just taking the easy way to blame the lens and satisfy some BBB virus with getting a different lens.
But of course, feel free to spend the money. Believe in gear is widely spread here

I must say that there is surely shortfalls in my skill. I am an amateur who want to explore possible options that improves the photos I take or took.

However I won't go in-depth into the skill vs equipment argument here. I just need recommendations.

Start you kid at a good school or a sub standard school? I am the former.

Okay not OTing here. I realised I need to keep my focus between 15 - 80 range so that my image saturation is not saturated. At the same time the sharpness will drop beyond that range especially the the edge of the image.

When compared to my 50mm when shot at same setting and distance. The difference is rather obvious.

For this I attribute partly to my skill like you reiterated but I also want to explore if a better lens can aid in improving the images I take. This is regardless of skill which I repeat I do not have.

 

[kenmical]

:thumbsup:

18-55 IS kitlens coupled with a flash-gun, and it's really good to go already. If anyone find a flashgun a hassle, then by all means fork out 15x more and buy the 17-55 f2.8 IS. But I assure you the 17-55 f2.8 itself is also not sufficient in many occasions at night or indoor, and a flashgun will still be needed. I am not a 3rd party lens guy so I have left out any possible alternatives in that area.

Characteristic of 18-55 and 18-135 should be similar right? Haven't tried external flash but don't think I need it as am still new to photography.

Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[kenmical]

Can consider 17-70mm Sigma f/2.8
I use this as a walkabout.

Cool will check it out as well.

 

[gundamseed84]

The search button is your best friend. The same question is always being asked regardless is it 550D or 50D 60D or 7D. You might get more answers there.

Sigma 17-70 if I am not wrong is not constant aperture at f2.8.

 

[aero93t]

Instead of a replacement lens, why not get another lens(es) to supplement your 18-135mm kit lens? So as to extend your focal length range.

I think you'll do very well adding a ultrawide angle like the 10-22mm and a telephoto like the 70-300... believe they will complement your 18-135mm kit lens very well.

 

[risuz]

you might want to elaborate on how the kit lens is better.

The Tammy is not as sharp as the kit lens and the IS helps alot on the kit lens for me starting out.