amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Hi Bill,

A few things you might find useful to know about Canon and other lenses:

There are several types of autofocus drives that make for different levels of performance. Among Canon lenses, "micro motor" lenses are the least expensive type and don't have either "STM" or "USM" markings on them. Micro motor focused lenses are typically more "entry level" models that are slower, noisier focusing, not as good tracking movement and may not be as accurate focusing. The first two versions of the EF 50mm f/1.8 are examples of this type of lens. "STM" or "stepper motor" lenses are faster, quieter and smoother operating... the current EF 50mm f/1.8 model now uses STM, for example. Because they are quiet, STM lenses are generally more desirable for videography. "USM" or "ultrasonic motor" lenses are the fastest of all and relatively quiet, too. USM is used on mid-grade to the most premium lenses and is desirable for fast action shooting, tracking moving subjects... sports, wildlife, birding, etc... but generally isn't as quiet or smooth operating as STM, so may be less ideal for video. AFAIK, only one lens has been made using all three types of focus drive... the EF-S 18-135mm (see below). Canon states the USM version of that lens is 2X to 4X faster focusing than the STM version (which in turn is significantly faster, quieter than the cheaper micro motor version). Sigma "HSM" and Tamron "USD" lenses use similar, ultrasonic motor drive systems.

Canon has recently introduced a few lenses using a new "Nano USM" focus drive which is not only fast like USM, but also smooth and quiet like STM. They claim it's the "best of both worlds" and makes for lenses that are usable both for videography and demanding action still photography. The EF-S 18-135mm IS USM lens (see below) happens to be one of the three lenses Canon has intro'd within the past year that uses this new type of focus drive. AFAIK, these lenses are only marked "USM". I am not aware of any other manufacturers using this type of focus drive.

"IS" or "image stabilization" is a very nice feature to have on any lens, but is particularly helpful with longer telephotos that are more difficult to hold steady. While IS doesn't help freeze subject movement, higher shutter speeds are needed to accomplish that, IS does help counteract camera shake significantly. Older Canon IS lenses (some of which are still in production) are rated to give "2 to 3 stops" of assistance.... while newer ones are said to give "3 to 4 stops" worth. For example, on your camera a 300mm lens without IS you may need to use at least 1/500 shutter speed to insure a high percentage of stable shots hand held... But, that same lens with IS can be used with confidence at 1/250, 1/125 (two stops), 1/60 (3 stops) or possibly even 1/30 (4 stops). Good user technique is still important, and - again - it can't stop subject movement, but IS greatly expands what one is able to do with their camera and lenses. Some of your current lenses might have IS. Sigma calls it "OS" (optical stabilization) and Tamron offers "VC" (vibration control) lenses.

"Fluorite" is a crystal that Canon uses extensively in the optical formula of their telephoto lenses... three out of four of the Canon 70-200mm zooms, the Canon 100-400mm and 200-400mm zooms, and all but a few of the Canon prime lenses 300mm and longer use it to help make for extremely sharp images with very little chromatic aberration. In the 1970s and 1980s Canon pioneered processes to grow their own fluorite and shape it into lens elements. While it occurs in nature, fluorite is rare in purity and sizes large enough to use in lenses, which along with a high failure rate trying to shape it into optical elements, made it very expensive to use. Most manufacturers dabbled in using FL and produced a few lenses with it over the years (all telephotos, AFAIK). But thanks to their efforts beginning decades ago, Canon has done so far more extensively and until very recently was the only manufacturer still using it. Within the last year or so, Nikon has converted many of their lenses to use fluorite, including a 70-200mm zoom and a number of super telephoto primes 400mm and up. They're charging premium prices for their "FL" series Nikkors, though (compared both to Canon's lenses and to Nikon's own prior models without fluorite). Sigma uses "FLD" elements in some of their lenses, which they describe as "fluorite like".

