Help with next lens purchase please

[Davey_Pitch]

Note: The below is a cut n paste from my identical thread on TP. Posting it here as I trust you lot and know you won't recommend me rubbish :D

Finally got enough money together to buy my first additional lens to go with my Canon 450D and the 18-55mm IS kit lens (found an old ISA account that had £180 in, and sold some games). The lens I'm looking at it the 55-250mm IS as it should complement the kit lens nicely giving me a pretty nice focal range. I'm fairly settled on that lens as well, as even though I could save a bit more and maybe get the 70-200mm F4 L, I'm still a newbie at this so splashing out that kind of money on a single lens seems a bit of a waste at the moment.

So, the help I'm after is exactly what I should get as well as the lens. All the equipment I have so far is the 450D, the kit lens, a Lowepro bag, a really old tripod that's a bit too heavy to lug around easily, and a memory card. That's it. I have no filters, no lens hoods, nothing. I've got about £250 in total to spend including the lens (so probably only £50 spare after buying the lens), so looking for any recommendations you wonderful people can give me. If you can also say why I should buy a particular filter, tripod etc, that would be awesome, as my knowledge of filters and tripods could be written on the back of a stamp in very large writing, twice.

So, help me spend my money please. Any and all advice welcome and much appreciated :)

[Dee]

If you have £50 spare?

50mm 1.8 all the way Davey :)

[Davey_Pitch]

That's on my shopping list for the future for sure, will probably look to get that in a month or two I think :)

[Davey_Pitch]

Ah yes, some gorgeous girlie gave me one of them as I recall :x

[Davey_Pitch]

Just seen this - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=112293 - so tempted to get it at asking, it'll give me nearly £100 spare :/

[Dee]

Do it Davey!

[Davey_Pitch]

The only thing I'm wary of is if it comes and it's not as mint condition as he says it is. Plus, if I buy it new I get the full 1 year warranty (which would cover our holiday) whereas if I bought that lens I'd have no cover. I'm thinking it's worth the extra £40 for the warranty and peace of mind.

[Matblack]

I was going to suggest that lens, its a good piece of glass from what I've heard, the 200 L f4 is good don't get me wrong but its not quite long enough for a lot of things like motorsport or close up nature stuff and although I love mine I do sometime wish I had a longer zoom of the same quality.

The IS on that will win you a stop or two, I'd say its a good choice :)

Gives you money left for a 50mm, you have to have a 50mm ;)

Seller on TP are invariably good, I recently bought a 17-70mm Sigma from a guy over there and it was pristine, these guys love photography and keep their kit in good order.

MB

[Davey_Pitch]

I'd love to get a nifty, and as said it's on my shopping list, but it's back up to £80. Wish I'd picked one up when they were virtually £50 new.

[Joe 90]

i got my nifty for £30 on OCUK MM many, many moons ago :p ;D

[Davey_Pitch]

I don't mind getting a 50mm from TP as they're relatively cheap, but I can't really afford to spend £150 on a lens and risk it not being as good as I'd like. I'm sure the guy has kept it in good condition, but when I've got the money for a change, I think I might as well buy a new one.

Think I'll definitely need to get the lens cap for the 55-250mm, and maybe a CPL as well.

[Matblack]

What size is the filter thread I have a 58mm for sale on ebay

MB

[Davey_Pitch]

It's 58mm I believe :)

[Davey_Pitch]

Canon 55-250mm IS, lens cap, and Understanding Exposure book ordered :)

[Davey_Pitch]

You're welcome to have a read of it when I'm done with it :)

[Davey_Pitch]

As long as I get to play with your 40D ;)

[lostkat]

That book is pretty good. I've got it :)

[Chuckles]

The IS on that will win you a stop or two, I'd say its a good choice :)

Depends what you are shooting though. IS is worthless on moving objects. If he was going to use it for sports, gigs etc you'd be better saving the money and going for a non-IS lens, or preferably saving up more and getting something faster.

[Davey_Pitch]

I highly doubt I'd use it much for sport or gigs, though motorsport is something I'd consider as Oulton Park is only about 45 minutes away from here. I'm mainly looking to use it on my holiday in Disney, Florida in the summer, so will be using it mainly for landscapes and things like that.

[Matblack]

Depends what you are shooting though. IS is worthless on moving objects. If he was going to use it for sports, gigs etc you'd be better saving the money and going for a non-IS lens, or preferably saving up more and getting something faster.

This is true, I don't actually have any IS lenses, pretty much for this reason :D, I prefer to have the extra stops myself :)

MB

[Davey_Pitch]

In an ideal world so would I, but unfortunately funds dictate what I buy. I'm sure this lens will do me well for now :)

[Davey_Pitch]

Woot, it arrived nice and early this morning. Was going to bring it into work for a play but it's not nice weather here today and I've got some things on. Hopefully after work it'll brighten up so I can go for a wander to the local park and have a good go with it :)