Need opinions on collection.

I'm trying to reduce my meager lens ensemble to even fewer lenses(contrary to the

direction most photographers go). I currently have : 18-55 kit lens(non-IS), Tamron

28-75/2.8, 50/1.8, and 70-300IS USM with a XT camers. I'd like to reduce to 3 or

even 2 lenses. That way, there will be little thought as to which lens to use for

what. The 70-300IS stays for now. It's the only lens capable for my nature/wildlife

images. The Tamron and 50mm lens are very sharp, and the kit lens is here just

for those few occassions when wide is needed. Here's the catch. I can only

purchase anything with an amount that I can get from the sale of something.

So..no additional money can be spent, nor is saving up for anything an option. I

just listed a "trade" --the 28-75 for a Tamron 17-59/2.8, but not sure this is the

answer. Any thoughts?

Its confusing as to what you are trying to accomplish by having less options. If you

feel your missing something then get a lens to address that but I don't get why you just

want less decisions.

An example.. I have 3 lenses that cover 50mm. Now I know that 2 of them(decision)are faster lenses, and a 3rd is not. If 50mm is wanted for what ever reason, I want one to chose from, not 3. That's a very obvious example. If you can't decide on a specific lens or lenses for me, then I'd like questions that I should maybe be asking myself leading to a thoughtful/practical decision.

I would say dump the kit lens and replace it with a 17-40 or a new IS version of the kit

lens. I have that same Tamron and I have the 50 1.4 and I don't think over lap here

applies since I use these lens for different reasons. If you get the 17-50 you will still

have overlap but better on the wide side.

Depending on how I felt about the differences between a 1.8 lens and a 2.8 lens, I could get rid of all three lenses and just get the 17-50/2.8. Scrubing the kit lens and the Tamron, and replacing those with a 18-55IS lens is a thought as well. Thanks for your feedback.

If money is the issue sell everything, except the 70-300. And buy the Tamron 17-50. If you sold everything on ebay, you should come pretty close to buying a Tamron 17-50.

 

Another possible option is to sell everything, including the 70-300. And buy the Tamron 17-50, and the Canon 55-250 IS. You will be short 50mm from the 300mm, but now you have 2 lenses.

I guess I'm just a packrat, but you know there's no law that says you have to carry everything every time. Your present lens collection covers a pretty broad and effective range. The kit lens is not the best lens Canon ever made, but it does well for its price, after all.

 

If you really just want one main lens for walking about with a crop body camera, it's hard to beat the 17-85mm IS, warts and all. When I went to Puerto Rico on a business trip, I wanted to travel light, and that's the only lens I took.

Every time you trade lenses you risk losing out. You don't have a clear goal in mind except reducing the number of lenses you own. However, you are obviously making use of all of them, and in general you are happy with the image quality you are getting with the possible exception of the 18-55 kit lens (you should be - you have some good lenses). From your comments it seems you make little use of the kit lens or the additional wider focal lengths it offers, so there is little benefit in trying to trade into added quality covering 18-28mm, especially if it is at the expense of reduced quality for focal lengths you do use rather more.

 

Stick with what you have, and go out and shoot some more.

The greatest concern is always which one to take as a walkaround lens. In most cases I could take any of the 3 (not the 70-300). They all pretty much do as well for this purpose. In my last outing I took my 50mm only. Did just fine. It's a great lens. Yet when I take the Tamron, I say the same thing. Do I need both? That's the dilemma. Maybe I do, maybe I don't. What I'm trying to decide is...when I go for a walkaround, which one will I take? If I had only one, I'd take it and be perfectly happy with it. I know this seems petty, and maybe it is. It's just been "bugging" me lately, that's all.

I am definitely going in the other direction, but maybe the following works for you?

1) Sell all but the 70-300mm

2) Buy the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS

 

Carry those two lenses, and leave the 17-55 on most of the time. Take just that one

lens when you want to go even lighter.

 

You could even sell them all and just get the EF 35mm f/2, a fine little lens. That's

almost the equivalent to what I had for quite a few years in the film era (Canon A-1 +

50mm f/1.4).

 

You could sell it all and get the G9 too, just keep that in your pocket and you're

always ready.

 

All depends on what your needs are. Hope something here helped you.

I'd worry more about what you shoot than what you shoot it with.

 

There is no "best set of lenses" and even if there was, it would change as you change and change as your application changed.

 

If you carried every lens you might need when out walking, you'd collapse under the weight. Take one lens and try picking subjects appropriate for the lens that you're carrying

True Bob, thats the fun. This past Sunday at a casual family get together I used just

my 100mm macro ( got a lot of close tight shots with some great outdoor shots ) but

thats the fun of having an SLR.