Help a Beginner

[shady]

Hey, I've been reading on these forums for a few days now and decided it would be in best interest to join and ask a few questions from some experienced people. I recently purchased and received the Canon Digital Rebel with 18-55mm lens. I know, I know, a mediocre lens at best, but it is pretty good for learning the camera, as I am at the moment. Now what I really want to be able to do is take pictures of landscapes, clouds, wildlife, etc. and I know the 18-55mm is not very sharp and lacks in a lot of categories. I am on a pretty tight budget, so money is definitely a factor. I have been pondering a few lenses: Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM(gets great reviews, not a whole lot of telephoto, doubt it will be very good for wildlife), Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM II(heard good and bad things about this lens, probably good enough for wildlife, just not sure how sharp), Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II(will definitely be getting this lens, by everyone elses accounts it's a "must"), and Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III USM(not sure, not very good reviews, but lots of telephoto). What do you guys recommend seeing as I have a tight budget? If you could, please help a beginner out here, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

[Headcase650]

For landscapes your kit lens will be fine if you stop it down to 8 or 11(its fairly sharp in those apitures), just make sure you use a trypod. For a zoom on a budget the 55-200 would compliment what you alread have nicely, I have seen many nice pics posted with this lens. If you need more reach the 70-300 consumer zooms are pretty soft and many people slam them for their lackluster performance but for a tight budget they are your only choice. If you dont plan on large prints you will probably not even notice on a 4x6. The sigma 70-300 APO gets better reviews opticaly than any of the canon 75-300's and is less expensive.

[Bodog]

Don't be afraid to use the 18-55. It can take good pictures for you.The 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM will be a good choice but you will lose the wide end. Personally, I don't miss it. The 28-105 is my most used lens. If you want a less expensive telephoto, consider the 100-300 f4.5-5.6 USM. Sharper than the 70-300 series and very reasonably priced. Both these lenses have been favorable mentioned on this board, and along with the 18-55 you'll be covered from18-300mm.

[tim]

The kit lens is fine stopped down, just be careful of lens flare like I demonstrated in this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=61115).

[khiromu]

As everyone says, the kit lens should be fine for your landscape work, but make sure to shop down and use a good tripod. For the long side, if you can find a good one, I had very good experience with Canon 100-300/5.6L. This is discon. lens, but you I bought one for around $250 and served well for a while. If you want to go less expensive besides Canon 55-200, Sigma 50-200 (or 55-200) DC lens is pretty good for the $$ ( used for <$100).

[shady]

Well now my dilemma is...

Sigma 18-50mm + 55-200mm Kit
Sigma 70-300mm
Canon 55-200mm
Canon 80-200mm
Canon 75-300mm

I understand that these are cheap lenses, but I'm okay with that. I am kind of leaning towards the sigma kit, but I already have the 18-55mm lens that came with the DRebel kit. These are all in my price range, and out of these, which would you recommend?

[condyk]

Dunno what your budget is but in the same position as you a while back and after much asking around and review reading I stuck with the Kit lens for 'wide-ish' and got the Sigma 70-300 APO Super II. Didn't regret the move, but then just got a 70-200 F4 L as an unmissable bargain and sold on the Sigma (at no loss).

You just need to accept the compromises in quality/price, which all the cheaper zooms suffer to one degree or another. I think the Sigma is solid purchase with good resale. Ditto the 100-300 USM. Buy SH if you can find a mint boxed example to minimise any loss financially when you come to upgrade, then you have only gained experience.

The 50mm II I have also bought as a long term portrait 'keeper' and it is so cheap it's worth getting new. SH price is often similar to the new price anyway.

I would look at your long term aspirations and chart out the most inexpensive and hassle free upgrade path to get there. Something like the 70-200 F4 L will have a place in anyones kit bag, ditto the 50mm II I reckon, and maybe a good 1.4 or 2 x extender, so keep eyes peeled for bargains.

[shady]

Just thought I'd let you know that as far as my budget was, I went ahead and purchased the Sigma Kit(18-50mm + 55-200mm) and the "Nifty Fifty" plus a few other accessories. Thank you all for your suggestions. I will let you know how I like them and hopefully post some pictures.