Canon "L-series" lenses are their "luxury" or premium quality models. In general, they offer top image quality with best build, sealing and pro-oriented durability and design/functionality. HOWEVER, not all L are all that special and there are some great lenses that aren't L-series, as well. Canon's criteria that they say a lens must meet to qualify include: 1. Leading-edge design, materials, manufacture, build/sealing and durability. 2. Exotic lens elements, and 3. Compatibility with all Canon EOS cameras past, present and future. #1 is somewhat subjective. #2 rules out some lenses such as the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens (non-IS version) which is superb and identical in build to some L, but just doesn't need "exotic" lens elements to produce image quality on par with some of the best Ls. #3 means that NO EF-S lens will ever qualify as an L-series, no matter how good it is. EF-S lenses are "crop only", designed to not be able to fit on and incompatible with film, full frame digital and APS-H EOS cameras. In fact, some of the EF-S lenses (incl. 17-55 and 15-85 mentioned below) out-perform or match the performance of some L-series, at lower cost, lighter weight and smaller size, just may not be quite as well built/sealed.

Best general purpose, "walk-around" zooms for Canon under the 120mm focal length of the Sigma...

- Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.... excellent image quality, mid-grade build quality, goes wider than most lenses of this type (there's a significant difference between 15mm and 18mm.... at the wide end one or two mm makes a whole lot more diff than at the long end). About $900 new (or around $650 refurbished or used). Someone who didn't want to carry a separate wide angle lens and found 15mm to be wide enough might choose this lens. The primary shortcoming of it is the slower, variable aperture that will make it less able to create background blurs (see 50mm and 85mm prime lenses below). But it has high performance IS to help steady shots, perhaps off-setting the need for large aperture/low light capabilities.

- Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM.... excellent image quality, mid-grade build quality, with f/2.8 aperture it's one of the faster "walk around" zooms available, to be better able to shoot in low light and blur down backgrounds. $900 new (approx. $700 refurbished or used). Note that a large aperture generally means a narrower range of of focal lengths. This EF-S lens outperforms a number of L-series... For example, it's got better image quality and a stop larger aperture than the EF 17-40mm f/4L... It's also got better image quality than the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L first and II version. The current EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III version has at least as good IQ, but costs twice as much, is bigger and heavier and doesn't have as wide range of focal lengths. Of them all, the EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is the only L-series with IS like the EF-S 17-55mm offers... but the L is a stop slower.

- Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM... pretty decent image quality, mid-grade build quality, wide range of focal length is versatile and this latest "USM" version has fast autofocus. (Earlier "STM" version is the identical optically so has equal image quality, but is slower focusing. Both STM and USM version have better image quality and overall performance than the "micro motor" focus, first version.)

- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM ($125) or EF 50mm f/1.4 USM ($350) might be wanted to complement a zoom like the 15-85mm above, can serve well as a fast portrait lens indoors, where you have limited working space.

- Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM ($350) might be wanted to complement the 17-55mm above, as a fast portrait lens with a bit more reach for outdoors, where you have more working space, and possibly for indoor sports.

- Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ($300) or EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM ($650 new, $400 refurb.) would be a nice addition to your kit for landscape, seascape, cityscape, sunrise/sunset shots. A wide angle such as these gives a very different effect and doesn't generally require a large aperture, since great depth of field precludes very much background blur and the lens is reasonably easy to handhold steady even at slower shutter speeds.

- The 18-55mm and 55-250mm "kit" lenses you already have actually might be pretty decent. While they are pretty plasticky (esp. the 18-55), there have been several versions of each. The latest "STM" versions of both are decent performers optically and reasonably fast, smooth, quiet focusing. The EF-S 55-250mm IS STM, in particular, is very competitive with a lot of other telephoto lenses... close focusing, with very good image quality, reasonably good build, while remaining fairly compact and lightweight. The above "walk around" lenses might serve as upgrades to the 18-55mm.

