starter lens

[jhg]

Hello, new user here , using 350D Rebel. I due lots of out door shots, sunsets, sun rises, kids at play on water slides, base ball games, birds, mountains etc. What starting lend would you recommend for me? Thanks

[MrChad]

Do you have the kit lens (18-55mm), if so you may want to suppliment that lens with a 70-200mm f4L or the 75-300mm IS USM. If these far exceed your budget check out the EF 100-300mm USM.

If you are going to buy the 350XT and don't have any lenses, I'd recommend a Sigma 18-200mm DC to start with. Then you could work you way up to other lenses as you find what focal length best suites you.

[weasel]

The 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 may well deserve a look-see by you. It's not too costly ($300), not too awful slow and covers a lot of range. There is not any one lens that I know of that will do everything you list. You may wish to consider two lenses.

[jhg]

I have a 50 mm 1.8 thats all

[Bob_A]

The 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 may well deserve a look-see by you. It's not too costly ($300), not too awful slow and covers a lot of range. There is not any one lens that I know of that will do everything you list. You may wish to consider two lenses.

The 24-85 is an "ok" lens, but I think jhg would be much happier with the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR DI. If you look at the MTF's for the 24-85 and the ratings on sites such as www.photozone.de (http://www.photozone.de/) the 24-85 doesn't look like it comes anywhere near the optical quality of the Tamron which is only $80 more before a $30 rebate ... and it's a 2.8.

To cover what you want to shoot I'd recommend the Tamron 28-75 or the Sigma 24-70 (both f2.8 ) ... or if budget isn't a concern the Canon 24-70 f2.8. If you only want one more lens to cover the rest of your needs I'd go with the Canon 70-300 f4.5-5.6 DO, or the 70-200 f4L with a 1.4 TC. However, you also state you need a lens for shooting birds ... so 300mm may not be long enough.

There are tons of combinations of lenses the members here can recommend ... but only you know your budget and how concerned you are about sharpness, etc.

[xuxu1]

Hello, new user here , using 350D Rebel. I due lots of out door shots, sunsets, sun rises, kids at play on water slides, base ball games, birds, mountains etc. What starting lend would you recommend for me? Thanks
There are many possibilities. Depends what your preferences are and how much you are willing to spend. The Canon EF28-235IS is another lens you might consider. Very good walk around lens and it has IS that can be a "saver" in low(er) light conditions. It´s a pretty good lens for the money. But that´s only one suggestion.

ED

[tommykjensen]

Have a look in the lens FAQ, link in my signature.

[xuxu1]

Have a look in the lens FAQ....
Yeah. Good idea.
Then come back and we can continue to discuss things. :)

ED

[Mitcon]

Some great advice here already, also as said without a budget it's very hard to help. From what you want to shoot I don't think you will get it all in one lens alone. For alot of what you said the kit lens is ok if you stop it down, the 50mm f1.8 is great and cheap also. I think the EF28-135mm IS or the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 is meant to be popular also. For the sports you need 200-300mm and the faster the better as lighting isn't always great.

The birding side of things you need every mm you can muster, I would say the EF 100-400L or the Sigma 50-500mm. You might be able to make do with a good lens in the 200-300mm if you use a tele converter. I have the 50-500 and still want for more mm when birding. As I said, sadly I don't think there is one lens that will do all of this or at least all of this well. And even harder to get a good one cheap, in the end with most glass you get what you pay for I think.

[xuxu1]

Some great advice here already, also as said without a budget it's very hard to help. From what you want to shoot I don't think you will get it all in one lens alone. For alot of what you said the kit lens is ok if you stop it down, the 50mm f1.8 is great and cheap also. I think the EF28-135mm IS or the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 is meant to be popular also. For the sports you need 200-300mm and the faster the better as lighting isn't always great.

The birding side of things you need every mm you can muster, I would say the EF 100-400L or the Sigma 50-500mm. You might be able to make do with a good lens in the 200-300mm if you use a tele converter. I have the 50-500 and still want for more mm when birding. As I said, sadly I don't think there is one lens that will do all of this or at least all of this well. And even harder to get a good one cheap, in the end with most glass you get what you pay for I think.
Very well said. So you have relized how the true and real "photography life" is like. :D

No... you can´t do it all with one lens. :lol:
(Not even with a 28-300L) :~(

ED

[condyk]

You need a budget figure to get you started and then to have decided your main interest and priorities so you build a collection of appropriate lenses in the order that you'll get most enjoyment from.

[buze]

Sigma 18-200. Good all rounder, excelent walkabout lens, will give you a feel of what you might want to "upgrade" later on, and is still a very good lens in it's own right anyway!

[xuxu1]

Sigma 18-200. Good all rounder, excelent walkabout lens, will give you a feel of what you might want to "upgrade" later on, and is still a very good lens in it's own right anyway!
Nice... but yet not wide enough and the reach is also tooooo short. :(

ED