One more lens before Disney

[Unomas]

So I finally settled on a camera and bought the Canon T1i. It came with a kit lens which is nice but I want to have options. Considering I want the most options for my coming trip to Disney World in which I will be wanting both vivid day and night photos. Emphasis on daytime however. What would be the one lens I should buy to go with my camera? I'm looking for a consumer level lens, something in the 200-350 dollar range.

Should I consider a 50mm 1.4 lens? I have heard this this lens is great and very sharp - but isn't the kit lens similar?

I'm also looking at the 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens with IS for around 300 dollars.

I can't afford but probably one additional lens at this point, but I think I need to have at least one for options. Thoughts?

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[PhotoDave219]

Well before recommending anything I want/need to know what you prefer to photograph.

Based on a daytime lens, 55-200 IS is an excellent choice for a walk-around, all-purpose lens. You'll more than likely be happier with that.

A 50/1.8 or 1.4 is pretty much a nighttime/low light lens.

 

[Unomas]

Right now I'm kind of leaning for either a Canon 50mm 1.4 or Sigma 50/30 mm 1.4. I think it would be nice to have something that can get me that kind of sharpness, which is something I'm really looking for. I'm mostly looking to take shots of the park in general, architecture, people I'm with, and CMs. I also saw on DISboards that the lower f-stops take better night pictures from handheld. I don't see myself using a tripod in the parks so I want to attempt some handheld night photography. I know, I want it all. lol

 

[PhotoDave219]

Get the Canon.

Aftermarket/3rd party lenses just aren't a good.

I've never read the DISboards but Here's the whole f/stop in a nutshell. The f/stop measurement is how much light is let into a lens. More light you let in, the faster the shutter speed therefore more of a frozen action.

1.4 is probably the fastest you can reasonably afford.

 

[DebS]

I have a Sigma 30mm 1.4, Nikkor 50mm 1.8 and an old Nikkor 50mm 1.2
The Nikons are terrific in lowlight but a little too tight for WDW. IMHO
The Sigma is great for indoor ride shots. Any low light situation. Very fast and sharp. I really dislike using a tripod. The Sigma gave me the freedom to shoot without one in low light at a reasonable price.
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[KeithVH]

Which 'kit' lens? An EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS? Or the 17-85? Technically, with a little practice, and ignoring the whole concept of depth-of-field (that whole "sharp subject, out of focus background thing), you could probably handhold the IS lens to a couple of stops less than it is listed for, so not sure how much the 1.4 will get you. No doubt it is a killer lens - one of Canon's best. But unless you are buying it to achieve shallow DOF and can live without a zoom capability in the park, the 1.4 may be overkill. You COULD get the 1.8 for less than $100 (1/3 the price) and only lose 1 stop anyway. Still a dang good lens.

Are you also suggesting you want the 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 EF S IS? Good reach, and with IS, but carrying all that around on a warm day will be a pain UNLESS you are going to the park to take photos. Most people usually go to enjoy the park and take snapshots secondarily - Dave and a few others of us are the exception to the rule. Several people here do have an 18-200 ($300-500 depending on IS or not) as their only walkaround lens and most seem fairly happy with that. Just something to think about.

 

[Unomas]

Thank you for all of the great responses. I decided to go with the Canon 50mm 1.4. Picked it a couple of days ago and got to use it yesterday (the 4th), taking pictures of the family and such. Its a great lens and very sharp.

The kit lens is the 18-55mm 5/5.6 IS. Its a very good lens for a kit lens.

Also, I went ahead and purchased a Canon 70-200mm f/4 L (non-IS). I think it will be nice for use during the day. As far as getting tired. I don't forsee that being a major issue. I was planning on hauling a backpack around anyways and I really want to use this opportunity to take some great pictures. I don't get to go to Disney World very often.

 

[WDWFigment]

Get the Canon.

Aftermarket/3rd party lenses just aren't a good.

I've never read the DISboards but Here's the whole f/stop in a nutshell. The f/stop measurement is how much light is let into a lens. More light you let in, the faster the shutter speed therefore more of a frozen action.

1.4 is probably the fastest you can reasonably afford.

The Sigma 30 f/1.4 is one of the best third party lenses, at least in the Nikon mount, that I have ever used (it's their "EX" line, which is their top-of-the-line glass). I know it's rare to find an aftermarket lens that outperforms first party lenses, but I think the Sigma definitely does. I would buy it at a B&M store and check a few different copies, as there are some quality control issues (as is common with Sigma) on that lens.

If money is an issue, you might want to go with the 50 f/1.8. You're paying a lot extra for the additional speed, and unless you have a particular use for it, you may be wasting it (and it seems that you don't have a particular use for it).

 

[Unomas]

I do have a particular use for it. I want to use it in low light situations. I was also concerned about the build quality on the 1.8. I had heard some really bad things about that and I like to have quality products.

 

[WDWFigment]

I do have a particular use for it. I want to use it in low light situations. I was also concerned about the build quality on the 1.8. I had heard some really bad things about that and I like to have quality products.

No offense, but if you're originally comparing the lens to the kit lens, you may not have enough of a targeted use for it to justify buying the 1.4 over the 1.8. Low light situations is a bit broad, especially with the subtle difference offered between a 1.8 and a 1.4.

I guess I would consider a particular reason something such as wanting to shoot the caretaker scene in the Haunted Mansion, etc., not just "low light". Both will be fine for low light, and the casual user won't notice a difference between the two for that (in my opinion). Plus, you're looking at about a $300 difference in cost between the 1.4 lens and the 1.8.

I'm not familiar with the Canon lenses, so I can't speak as to a difference in build quality between the two.

 

[Unomas]

Well I don't have a specific use like that in mind. But if I wanted to take a picture of that I want to have the ability to do so. I don't think I need to layout a list of target pictures I want to justify buying it. Not to mention I will be using it in many other situations outside of Disney World.

I got the 1.4 and its a great lens. I like the build quality and the faster focusing engine. I read horror stories about the 1.8 actually breaking off on peoples cameras. I like to take care of my stuff but I guess accidents do happen. Either way it was enough to convince me otherwise.

I was asking about the kit lens earlier because I was unknowledgeable. I have been doing a ton of research lately and I realize now that they are apples and oranges.