[joachim]

Greetings, Photozone!

 

I'm new to the forum and, incidentally, to photography. I had just recently purchased a Canon 650D, which had included the following lenses:

 

- Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 
I know I'm jumping the gun here, as I have yet to really immerse myself in photography. But I'd like to know anyway. I intend to focus mainly on portraits (since I'd like to help my wife launch a photo blog) and everyday (general) photography. And, since I intend to stick to Canon if I do upgrade bodies, I'd like to know which lens or set of lenses, whether Canon or not (e.g., Sigma, Tamron), I should invest in for each area of interest. Also, from, what I know, the EF-S line is only for cropped bodies. So, I'd appreciate Canon recommendations within the EF-only line. And, of course, I'd also like to get your learned opinion on which third-party lenses match up well with Canon's lenses (some of which are exponentially more expensive than the camera itself!).
 
Simply put, I would very much like to hear your recommendations for lenses I could use now with my 650D and for any higher Canon model.
 
I thank you so very much for your help and patience.
 
All the best!

 

 

As pointed out, th 50/1.8 is a good lens for portraiture.  The 18-135 offers quite a range of focal length and can be used for all sort of things - though it has its limitations.

In particular since you are new to photography, I strongly suggest to try what you have and gain some experience.  You might be happy with what you have - if not come back and tell us what you dislike about your current kit and we can suggest how one could overcome the issues.