Help Choosing a New Lens

[meganwebb]

I am interested in getting a new lens for my camera, i currently have the canon rebel xs with the kit lens 18-55mm and a 70-300 mm lens both are canon brand.
I want a lens that can take landscape photos , wildlife photos and possibly macro photography with the speed and precision of the kit lens. i find my 70-300mm lens is really slow auto focusing and such which is really a nuisance so it hardly gets used because it causes me to miss out on wildlife opportunities.
Any ideas ?

Also looking at getting the Kata 321 go 20 Camera Bag anyone know if this is a good bag?

[Wicked Dark]

woah. all that in one lens? and you want quality? not gonna find it, I'm afraid. when you try to put so many optical conditions together in one lens, quality always suffers. it's like the cork screw in a swiss army knife, yeah it'll do the job, but there are better tools out there. a good macro lens will never be a good long telephoto. a good wide angle lens will never be a good macro. to design an excellent lens for a single purpose, you cannot make it an excellent lens for something else.

a better idea is to analyze your photographs and pinpoint two things; what kinds of photos do you want to take that you can't now, and second what is wrong with the photos you do take...is it the lens's fault or yours?

[Andrew]

Megan, if you find that lens let the rest of us know where you got it. Ditto what Ms D. said. You indicate "possibly macro" which sounds like you're not too committed so let's throw that one out for now. Your remaining two lenses are of a range that are pretty good for your remaining two, wildlife and landscape. Sounds like you're just after better results than what you're getting. You need to answer if it's technique or equipment. There's lots of people here to help so post some shots in the critique queue and let them fire away.

[Realist]

I was actually looking at canon lenses a lot lately. The 15-85mm IS USM f/3.5-5.6 would probably be what you're looking for. It gets pretty wide for landscape, and It also focuses for macro. It's almost L class, but will never be because it's AF-S lens. All this does come with a price though, around $800 American.

[meganwebb]

I am uploading some of my work there now,

[Kawarthabob]

Buying a lens brings up many questions. Which you have already asked yourself.And i have to agree with WD , you wont get all you asked outta one lens. I too have the Canon XS with the lenses you mentioned. I too want to add lenses to my gear ( all the time ,just like the rest of us). If you want your camera body to "click click click" like a pro model you have to know first what it's capable of and understand the theory of "light" coming in through what you have. The longer a lens the more shake will appear and your photos will be blurry. Get yourself a tripod and you will see a difference. I have a fishing buddy that advised me once after i wanted a new rod like the pros, " a thousand dollar rod wont make ya catch bigger fish if ya don't know how to use it". The people on this sight are great for tips and from learning from. My photography has gone up way better since i've been a member here. We all want the top of the line equipment.

[Richard]

This site lets you view sample images taken with most lenses and cameras.

[meganwebb]

Critique Wildlife Photography

[Matt K.]

I am interested in getting a new lens for my camera that can take landscape photos , wildlife photos and possibly macro photography with the speed and precision of the kit lens.

Also looking at getting the Kata 321 go 20 Camera Bag anyone know if this is a good bag?

Better open your wallet and get three lenses: Sigma 10-20 for the landscape would be good - nice wide angle, Sigma 120-300 with teleconverter for wildlife, and a 80 or 100mm macro lens. Not familiar with Canon (I live on the dark side and shoot with Nikon) lenses that much, but I have found that using thrid party lenses gets you away from the high price of the "brand" lens and I am very happy with my Sigmas.

If you are considering the Kata bag, I'd opt for the 30. It will hold your camera body with a long lens easily and has many other features. I am very happy with mine. And it is stuffed to the brim (not only lenses, but also teleconverter, flash and what have you....)

[Andrew]

I have the 10 and it's a great bag for daily carry. (could use the 20 though) I use a larger Lowepro bag for anything other than a quick stroll. One thing you will find with all bags is that very soon you'll want another.