Buying the Rebel XT

[mxer82]

Hey everyone,
I am purchasing the rebel XT this week. I have had a point and shoot for a while, and I am looking for some advice as to what lenses will be good to start out with. I hear the kit lense isnt very good.
I like to shoot motocross photos, nature, and portraits. I will be taking photos of furniture i build, and model planes, maybe an occasional air show or two. What are the best 3 lenses. (best bang for your buck)

[rbush83]

Here is a quick list to get you started on some possibilities.
1. Tamron Zoom AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Autofocus L $370 with a $40 mail-in rebate for a total of $330 at B&H

2. Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II Autofocus Lens %209 at B&H There is a "DL" version of this lens for ~$150, stay away from it as it is inferior.

3. A Canon 50 1.8, or 85 1.8 USM. The 50 is ~$70 and the 85 ~$330, and bit nicer with a ring USM zoom

Search around the web for reviews. photographyreview.com and fredmiranda.com for example.

[tim]

I wouldn't go ordering a bunch of lenses right away, use the kit lens for a little bit and see what you think you need after that. If you want to buy something get the 50mm F1.8, it'll let you play with narrow DOF effects. For air shows you'll need a 300mm lens or longer, I rekon. The sigma above's fine for dayrtime shots, I returned mine because F5.6 is too slow for any time except during strong daylight.

A big flash is always helpful, the 420EX is good value, as is the Sigma 500 Super.

[rbush83]

Tim, those were good points. I have just one question. If you need a telephoto, the one above is a good choice, albeit a little slow. However, to get a zoom telephoto that is any faster you really have to spend about $800 on the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM, which is quite a jump. There is also the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L, but at $580 it's more than 2.5 times as expensive, and only stop faster through part of the range, ignoring the other niceties that come along with L glass of course. So if you're on a budget I would still reccomend the $200 Sigma, as long as you take the speed into consideration for your needs. I just assumed air shows are generally done in bright shiny places with lots of sun with any luck.

[tim]

Yeah for that the Sigma should be ok, it takes nice pics during the day, and I often wish I hadn't returned it. I still recommend accumulating lenses slowly rather than as a big bang.

[HKFEVER]

Hey everyone,
I am purchasing the rebel XT this week. I have had a point and shoot for a while, and I am looking for some advice as to what lenses will be good to start out with. I hear the kit lense isnt very good.
I like to shoot motocross photos, nature, and portraits. I will be taking photos of furniture i build, and model planes, maybe an occasional air show or two. What are the best 3 lenses. (best bang for your buck)

If you only need walk around + a little motocross:
- Buy the XT body only & EF-S 17-85 IS.
- If you need more reach, then add 75-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM

If you are in learning and may become serious:
- Go for 20D body only, no EF-S lenses.
- 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM & 85mm f1.8.
- If you need more reach, then add 70-200 f/4.

[davidwegs]

For your described purposes ( assuming you will be getting 3 lenses in any case):
1) the Tamron 17-35/2.8-4 XR Di
2) the Sigma 24-70/2.8 Macro or the Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR Di both are great lenses
3) the Canon 70-200/4 L
If you have to work within a budget, which I assume you do.

If no budget, my choices would be (for usability and ability):
1) Canon's 10-22
2) Canons 70-200 IS
3) Tamron 28-75/2.8

In primes:
1) 35/1.4L
2) 50/1.4
3) 135/2L

If you want a cheap and very, very good walk about that you won't need to be worried about loosing or scratching, get the Sigma 18-125mm (new one for digital).
I purchased it as walk about and have been extreeeemly happy with its performance for the $$$ and I own several L lenses and the Tamron 28-75 and the Sigma 24-70 and a few backups.

Thats MHO.

[eosster]

No matter what you decide, at least have one good prime like EF 50mm f/1.4 or 1.8. Good luck with finding right gear for yourself. I am sure you will plenty of advice from here. BTW, becareful they got some bugs going around here, it's called L bugs (LOL).

[johnbs]

I'd start with 1 cheap but very high quality zoom:

Sigma 18-50/2.8 - much better than the kit lens

and then see what else you need.

My other zooms are a Sigma 12-24 (very wide) and a Canon 70-300 DO (expensive, but very light to carry).

There are lots of good primes at reasonable prices to choose from when you know what length you need:

Sigma 20/1.8
Canon 35/2
Canon 50/1.8 or 1.4
Canon 85/1.8
Canon 135/2

and hopefully the Sigma 30/1.4 which is on the way

[mr.photoguy]

Who said the kit lens isn't good?
With plenty light, it's great. With a tripod it is great also.

I would recomend, that first you go out and shoot.
Then while you are shooting, you can asses your needs. If you don't have enough reach, then you can go for a longer lense.
Once you feel that you need a longer lens, you can figure if you want to go prime, or zoom.
Many zooms have been listed above. You will need to check your budget to see what you can afford.
There are also many Primes, that are great lenses.
85 1.8/ 135/200..
A few of the lenses that you can look into.

But I would shoot, and figure out what you need, before spending money, and finding out what you don't need.

[pradeep1]

Sigma 18-50/2.8 - much better than the kit lens


Johnbs, I just looked up that Sigma 18-50 2.8...it is something like $510 shipped. Expensive compared to the kit lens ~ $80 shipped. The Sigma 18-50 2.8 seems more of a pro lens than a starter lens. What do you think?

[Alexandre Gabriel]

I like to shoot motocross photos, nature, and portraits. I will be taking photos of furniture i build, and model planes, maybe an occasional air show or two. What are the best 3 lenses. (best bang for your buck)

Here are my suggestions: (BH price w/ rebates)

Portraits: 50 f/1.8 (US$ 70) <--- (this lens is a MUST!)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=12142&is=GREY

Nature: Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR Di LD (US$ 330) <--- (some overlap with kit lens...)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=284399&is=REG

Motocross: Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 EF IS USM (US$ 390)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=102854&is=GREY

Keep your 18-55 for WA shots. You won't NEED anything better to begin.

[mxer82]

you people are awsome, so much to read about and consider. I will have to sort through all this info! Thanks
Tim