Flash or Lens???

[SCTexas]

Hey guys I am in the process of building on my camera collection and I have a question.

I am an amateur photographer that is starting to get more interested in photography. I recently purchased a Canon Xti with the kit lens. I am looking at upgrading to either the 18-55 IS lens or the 430EX Speedlite.

I hear pros and cons for both. the IS system should help in capturing crisper photos with less light and wothout a tripod and the flash will certainly give me better lighting in dark or night shots.

What do you think I should get first???

Thanks!

[snipersix]

first question, what type of shots do u take most often? Night shots, in door shots?

[vachss]

Buy gear based on a need you perceive rather than on what we all suggest.

Do you use your pop-up flash a lot? Do you find that it has insufficient power or that you want the diffuse effect of bounce illumination? If not then it doesn't sound like you're feeling the need for a new flash.

Do you often find that you wish you could go to longer or shorter focal lengths than your 18-55 lens covers? Do you find many situations where you wish you could open the lens up wider than f/3.5-5.6? If not then it doesn't sound like you're feeling the need for a new lens.

You may indeed be in need of both a new lens and flash, but don't get them "just 'cuz". Define your need first.

[BMWE90]

I would get another lens like 55-250mm IS or something along that line. It costs about $269 on Amazon right now. Why would you want to go from an 18-55mm non-IS to an 18-55 IS lens? Seems like a waste of money IMO.

[SCTexas]

Originally Posted by snipersix

first question, what type of shots do u take most often? Night shots, in door shots?

I just started and I think I will be trying a little bit of everything since I am exploring my new vision through the camera.

[SCTexas]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

I would get another lens like 55-250mm IS or something along that line. It costs about $269 on Amazon right now. Why would you want to go from an 18-55mm non-IS to an 18-55 IS lens? Seems like a waste of money IMO.

From what i hear the IS will help image clarity by up to 3-4 stops. That seems like a pretty big advantage shooting longer exposures and in low light environments by hand.

[SCTexas]

How about a good fisheye lens/Wide angle at a good cost? Some of the car photoshoots I have seen on this site are amazing.

[snipersix]

Originally Posted by tightwhite3

From what i hear the IS will help image clarity by up to 3-4 stops. That seems like a pretty big advantage shooting longer exposures and in low light environments by hand.

yes IS is definitly an advantage. I think what his pointing out is, you should just get another IS lens with a better focal lens, cause you will be wasting your money on getting the exact the same lens which is 18-55 mm except that your getting the IS version.

I personally have the 55-250mm IS. And I love it. It has the perfect zoom with the advantage of the IS as well. I rarely use the tripod with that lens. Not unless im doing long exposures.

[danniexi]

IF you can, hold off on mods and invest in some WORTHY lenses...

I recently got the 24-70mm f/2.8 L and I love it to bits. The build quality, the fast focusing, the sharpness of pictures... one of the best lenses to have with a decent focal range.

Here's a site that I always refer to when looking up lenses. The author writes decent reviews and also posts pictures he took with those lenses. http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/. Go towards the bottom for specific reviews.

I must say... once you go L, you probably dont want anything else. My next purchase will be the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L and then the 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5... from there i'll start moving away from zoom lenses for specific needs (fisheye, the monster 300mm+ lenses for wildlife, etc.). I only got into photography a year ago. my suggestion is to read a LOT and make sure you buy lenses that suit your needs (like everyone else said).

[snipersix]

wow L. Now thats a baller lens definitly. I wish i have the money to buy those L lens

[SCTexas]

Originally Posted by danniexi

IF you can, hold off on mods and invest in some WORTHY lenses...

I recently got the 24-70mm f/2.8 L and I love it to bits. The build quality, the fast focusing, the sharpness of pictures... one of the best lenses to have with a decent focal range.

Here's a site that I always refer to when looking up lenses. The author writes decent reviews and also posts pictures he took with those lenses. http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/. Go towards the bottom for specific reviews.

I must say... once you go L, you probably dont want anything else. My next purchase will be the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L and then the 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5... from there i'll start moving away from zoom lenses for specific needs (fisheye, the monster 300mm+ lenses for wildlife, etc.). I only got into photography a year ago. my suggestion is to read a LOT and make sure you buy lenses that suit your needs (like everyone else said).

Yeah I don't think I am going to make the jump to L class until I am completely comfortable with the basics first. I have heard nothing but great things about the L series but it is too much of an investment for me right now.

[Gig103]

You should pick up a "Thrifty Fifty" - Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens for ~$90. The f/1.8 is a huge advantage over the f/5.6 on the 55mm on your kit lens, at least for indoors, or portraits

Other than that, you are probably best off listening to the other guys about buying what you need, not what you think you need. It's my opinion that if you do buy the IS version of the kit lens, you check ebay for someone who bought the XSi kit and is selling the lens, you could possibly get it pretty cheap that way (?). My opinion would be that you might want to get something at a telephoto range (200-300mm) just because you already have something sort of wide-angle (18mm).

I hope this helps!