Quote Originally Posted by Sheiky


For just the extra zoom, you could also look at the Canon EF-S 55-250 IS. Second hand they are really cheap and you do get Image Stabilization which can be very helpful at longer focal lengths at minimum apertures of f5.6


The combination of the 18-55mm kit lens and the 55-250mm lens is often sold as a bundle with Rebel bodies. It's a good 'budget' combination. It seems likekiuilop wants to replace the kit lens with something more versatile (bigger zoom range) but in general, I agree - better glass goes a long way to getting better image quality, and in that price range I think replacing the kit lens with a lens that offers better IQ and the same focal range would be better than the same IQ and a longer range. The Tamron 17-50 non-VC fits that description well.


Quote Originally Posted by Sheiky
Personally I think the 18-135 is too expensive for what it offers over the 18-55. But that's my thought.

For a new copy of the lens, yes, I certainly agree, Jan. Since the OP is looking into used lenses, that may be an option - at least locally for me, the 18-135mm seems to go for ~$250-275, and the copies are all pretty new (because the lens was only released a year ago). I see the 18-135mm and 18-200mm come up pretty frequently on the used boards, I expect because people who get them for the versatility subsequently find themselves wanting better image quality. On the other hand, I only rarely see 15-85mm lenses come up for sale - not sure if that's because the IQ is good so people hang onto them, or because that lens is even more overpriced for what you get, so not many people buy it in the first place.


--John