Question on what to purchase

[Harabec]

I am relatively new to digital photography and am looking at some new beginner lenses for my Digital Rebel XT. Mine came with the kit canon 18-55 lens and I was going to get a Sigma 70-300mm but my question is, there is a bundle at my local shop that has the Sigma 70-300mm as well as a Sigma 28-90mm F3.5-5.6 Aspherical Macro. Money is not a particularily huge deal here (but still important) and I wanted to know if it would be worthwhile for me to pick up the bundle with the 28-80 or just get the 70-300 since I already have the canon kit lens? Any input is appreciated

[condyk]

It would be useful to know your lens budget as that may turn up some additional good recommendations. Hard to say what your best bet is without that info. The 70-300 APO Super II is a good lens for the money. The newsests version seems to haver a DG designation. What do you like to shoot and in what conditions?

[xuxu1]

Similar situation...
You might want to look here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=84835

ED

[Harabec]

My budget right at the moment is about $225. I like to shoot a decent range of things from people, pets, nature (close ups of plants, beautiful scenery), and animals/insects I find. Right now im fairly set on the Sigma 70-300mm macro super II, but its just a matter of justifying the 28-90mm or not because my kit could be (fairly) similar. Feedback appreciated

[antaine]

what about the Sigma or Tamron 18-200's ?? saw some good reviews on both of these?

[Harabec]

The 18-200 is a little pricy for me from my local shop, and im pretty sure id like to get the Sigma 70-300 as I have tried it before, borrowed from a friend, its just kind of a question of is the 28-90 worth it or not?

[lostdoggy]

If you looking for Sigma lenses it would be recommended to for Sigmas in the EX series. The non-EX are not that great. I have the 28-300 and its pretty slow and noisy when focusing. The quality is ok. If you looking to buy a lens and can't afford much may I suggest the Canon EF 50f/1.8. The next lens would be the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG it gotten a lot of good reviews and at more then half the price of the Canon L version. Check the prices at sigma4less.com, Adorama, or BHPHOTO.

[nitsch]

I'm not familiar with the 28-90 but I guess its probably one of sigma's cheaper offerings. 28mm is not very wide on the XT so I'd stick with the kit lens which is a lot better optically than a lot of people will have you believe, just stop it down a bit. The kit lens and the 70-300 will make a nice combo to be getting started with. Make sure you are getting the APO version of the 70-300 though.

[Andy_T]

Harabec,

welcome to the forum!

I don't know the 28-90, but I doubt a bit that it will really give you better quality than your 18-55 kit lens.

It has to be noted here (sadly) that $225 do not really buy much as far as lenses are concerned. If you can increase your budget a bit, this would help.

Some very good and fast lenses in the normal range are
(I am guessing a bit, but the prices give a general idea)
Canon EF 50/1.8 - $ 75
Sigma 24-70/2.8 EX Macro - $ 400
Sigma 28-70/2.8 EX (older version) - $ 300
Tamron 28-75/2.8 XR - $ 350
Sigma 18-50/2.8 EX - $ 450

Just to give you a general idea ... the image quality of the Sigma EX and Tamron lenses I mentioned in my post are normally compared to the Canon 24-70/2.8 L lens, that costs about $ 1200.

Best regards,
Andy