Digital Rebel XT (350D)

[rcarlson80]

Hi, I am a real newbie to photography and the SLR world. I purchased a XT with 18-55 Kit, took some pics at a couple indoor events and really liked the results I got from the auto settings. I thought I would like more zoom and went on Ebay to find a better lens as a walk around lens. I found a Canon EF 28-80 MM F/3.5-5.6 AF ZOOM for a modest $90. Hope I did well just curious what everyone thinks of this lens and what other equipment I should be looking for as I have a trip to Grand Canyon and Vegas coming in a couple months and I want to be ready for some good pics. Please post opinions, and take it easy on me, this is a whole new game coming from a 35mm point and shoot cheapy world.
Thanks, Ron

[roanjohn]

If you are happy with the kit lens, you are just overlapping your focal length with the 28-80. I would say that you're better off buying a zoom lens with a focal length you don't already have. Of course, another route would be to buy some cheap primes to give you low light capabilities and better background blur - i.e 50 f1.8 (canon).

Ro1

[eosster]

If you are happy with the kit lens, you are just overlapping your focal length with the 28-80. I would say that you're better off buying a zoom lens with a focal length you don't already have. Of course, another route would be to buy some cheap primes to give you low light capabilities and better background blur - i.e 50 f1.8 (canon).

Ro1

Ditto.:cool:

[Hellashot]

You only got yourself another 25mm of focal length so I don't think you really bought yourself much. I would have saved your money for something better in the future because now you basically have 2 $90 lenses that aren't much different.

And if you are wanting to take wide angle landscape images on your trip, you'll end up using the kit lens you started with because the 35mm of the lens you just bought will turn into a 56mm - not so wide.

[tim]

If you want a medium zoom the Canon 70-200 F4L has an excellent reputation. For a longer zoom the 100-400L is meant to be good. For walkaround I use a Tamron 28-75 F2.8, which I really like.

[rcarlson80]

Thank you all for your replies, I just keep soaking up information it seems, unfortunately it seems so far the best pics I have taken have been in auto mode. Every time I start messing with ISO speeds and WB I come up with bright or oversharp junk. But thats why we are here, to learn and share!

[tim]

It takes time and practice. I can see an improvement in my shots month to month, that's after 6 months or so of pretty heavy use and a short course. I expect after another year or so i'll be happy to call myself competant.