saneproductions
Veteran
I just wrote this up for a friend so I figured I would post it here too. This is my priority list for lenses on APS-C.
For me lens priority went this way:
Fast standard zoom::
Canon 17-55 2.8 IS (just got one used for $850)
OR
Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC (around $550 (make sure you get VC version (same as IS)))
OR
New Sigma with same range and IS (or OS or whatever they call it) around $600
Fast 50::
Canon 50 1.8 (the 1.4 is much better for pulling focus)$99
AND/OR
Vintage 50 (Nikon, Zeiss, Leica with adapter - Not Canon FD, they don't work)$?
Wide Angle::
Tokina 11-16 2.8 $600 (tough to find, but my favorite lens)
Telephoto::
You may need this more than me, I don't really shoot telephoto.
Canon 70-200 series $600-2500
(you need IS with lenses this long so F4L IS is really minimum at $1100)
AND/OR
Canon 85 1.8
OR
Other brands. I have not purchased anything in this range, as I have primes in 90, 135 and 180 and I almost never shoot them. I really want the canon 85 though for portraits with AF. If you shoot sports (wakeboarding) you will need a 70-200 F4L IS with tripod collar as a minimum. Nice thing is you can rent these and try them. I found the 70-200 too long on the wide end for APS-C to be useful indoors for most shots.
Fast Normal Lens::
Canon 28 f1.8
OR
Sigma 30 1.4
For me lens priority went this way:
Fast standard zoom::
Canon 17-55 2.8 IS (just got one used for $850)
OR
Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC (around $550 (make sure you get VC version (same as IS)))
OR
New Sigma with same range and IS (or OS or whatever they call it) around $600
Fast 50::
Canon 50 1.8 (the 1.4 is much better for pulling focus)$99
AND/OR
Vintage 50 (Nikon, Zeiss, Leica with adapter - Not Canon FD, they don't work)$?
Wide Angle::
Tokina 11-16 2.8 $600 (tough to find, but my favorite lens)
Telephoto::
You may need this more than me, I don't really shoot telephoto.
Canon 70-200 series $600-2500
(you need IS with lenses this long so F4L IS is really minimum at $1100)
AND/OR
Canon 85 1.8
OR
Other brands. I have not purchased anything in this range, as I have primes in 90, 135 and 180 and I almost never shoot them. I really want the canon 85 though for portraits with AF. If you shoot sports (wakeboarding) you will need a 70-200 F4L IS with tripod collar as a minimum. Nice thing is you can rent these and try them. I found the 70-200 too long on the wide end for APS-C to be useful indoors for most shots.
Fast Normal Lens::
Canon 28 f1.8
OR
Sigma 30 1.4