Zooms

Super Budget Zoom
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Decent lens with solid reviews very hard to beat the price. If shopping around make sure you don’t purchase the non-APO version which is crummy.
Price: $189.00

Budget Zoom -
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Very good lens with IS (image stabilization) which allows you to get sharper images with less light- nicely compliments the kit lens.
Price: $250

Mid-Level Zoom
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras
Some call this a hidden “L” lens. L lenses are Canon’s professional level lenses that offer superb optics at a serious price. The lens is excellent and includes IS and USM (ultra sonic motor for focusing).
Price: $540

High End Zoom
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
A beautiful “L” lens at an affordable price. You don’t get IS but what you do get is a lens that is bright and sharp at all apertures.
Price: $650

Serious Wildlife/Sports
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO RF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Getting 500mm of reach for ~$1000 is amazing, especially when it is at this quality level, downsides: big/heavy, no IS and you will need lots of light at the longer focal lengths.
Price: $650

OR

Canon – Telephoto zoom lens – 100 mm – 400 mm – f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM – Canon EF
Better quality, IS and a little less reach for a chunk more change.
Price: $1300

Walk-around

This is a difficult category to recommend – Some lean toward having the convenience of large focal range (i.e. the 18-200ish lenses) some want fast and light and some want something in between. You really need to take a look at the type of shooting you do and decide which of the following lenses is the best fit for you.

Budget
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens
Don’t be quick to replace this lens. The earlier kit lenses were crummy but the current IS version is quite capable and covers a useful range.
Price: Free with your camera

More range and USM (faster, more reliable focus)
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLR’s
Similar to the kit lens with more range and the quick USM focus.
Price: $430

or

FAST & Affordable
Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
A constant f/2.8 lets in lots of light, a nice range at an excellent price. Not very wide starting at 28mm.
Price: $380

Pricey but excellent
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Fairly limited range but excellent quality and perfect for landscapes.
Price: $760

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Very expensive but gives you IS, USM and a constant f/2.8 – is it worth it?
Price: $1000

Ultra-Convenient!
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
One lens that covers a very large range (11x) You do sacrifice quality and will experience distortion at the wide end.
Price: $580

OR

Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Suffers from similar problems but not any more so than the Canon and has the additional reach.
Price: $590

Wide-angles

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Solid lens, widest in its class at a decent price.
Price: $499

or Tokina AT-X116PRDXC AT-X PRO DX 11-16mm Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Canon
Less range but sharper and fast with a constant aperture of f/2.8
Price: $799

Primes

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Everyone should own the “nift-fifty” it is cheap and a great lens to learn/practice with shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
Price: Just a shade under $100

If you hope to do more portraiture check out the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Longer focal length, slightly sharper lens, faster focus and 8-blade aperture make this an excellent portrait lens.
Price: $440

Macro

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Excellent Macro lens. On a crop sensor the focal length can be a little long.
Price: $540

or

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Digital SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Macro and portraiture suitable lens.
Price: $399

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