Recommend me a lens?

[Minty]

Hello, I'm brand new here and new to photography as well. I have an entry level camera (Canon Rebel T5) and have been messing around with it for a couple years. I think it is time to move onto a better lens. I have been googling all day but I get more and more overwhelmed at all the options. The am looking for a lens that is great for photographing groups of people, portraits, animals, etc. My budget is $500.
What lens would you professionals recommend?

[asnow]

One question I have is ... what animals are you considering photographing. Is it pets such as dogs, cats where you will be fairly close to them or is it wild animals a distance away.

If it is pets then the lens that works for groups of people and portraits would also work for the those animals. I would recommend trying what they call the nifty fifty a 50mm f1.8. This is a prime lens (fixed focal length). You can get that for under $200. Being a prime lens it will better than the kit lens that came with the camera. If you want higher quality then I would spring for the 50mm f1.4. at about $450.

If you want people, portraits, and wildlife then you will probably need a telephoto zoom. The one in your price range is the the 55-250 f4-5.6 which is about $400. The quality of this lens will be about the same as your kit lens. To get higher quality will cost you much more than $500.

Hope this helps

[Minty]

One question I have is ... what animals are you considering photographing. Is it pets such as dogs, cats where you will be fairly close to them or is it wild animals a distance away.

If it is pets then the lens that works for groups of people and portraits would also work for the those animals. I would recommend trying what they call the nifty fifty a 50mm f1.8. This is a prime lens (fixed focal length). You can get that for under $200. Being a prime lens it will better than the kit lens that came with the camera. If you want higher quality then I would spring for the 50mm f1.4. at about $450.

If you want people, portraits, and wildlife then you will probably need a telephoto zoom. The one in your price range is the the 55-250 f4-5.6 which is about $400. The quality of this lens will be about the same as your kit lens. To get higher quality will cost you much more than $500.

Hope this helps

Thank you for your reply!
I suppose mostly pet photos but I would also like a lens that will stay sharp if I am taking a photo of a person or animal that is somewhat far away.

[theantiquetiger]

If you don't want to break the bank, go with Tamron lenses. Buy them used off eBay for 1/2 the cost new. I had a couple great EF-S 2.8 lenses made by Tamron. I had a 10-28mm 2.8, great for portraits.

[Iguanasan]

There a likely lots of choices and it's difficult to say which is "the best". For around $500 though you could actually get two lenses which you might really enjoy having - I know I do. First, I really recommend the "Nifty Fifty", the Canon 50mm F1.8 lens which asnow mentioned and you can often find for around $120 or less. The second lens, one that I have myself which is why I am recommending it, is the Sigma 70-300mm which you can find for around $289 in Canada. You can read about it here: https://www.dpreview.com/products/sigma/lenses/sigma_70-300_4-5p6_apo

The Sigma will get you a 300mm zoom that will let you take photos like this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eulothg/23817103960/

And the 50mm Canon is great for portrait type shots that will let you take photos like this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eulothg/28238751962/