The Canon Direct Store started a sale — they’re offering a discount on several affordable and popular EF-S lenses as well as entry-level primes. The deal is available this week only, and refurbished items via the Canon Direct Store come with a 1-year Canon USA warranty.
- EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is now $189.99
- EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Pancake is now $99.99
- EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is now $219.99
- EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is now $259.99
- EOS Rebel T5 with 18-55 IS II Kit is now $278.99
Danielle Aron the 24mm is $99.00
I’m looking for a means to take prom pics at a low light room and to take graduation pics at a low light gym. I’m using a canon 7d mark ll
Well, you’re in luck, since the 7Dii handles high ISO pretty well. Of these lenses, the 50mm and the 85mm will get it done, but I am not sure if either is a good deal here. Since you have to pay tax through Canon’s website, the end total cost isn’t much less than the cost new. (The 50mm is 329 on amazon, and the 85mm is 350, and street cost is even less). Still a good value, if you don’t mind rolling the dice on a refurb. I personally feel that since it is through Canon the risk isn’t so bad, as they include the same warranty as with a brand new item. The deal just isn’t as a appealing as say getting a more expensive item (I got an 80D with 18-55mm STM for 890 after tax, it’s 1150 new). If you have a bit more cash to dispense with, the EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM would partner quite well with your 7Dii in low light (and for almost everything else in it’s zoom range). It will give you a similar performance to the much more expensive EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM, without the much higher price tag (800 USD v 1700USD). Some people feel it is the best lens in the EF-S family, and that it is comparable to the excellent L lenses. I would definitely recommend a flash at the prom. Graduation you might be able to get away with no flash.
My 2 cents, the only deals here that seem to be “go get it” deals are/were the 10-18mm lens and the T5 kit (and judging by their sold out status, I can pretty much tell I was right). The 24mm isn’t much more brand new, and after tax is almost the same. The 50mm and the 85mm are about 50m bucks off after tax. If you were really looking at one of those for a portrait lens, depending on your camera, you might be better off with something else. If you shoot from an APS-C, then the 85mm is probably too narrow to serve as your portrait lens, due to the crop factor killing it’s angle of view. The 50mm is pretty good in this case, but the much less expensive EF 50mm F1.8 STM might be just as good for you, for 110 USD.
Wanted to comment sooner, but was out of town the last 3 days.