- Canon EF 70-200mm "L"-series... excellent, pro-quality, four versions to choose among, might serve as an upgrade to the EF-S 55-250mm (though IMO you shouldn't be too quick about it). Both the f/4 versions (one with IS, the other without) use fluorite. So does the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM "II", the most expensive version at around $1900... as well as the largest and heaviest. The non-IS, f/2.8 version ($1250) is the oldest design of the four and the only one currently not using fluorite. The f/4 versions are about 2/3 the size and weight of the f/2.8 zooms. The non-IS f/4 is the most affordable at about $600. That's a very good deal, but I feel IS is important with a telephoto such as this, so would recommend at least the 70-200mm f/4L IS at about $1100 (used/refurb around $850-950). NOTE: The f/2.8 lenses come with a tripod mounting ring. That's a separately sold accessory for the f/4 versions, costing about $145 for the Canon OEM Tripod Ring A-2.... but third party alternatives like Vello are avail. for around $50. Any of these lenses would be an upgrade to your 55-250mm... they are at least one stop faster at the 200mm end of the zoom, two stops with the bigger f/2.8 versions... they're "internal focusing/internal zooming", which means they don't change length when zoomed or focused, making them better sealed against dust and moisture, as well as better balancing. But IF/IZ and bigger apertures also mean they aren't as compact for storage, as your 55-250mm. All the 70-200s also use USM focus drive, which is faster than your 55-250mm (whether it's micro motor or STM.... there is no USM version of that zoom). Yes, the 70-200mm would give you better image quality... but probably not as much of an improvement as you might hope. This isn't saying the 70-200 aren't excellent... in fact, they are. But the 55-250mm are better optically than many people give them credit!

- For now the Sigma lens might do what you need (I hope it's the "OS" or stabilized version), but at some point in the future you may want to consider the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L IS USM "II" as a possible upgrade. It's a $2000 lens, but offers superb image quality (fluorite!), very good L-series build quality, high performance autofocus and image stabilization. Tamron has a new 100-400mm coming available too that costs about half as much and may be good, too... though I suspect it would be less of an upgrade. I wouldn't recommend the similarly priced Sigma 100-400mm because it lacks and can't be optionally fitted with a tripod mounting ring, which I consider to be a requirement for a lens of this type. The Canon lens includes a tripod ring and Tamron offers an optional one for their 100-400mm for an add'l $150. HOWEVER, there's a saying among bird photographers: "There's no such thing as a long enough lens." So you may want to consider other options such as the 150-600mm lenses from Tamron and Sigma ($1500 to $2000 for the better of those models). An alternative, the Canon 100-400mm II works well with their 1.4X III teleconverter.... while this combo won't be able to autofocus on the T3i you use currently, a future upgrade camera might be able to handle it (T7i, 77D, 80D and 7D Mark II all can autofocus 100-400mm + 1.4X... giving an effective 140-560mm lens.)

- There are other interesting possibilities. For example, if you wanted to shoot macro, too... I might recommend the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM as a compact, high quality lens... Or I really like the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro from Canon, both of which (non-IS and IS/L) are the only lenses around this focal length that can optionally be fitted with a very useful tripod mounting ring.... Or there is the Tamron 60mm f/2.0 which makes for a better portrait lens than most macro, thanks to it's stop larger aperture than most offer (the Tammy slower focusing than the Canon 60mm... but it's fast enuf for macro and portraits.)

Have fun shopping, but don't be too quick to simply "upgrade" what you've got. I always recommend looking for ways to expand your possibilities first, then worry about maximizing quality with possible upgrades later. For example, if it were me I'd want an wide angle for those seascapes and sunsets... The portrait lens such as 50mm, 85mm or maybe a 60mm macro/portrait would be another way to expand your capabilities.

There are other things you might find more beneficial... such as getting lens hoods for any of the lenses that lack them... a flash for indoors and stop-action.... a tripod for more carefully planned landscape photography and support for big lenses while waiting in a blind for birds to arrive... high quality circular polarizer and/or neutral density filters for landscape and some other types of photography.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Camerapop.
This is exactly the direction that is beginning to form up in my mind.
Thanks

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

You might want to check out the latest Jeff Cable Blog post. Shows what can be done with a camera lens and single Speedlite...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Canon 70-200 f4L or Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 - the II version. Both GREAT. The Sigma only available used

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Alan,

That was way more than I hoped to learn. Thank you.

Both of my Canon zooms are IS and the Sigma OS.
I do have a several tripods, one of which is very adaquet for now.

My Lenses also have polarized and clear filters, the Sign has a hood.

Learning what helps me to improve is a challange. Fortunately I enjoy reading. Now that winter is closing in I'll be doing more experimenting inside or through, hopefully clean, Windows.

Just learning that what equipment I have now is very adaquet for my skill level is a huge bonus. Buying new gadgets can be fun but there is only so much money to go around and all of today's New cool toys become old news very quickly. My goal is not to gather a large stockpile of photo gear but to gather the skill to capture good images.

Thanks
Bill