Another Canon lens question

[kickstart]

I've got a 40D for my daughter for her photography degree and I combined this with a 17-85 IS lens.

Having used this for a few weeks (hey, it's a while until Christmas) I'm now thinking of keeping this for myself.

I've just bought another 40D and I was going to get a similar lens again - but the question I have is this. A S/H 17-85 IS will cost me around £200 and I know it's a good lens but I was thinking that for around £150 I could buy her a 18-55 IS lens and a 80-200 (non IS) - approx £155.

I was thinking that the versatility that this set up would offer may outweigh the lower quality of the lenses.

What do people think of this idea?

 

[HoppyUK]

Doing her degree she will need as much versatility for learning as possible so I follow your thinking there.

Just swap the 80-200 for the EF-S 55-250 IS, which is exceptionally good for less than £200.

Great combo

 

[Nifkin]

Doing her degree she will need as much versatility for learning as possible so I follow your thinking there.

Just swap the 80-200 for the EF-S 55-250 IS, which is exceptionally good for less than £200.

Great combo

I had the 18-55IS on my 450D, and have still got the 55-250, and they are both amazing lenses for the money, and will provide your daughter with almost 14x zoom capability with IS to boot (which is especially useful for the telephoto one)! One-stop Digital will sell you both brand new for about £230 all in, so it's possible you can find them both 2nd hand for £200, but I'd say it's definitely worth paying a bit more for them if you have to.

 

[kickstart]

Thanks for the advice - There do not seem to be many of the EF-S 55-250 IS lenses on ebay though, mostly they seem to be new ones from Hong Kong.

I like the idea of this combination and the IS would be a help for her (she's not yet mastered always picking the right shutter speed!)

 

[Dave450]

I got the 55-250 IS from Hong Kong on ebay. It is an awesome lens with the benefit of IS too!

 

[Nifkin]

Thanks for the advice - There do not seem to be many of the EF-S 55-250 IS lenses on ebay though, mostly they seem to be new ones from Hong Kong.

I like the idea of this combination and the IS would be a help for her (she's not yet mastered always picking the right shutter speed!)

If you're sizing up the Hong Kong route i'd go for the One-stop Digital option, as many people here have used them and there doesn't seem to be an issue concerning tax/duty with them.

 

[kickstart]

£230.44 is a pretty good price for both lenses brand new, thanks for the heads up.