1st timer tot he boards need advice

[dtorion1970]

I’m sorry if this sounds lame; however, I’m just stuck on my decision. Have the 70D with 18-135stm and the 10-22. I’m planning a trip to Disney in Jan and would like to have a smaller walk around than the 18-135. I like the 50 1.4 and have shot with a loaner before; however, I’m afraid it will be a little long inside with the family and candid shots indoors. The newer 35 IS USM looks like it might cover well in those situations; however, don’t know if the cost is worth it. Only been shooting heavily about a year and would like the experience of the elders. I plan on getting both, just not both before Jan. Any advice?

Or is there another normal to mild wide people would recomend that would be good outside and in? Tyring to stay under $600.

 

[Jim Saunders]

I have a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (non-VC) for my 50D; I got mine for under $300 and I'm quite happy with it. It makes a little bit of noise focusing and the zoom ring goes the other way, but it is compact, lightweight and has a profile in Lightroom if you want to go that far with it.

Jim

 

[photonius]

I’m sorry if this sounds lame; however, I’m just stuck on my decision. Have the 70D with 18-135stm and the 10-22. I’m planning a trip to Disney in Jan and would like to have a smaller walk around than the 18-135. I like the 50 1.4 and have shot with a loaner before; however, I’m afraid it will be a little long inside with the family and candid shots indoors. The newer 35 IS USM looks like it might cover well in those situations; however, don’t know if the cost is worth it. Only been shooting heavily about a year and would like the experience of the elders. I plan on getting both, just not both before Jan. Any advice?

Or is there another normal to mild wide people would recomend that would be good outside and in? Tyring to stay under $600.

Well, I definitively would not want to miss the wide-angle for a trip to Disney, 35mm is "normal". Or will you take the 10-22 as well, in addition to a smaller walk-around?
The only lens that is smaller and lighter really (all the f2.8 lenses are pretty hefty) is the 18-55 STM. I would take that if you want smaller and lighter in a single lens. You could add the 40mm STM pancake to that for a bit of low light.

 

[Random Orbits]

A 35 prime would fit the bill. When I used a crop body, the 35L was my go-to lens indoors. At 35mm, the 18-135 is at f/4-4.5, so the 2 stop advantage of the 35 f/2 IS will be huge. Personally, I'd opt for a 35 f/1.4, but that involves a trade between price, weight and size. Even now, I prefer fast primes to zooms for indoor stuff (esp. without flash); outdoors, the zooms usually have the advantage.

 

[Don Haines]

If you are shooting indoors with a crop camera, you can go primes or zooms.... but whatever you choose, for indoors you really need fast lenses.

For focal length, you almost certainly want less than 30mm... even 24mm on a crop camera is getting a bit wide... <edit: meant to say a bit too narrow of a view>

Something like a 10-20 will give a great range for indoor focal length, but it is slow... You could go for the 17-55 at F2.8 or the sigma 18-35 at F1.8 and get the speed... but they are both around $800-850, over your $600 budget and they are not tiny lenses....

For primes you could go for the 20F2.8 or the 24F2.8... those are about the only ones from Canon that fit your budget, and there are a few from Sigma that fit your budget too... 24F1.8, 28F1.8. and 30F1.4....

With a crop camera, I would be looking at the wide end of the selection... I have a 17-55 and find that at the wide end it is barely adequate for indoors....

 

[Grumbaki]

With the rise of the 24-70 II there is plenty of 24-105 new or close to new on the secondary market. From what I read here sometimes the price is around 500$ in the US.

I know I totally disregarded your request of small + indoor (f4 can do it but it's not that fast) but it's probably the best quality for your budget, it's a respected walk around lens and will survive any future body upgrade.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The 40mm STM is excellent and doesn't cost much. Its a very small lens.