Canon EOS 550D- wrong choice?

I haven't read thru all 5 pages of responses but I agree with the suggestion of a 50mm lens plus a circular polarizer for outdoors in broad daylight. I also would put a battery grip on it, just makes it feel better balanced, or at least it does to me. I have a T3i and the grip just made me feel better about it. Probably would help to balance the camera with that super zoom anyway.

Save save save, and get the 60D at some point and then keep the 550D as a backup. Acquire a couple of more lenses, and get out there and enjoy photography!

Your photos have improved remarkably in a short period of time...You're doing great!

Ignore all the "you should have done this" type comments...Use what you have and upgrade as desired...No hurry.

rrblint wrote in post #14578064
Your photos have improved remarkably in a short period of time...You're doing great!

Ignore all the "you should have done this" type comments...Use what you have and upgrade as desired...No hurry.

Agree 100%. Half of the comments are about individual preferences. Its frustrating when people tell you you made a mistake, indicate what you should have gotten, and try to stear you to equipment way out of your budget. Hell there are folks taking great photos with advanced point and shoots. She has very competent gear. When she outgrows it, she'll know.

RobBnTX wrote in post #14577434
I haven't read thru all 5 pages of responses but I agree with the suggestion of a 50mm lens plus a circular polarizer for outdoors in broad daylight. I also would put a battery grip on it, just makes it feel better balanced, or at least it does to me. I have a T3i and the grip just made me feel better about it. Probably would help to balance the camera with that super zoom anyway.

Save save save, and get the 60D at some point and then keep the 550D as a backup. Acquire a couple of more lenses, and get out there and enjoy photography!

By the time she's ready to upgrade there will likely be other choices like a 70D or a 7D Mark II.

I currently own a 40D and a T2i and I prefer the latter more because it is lighter, has better ISO performance in low light, and, most importantly, I prefer the images it produces more. I have also gone through a lot of lenses and found that the following pair very well with the body:

Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 (VC or non-VC) - great fast lens
Canon 50 F/1.8 - fantastic for intimate portrait/low light/indoor use
Canon 55-250 IS - for a cheap lens kit it produces excellent image quality
Canon 15-85 USM IS - excellent all 'round lens but not for indoor (honestly, except for faster AF, not all that much better than the kit lens.

I like the advice you've been given. Get the 50mm F/1.8. You'll love it and then get one fast zoom lens with aperture fixed throughout. I think that would make a great all 'round kit that you'll enjoy and will produce fantastic results for you.

loopylisa84 wrote in post #14577422
Yeah, the lady in the shop said it would stop it from getting scratched.. [aware saying 'the lady in the shop said' doubles my noobness]

Not sure if you're still reading but if that filter is still on there, take it off immediately.

There are reasons for filters but if you manage to scratch the front element of that lens you likely have MUCH bigger problems.

You can check the filters yay or nay thread for reasons why (or why not)

-F

Yes, get rid of the filter ASAP! You'll notice an immediate improvement in your pics.

if you get rid of your superzoom tamron I think you will enjoy your camere with any decent zoom( even the 18-55is) Like someone else suggested you can have a tamron 17-50 and a tele like 55-250 or if you can afford 70-200f4.

Canon 550D is not the wrong choice, There is a lot of camera snobbery out there and the 550D is a lot of camera in my opinion. After a long time looking at the options available, Specifications and the competion I opted for the 550D last September. This was an early Silver Wedding Present from my wife (9 months early) along with an 18 - 55mm kit lens, Tamron 70 - 300mm zoom, Sunpak PZ42X and Lowepro Slingshot 102 bag. I got it early so that I could get used to it before we went on our hols this year to the UAE as well as Cuba. I've since added a plethora of accessories as well as a couple of extra lenses including a 50mm and a couple of second hand from ebay. This is a fantastic camera. I shoot RAW almost exclusively and have now shot several thousand frames without any issues or failures from the camera. The only week link in the system is the nut behind the viewfinder who occasionally forgets to set the camera up right. My daughter recently graduated from university and again the camera and flash worked well in the varying lighting conditions. Don't look at this camera as the wrong choice. It's great, like anything new and unfamiliar, it may take time to get used to where things are but go take pictures and enjoy them. Don't get to caught up on every picture being perfect .