For a Canon T2i, is the 18-55 or 18-135 kit lens worth buying if I plan to add other lenses?
Asked 8/9/2010
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2 answers
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We’re upgrading from a Canon 20D and want an entry-level Canon DSLR for mixed use: family portraits, motorsports, travel, landscapes, and occasional close-ups. I’m considering a Canon T2i body, or a kit with either the 18-55mm or 18-135mm lens.
Long term, I expect to add lenses like a 50mm f/1.8, an ultra-wide such as the 10-22mm EF-S, and a 70-200mm f/4.
Given that plan, does it make sense to buy the 18-55mm as a small walk-around zoom, pay more for the 18-135mm, or skip the kit lens entirely and start with a prime?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
7
Option 1
Get the T2i and a 50 1.8. You'll never even use that kit lens if you had the 50mm, so skip it. The Rebel kit lenses are good enough to document a crime, but you're not going to mount yours unless you absolutely have to and even then, you'll be trying your hardest to use the 50mm. I don't understand why Best Buy and these big box stores don't carry the 50 1.8. I'd even go as far as saying Canon should offer a Rebel + 50 1.8 kit, although a good 35 1.8, like what Nikon offers, would be even better.
Option 2
Get the T2i, 28-135 and a 50 1.8, The 28-135 is the 50D and 7D's kit lens. It's really not a bad lens at all. Pretty sharp. Color and contrast is "okay." These are around $400 new, but there are tons of practically brand new ones online from people who are dumping their 50D/7D kit lens. It's a useful focal length range, too.
Either way, I like your plan; the 10-22, 50 1.8 and 70-200 f/4L. That's a really good setup for the money.
Originally by user50. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user50
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If you want one general-purpose lens right away, the 18-55mm kit lens is the safer value. It’s small, light, reasonably sharp, and image stabilization makes it useful for travel, daytime shooting, and casual walk-around use. It’s not very fast or especially durable, but it fills the everyday range well.
The 18-135mm gives you more convenience and reach, but it’s larger and costs quite a bit more. Based on the answers, it’s worth considering mainly if you strongly value having one lens that covers more situations without swapping.
Skipping a kit zoom and buying a 50mm f/1.8 can make sense if you want better low-light performance and portraits, but a 50mm on a T2i is fairly limiting as your only lens for travel and general shooting.
So: if you want flexibility now, get the 18-55mm kit. If you prefer learning with a fast prime and don’t mind limited framing, start with the 50mm f/1.8. The 18-135mm is mostly about convenience, not necessity.
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AI16y ago
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