What lenses do I need for my 550d?

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Gravityjay

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Hi guys, I bought myself my first DSLR camera in the form of a 550D a week or so ago and got one complete with a lens kit, but I feel the lens is a bit too far away for alot of the stuff I'm shooting. I'm mainly taking stills and videos of sports like free running, tricking, gymnastics and martial arts with the odd bit of skating and BMX eventually (haven't gotten round to that yet)

My question is what lenses do you think would suit me here? Eventually I would like to get a budget wide angle lens but I think I need something with a bit of zoom too. The issue however is budget! I am a student and alot of the stuff I am doing in the near future will be for a Uni project so needs to be good quality, but not at the level where I am getting paid for doing things just yet.

But what are my options for budget lenses that offer a good range?
I don't think there is much point in my getting a 50mm or a macro lens since I won't be doing anything REALLY close up, the wide angle isn't even necessary, its just something I would be interested in getting to give a better range of shots for videos

Thanks!
 
Depends on your budget really, you have a few options ...

The Canon 55-250IS is a belter of a lens for the price (known as the nifty two fifty)

Then there is the 70-300IS which is a very good lens, but about twice the price of the 55-250

Then you jump upto the L series lenses - the 70-200 range.

If budget is tight, then I'd go for the 55-250IS lens
 
If you are on a budget go for the 55-250 or the 70-300mm, tbh though that extra 50mm reach costs you a fair bit more. You wont get much wider than the 18-55mm (if thats what you got as the kit lens) on a budget, and you can still take some cracking shots with the kit lens. The 50mm f1.8 isn't bad for a sub 100 quid lens either.
 
When I bought my 550D I also bought the 70-300 is usm but I bought what I could afford for shooting my sons rugby, think about what you want to shoot then look at the lenses best suited in your price range. I shoot rugby in day light and now have a 7D so uming and aring about 70-200L or 70-300L either way a lot of money ( oh and grief from the wife) lol
 
Gravityjay said:
I feel the lens is a bit too far away for alot of the stuff I'm shooting.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what you mean by this. Others obviously read it as meaning you cannot zoom in close enough - is that right ?
Does it have to be a Canon lens ? If you want a superzoom, the Tamron 18-270 is a good one.
 
Don't think you'll get anything better than the 55-250mm with a tight budget, and it has an excellent reputation. The 70-300mm (not the 75-300mm) and the 70-200mm L lenses are very good indeed, but significantly more expensive.
 
Totally agree with the 55-250 IS, cracking lens, very sharp with good AF speed. I bought one, but the wife commandeered it for her 550D and it's been on ever since. I've just ordered a Sigma 120-400 OS for her, so I might get a chance to use the 55-250 again. Good job I've got a 60D to back up my 5D3 or else I wouldn't be able to use it ever.
 
A lot of 55-250 lovers here and I did have one and got rid of it. Yes it is the best one for £120. But yes people it is sloooow to AF. Sharp?! No this lens isn't sharp! Not even as sharp as the 18-55 is kit lens and much slower AF than the kit lens but for the money it's not bad. I bought mine as I wanted more reach than the 18-55 and it did give me a lot more reach but I wouldn't by that lens again. It was good as I learned from it and all of its limitations, so I learned very quickly that it wasn't the lens for me. If u want a budget lens that is even Better than the Canon 70-300 is usm look at Tamron 70-300 VC USD £280 from panamoz. A puckker of a lens and it is much sharper and faster AF than the 55-250 and the 70-300 is usm.
 
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Thanks for the advice guys :) Managed to get hold of a 75-300MM Canon USM from Cash Converters for £70, The lens is flawless no dust or other problems at all, and the zoom and auto focus work seem to be working fine with no grinding or other weird sounds so far. But I have a 3 month money back guarantee with Cash Converters also. I think I managed to get a pretty good deal since the same lens is selling at 110 +shipping on ebay at the moment.
 
But it's rubbish.
 
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