Lens Recommendations?

[Sugarh1gh]

I'm contemplating buying a Rebel xt as my first dSLR and was wondering what lenses you guys would reccommend. I'm mainly interested in shooting landscapes (mostly mountains) and cities. I'd also want a lens for just everyday regular shots (so prob just a 55mm)... What do you guys think?

[condyk]

You'd be hard pressed to beat the Tokina and Sigma combo I have without spending a very significant amount of cash. If you want a single lens then the Canon 17-85 IS is a safe buyt, but perhaps has less 'growth' in it as you develop as a photographer.

[gabrioladude]

whenever someone asks "what lens should I get"
the stock response is always

1. what do you like shooting?

2. how much can you afford?

you've answered #1 but not #2

get the 16-35L

can you afford it?

[Saudidave]

Condyk speaks sense. The 17-85IS is as versatile as it gets at reasonable money relative to L Glass

[grego]

Canon's 17-40 f/4L
Tamron's 17-35 f/2.8-4
Sigma's 18-50 f/2.8

pretty good one for walking around/landscape stuff

[Sugarh1gh]

whenever someone asks "what lens should I get"
the stock response is always

1. what do you like shooting?

2. how much can you afford?

you've answered #1 but not #2

get the 16-35L

can you afford it?

I'm willing to spend probably about ~$700 (on just one or two lenses combined) but could go a little higher if it meant it were a significant difference... Also, I'd really like IS, as I'd like to not use a tripod too often. And I will be shooting sports sometimes.

[grego]

Originally Posted by Sugarh1gh

I'm willing to spend probably about ~$700 (on just one or two lenses combined) but could go a little higher if it meant it were a significant difference... Also, I'd really like IS, as I'd like to not use a tripod too often. And I will be shooting sports sometimes.

Generally you won't find IS on anything too wide, although that EFS lens does have it. It's aperture isn't exactly the most appealing.

[GeneMan88]

I would recommend a set-up simular to condyk's.... for landscapes and such, The Tokina 12-24 f4 is a great wide angle zoom when matched with 1.6crop camera bodies, it produces great color and seems to do pretty well controlling flare and such. For everyday/walk-about use... either the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 DG Macro, or the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 should do ya. I've never shot with a Sigma, so I can't comment there, but the Tamron works really well if you get a good copy. It's light for a zoom with a constant aperture of 2.8, focuses reasonably fast(the focus ring rotates as the camera focuses), but there have been a few situations where it would hunt especially in really low light. I think that's one of the reasons it cost about 1/3 the price of Canon's EF-24-70 f2.8L.

You're looking at a cost of around $880 for both the Tokina and the Tamron... this is a decent price for a set of great lenses. If you went with a Canon L set-up (EF 17-40 f4L & EF 24-70 f2.8L) it would cost around $1840. (Lens pricing based on B&Hphotovideo.com)

[MrChad]

Is their a kit, say maybe from BHphoto for the Rebel XT and 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM EF-S as a kit? I would definately start their, I don't see how this could be a bad combo or a lens you would out grow? Every lens I own is a tool that is better then it's user, period.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation
great starter kit IMO. pair that with a 1G high speed CF and you are set. I'd add a flash like a 220EX, 420EX, or 430EX and call the kit complete.

[GeneMan88]

That's a very good suggestion too... A rebel xt with the EFS 17-85 and a 420/430 speed lite flash would make a great start kit.

[Sugarh1gh]

Thanks for all of the help. I think I'm going to go with the EF 17-85S for everyday and landscape and a 70-300 IS for sports and what not.

[grego]

Originally Posted by Sugarh1gh

Thanks for all of the help. I think I'm going to go with the EF 17-85S for everyday and landscape and a 70-300 IS for sports and what not.

For sports, you probably won't be too pleased with the 70-300.

[Sugarh1gh]

What do you reccommend then? I'll mainly be using it for baseball.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Sugarh1gh

What do you reccommend then? I'll mainly be using it for baseball.

Check the Top Ten Recommended Outdoor Sports lenses from the Top Ten Lens Recommendations sticky.

[grego]

Originally Posted by Sugarh1gh

What do you reccommend then? I'll mainly be using it for baseball.

Sigma's 70-200 2.8 or any of Canon's 70-200(2.8 or 4) which range in price from about $700-1800. You can add a 1.4 tele extender to it to get a 320 out of it and get f/4 if you get one of the 2.8's.

Some longer focal lengths....Sigma's 100-300 f/4, Canon's 300 f/4, Sigma's 120-300. From $700-2000

You can get photos with the 70-300, I just don't think you'll be as pleased with them, because its not really a fast lens and Canon really hasn't done a good job with its 70-300's.