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Choosing my next Canon lens

Need lens-buying advice from Canon photography nerds.

The Mrs. and Me are starting to really dig taking photos again -- she with a Rebel XT and me with a 30D. We currently share joint custody of 1) the XT's standard 18-55mm zoom (blech) and 2) the glorious and much-loved 50mm f1.4 (yay!).

So, let's say, hypothetically, a fella wanted to pick up a new Canon lens to add to these two cameras' modest arsenal. If we wanted a fast, flexible lens (that would mostly get used for baby picture-taking), what would you guys recommend? Possibly a higher-end, faster zoom?

devon's picture

24-70 2.8L all the way

I second the 24-70 2.8L pick from mcmetzger. I have a 40D with the 50mm 1.4, and the 24-70 2.8L. It's an amazing lens. A longer zoom, like the 70-200, will be too long, especially with the crop factor the bodies you have give you. For shooting people, even small ones, the 24-70 on a 1.3 or 1.6 cropping body is the perfect range for shooting indoors up close, and still zooming in enough when they're in the yard playing ball, or eating things they shouldn't.

That's the lens that LIVES on my camera.

 
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