Help? Canon EF 28-105 F3.5-F4.5..good starter lens?

[BirdLady]

Help... I feel totally lost on this issue :(

Is a Canon EF 28-105 F3.5-F4.5 Mk II @ $185 shipped a good starter lens to begin to learn on?

how about a Sigma 28-80mm?

I have the kit lens Canon 18-55mm
and just bought a 50mm


Ugh!Sorry for dumb questions today!
Sue

[amosher]

Sue,

Have to respond with a question. "Starter lens" as in you have only the 18-55 that came with the camera? If that is the case I would then ask what do you like to take pictures of?

Shooting indoors with available light - how about a 50mm f1.8? (Approx $75)

Or something stronger for sports & wildlife a longer zoom 70-300 (approx 190)

Other factors will be your experience level with other cameras and how deep your wallet is (grin).

Al

[amosher]

Appologies - launched into a reply, never read your whole message.

Assuming the Sigma is faster (f2.8 ?) it still overlaps your original lens quite a bit, I would put the money towards longer (more than 100) or a short, fast prime. Be interested in your decision.

[Jon]

At the top of this forum is a sticky titled "FAQ - EF LENS FAQ" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=86975), which you'll find helpful. Among the information contained in it there are several "Top Ten" lens selection lists based on different needs. You'll find all that helpful.

[noname]

http://ssHelp... I feel totally lost on this issue :(

Is a Canon EF 28-105 F3.5-F4.5 Mk II @ $185 shipped a good starter lens to begin to learn on?

how about a Sigma 28-80mm?

I have the kit lens Canon 18-55mm
and just bought a 50mm


Ugh!Sorry for dumb questions today!
Sue

I found the 28-105 to be a very nice starter lens for me. Along with the 50mm 1.4, I was able to cover a pretty decent range and took some nice shots :) I usually found myself wanting more though, both on the wide and tele end. Bang for the buck wise, I think this lens is hard to beat.

Some sample images:

105mm f/4.5 1/1000 ISO100
http://static.flickr.com/19/117844700_c463733c95_m.jpg (http://static.flickr.com/19/117844700_c463733c95.jpg)

105mm f/4.5 1/4000 ISO800 (oops ;))
http://static.flickr.com/43/78369910_537d68346f_m.jpg (http://static.flickr.com/43/78369910_537d68346f_o.jpg)

70mm f/4 1/80 ISO100
http://static.flickr.com/42/83911974_e6115013cf_m.jpg (http://static.flickr.com/42/83911974_e6115013cf_o.jpg)

Justin

[BirdLady]

Thanks everyone! I had read some of the FAQ's and still am feeling very overwelmed.
*lol*
I will be mainly taking close pictures.. my daughter & my water/flower garden stuff.

The "pockets" are tight right now but just because I don't feel like I know what I am buying. But that doesn't mean I might just take the pluge without notice. *lol*

I was a Point & Shoot Sony Mavica FD-200 user for a longgg time. Loved that camera!
Then I recently bought a new Sony P200...oh a piece of $#@% ! Sold that and bought my Rebel XT last week. On either of those cameras, I really never bothered using the zoom much so I have no idea what they even were so to speak.

Anyway, here is 2 pic's I took yesterday in my garden :) great compared to what I had been using and once I learn my new camera, it will be even better.

Thanks for all your help!
Sue

[yenoram]

You could also consider buying a used 28-135IS. This will give you some extra reach and the benefit of IS.

[RikWriter]

The 28-105 f3.5-4.5 is a very nice lens for the money. Light, fairly sharp (not as sharp as the Sigma 24-70 f2.8, but not soft by any means) and with good color, it's a good all-around lens. I used it for about a year on my 10D and now my wife keeps it on her film SLR.

[dave_bass5]

the 28-105 USM MKII (make sure its that one) was my first upgrade lens from the kit and i have been really happy with it. it has been my main lens for almost a year for outdoor use (the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 was used for indoors during the winter) and i have just replced it with the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 which is sharper but focus not as fast.
I mainly shoot my kids and the 28-105 is great for that. better than the 28-135IS IMHO
A couple of my first shots with the 28-105. shot indoors hand held
http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/33191942-M.jpg
http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/33191954-M.jpg

[atad6]

Would the tamron 28-75mm be a decent choice also? I've been looking at the canon 28-105, both versions and was going to just get the usm version because of the price but it seems like many people seem to love the optical quality of the tamron 28-75. While it's not the widest lens, for the price it seems as though it's a wonderful lens. I've found it for around 310 after rebate, shipped some places which seems like a decent deal. Wouldn't this be a viable alternatives to the lenses listed above?

[dave_bass5]

yes it would.
The Tamron is a very sharp lens and a good replacement for the kit and a good walk around lens. its heavier thant the kit but light enough to cary around all day.
I havent shot much with it yet but this is just me messing around at home. it looks sharp enough to me
http://davepearce.smugmug.com/photos/67265700-L.jpg

[pumba75]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the MkI and the MkII versions of this lens. I ask as there is a MkI on eBay for a good price, but don't want to buy it if I realise that the MkII is a lot better etc etc.
Thanks in advance.

[tiha]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the MkI and the MkII versions of this lens. I ask as there is a MkI on eBay for a good price, but don't want to buy it if I realise that the MkII is a lot better etc etc.
Thanks in advance.
They're optically the same but MkII has 7 blade aperture, some internal parts are made of metal instead of plastic and exterior finish is of different texture. If price is about the same go for MkII but if price difference is considerable, opt for MkI.

[pumba75]

thats great thanks for that

[Tee Why]

I would recommend you stay away from 28-100 ish range zooms as a starter lens. They generally are not wide enough on cropped sensor cameras like the XT. The kit lens with it's 18-55mm range is to mimic the range of the 28-80mm on film cameras.

Hence I'd recommend lenses that start at the wider end if you are selling/getting rid of the kit lens or if you want more range than a kit lens.

Consider the following lenses.
Sigma 18-50, cheaper than the kit lens but sharper
Sigma 18-125 about $250 but good lens with great range
Sigma 17-70 about $380, very good lens with great range.
Canon 17-85IS about $500 good lens with great range and image stabilization

If it was me, I'd sell the 18-55, keep the 50mm if you like that lens and get a Sigma 17-70mm lens as an all around lens. If you want cheaper with more reach, the Sigma18-125 maybe another option.
good luck