Making the most out of a Canon Rebel Xti

Hey Everyone!
I recently purchased a Canon Rebel Xti with a 75- 300mm lens. I learned to shoot on a Canon 50D and a Rebel T3. I really liked them but I am unsure of what lenses were on the cameras. I am not a huge fan of the 75-300mm and am looking for a good all-around type lens for my Xti. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

CMR wrote in post #17898591
Hey Everyone!
I recently purchased a Canon Rebel Xti with a 75- 300mm lens. I learned to shoot on a Canon 50D and a Rebel T3. I really liked them but I am unsure of what lenses were on the cameras. I am not a huge fan of the 75-300mm and am looking for a good all-around type lens for my Xti. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I hate to say it but it depends on what you want to shoot. I have the 75-300 and it is a functional lens. If you want a good walk around lens then the 15-85 is a good choice. You can probably get a used one for a good price.

Rod

Are all Canon lenses compatible?

Yes, all EF or EF-S lenses are compatible. Much older "FD" manual focus lenses that you may run across on ebay, Craigs list, or in junk shops are the only Canon lenses that will not fit/work.

Look into the 18-135mm STM (used) for a great all round lens.
The 10-18mm STM for ultra wide angle.

Added to your existing 75-300mm, you'd have everything covered in a small affordable kit.

Sweet! Thanks for the advice!

CMR wrote in post #17898591
Hey Everyone!
I recently purchased a Canon Rebel Xti with a 75- 300mm lens. I learned to shoot on a Canon 50D and a Rebel T3. I really liked them but I am unsure of what lenses were on the cameras. I am not a huge fan of the 75-300mm and am looking for a good all-around type lens for my Xti. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Heya,

What do you shoot?
What kind of look do you want?
Do you think you need a zoom or a prime?
Budget?

Very best,

I am looking to do some portraits and maybe some action shots. I am a huge fan of street photography and would like to explore that avenue. My previous experience has been primarily with zoom but I have used a fixed telefoto lens. I enjoy both. My current camera is a Canon Rebel Xti. I'm honestly not sure if I like it or not.. the F-stop only goes to 4.0 and... maybe my problem is primarily the current lens. Anyway, I'd rather not spend more on a lens than I did on the body: Is that a reasonable thing or should I expect to spend more on the lenses? Also, should I consider getting a different body or is the Xti a decent model?

Thanks!

CMR wrote in post #17898637
I am looking to do some portraits and maybe some action shots. I am a huge fan of street photography and would like to explore that avenue. My previous experience has been primarily with zoom but I have used a fixed telefoto lens. I enjoy both. My current camera is a Canon Rebel Xti. I'm honestly not sure if I like it or not.. the F-stop only goes to 4.0 and... maybe my problem is primarily the current lens. Anyway, I'd rather not spend more on a lens than I did on the body: Is that a reasonable thing or should I expect to spend more on the lenses? Also, should I consider getting a different body or is the Xti a decent model?

Thanks!

I'd get glass first. Xti is old and low MP, but perfectly capable of producing good images.

For a high quality low cost prime for low light and narrow depth of field, great for portraits on the Xti, get the new 50mm f/1.8 STM. Do not get a used old version, it must be the "STM". It's only about $100.00 new

CMR wrote in post #17898637
I am looking to do some portraits and maybe some action shots. I am a huge fan of street photography and would like to explore that avenue. My previous experience has been primarily with zoom but I have used a fixed telefoto lens. I enjoy both. My current camera is a Canon Rebel Xti. I'm honestly not sure if I like it or not.. the F-stop only goes to 4.0 and... maybe my problem is primarily the current lens. Anyway, I'd rather not spend more on a lens than I did on the body: Is that a reasonable thing or should I expect to spend more on the lenses? Also, should I consider getting a different body or is the Xti a decent model?

Thanks!

Heya,

Well, first, I would say don't buy anything just yet. You need to do some research first. You just said you're not sure if you like the XTi because it only goes to F4. But, that's not how it works. Maybe that was a mistake. But if it wasn't, I would say this is where you put on the brakes and make sure you are intimate with the concept of what does what in terms of the camera body and the lens and how they interact and the exposure triangle. Lenses are why you shoot a SLR. Why else would one get an interchangeable lens system? Lenses are more important in your situation, as you have a functioning camera, and to change what and how you do photography, that portion will be the lenses you're using and how you use them.

A single good lens would do you well.

Or two good lenses.

Example, a 17-50 F2.8 IS would be an excellent lens for what you're doing, portrait, street, action, etc, it's a fast mid range zoom that is stabilized. You can get third party (Tamron, Sigma) or Canon, and they will do the job for you. Good range from wide to telephoto on your XTi via that lens, and fast.

Example, or you could do two fast primes, such as a 24 F2.8 STM & 50 F1.8 STM, giving you normal and telephoto fields of view, fast aperture, small and light, sharp and inexpensive.

Very best,

Thank you very much for you help!

Thank you very much for your help!

The 18-55 STM is also a good lens, albeit slow. I have seen them for less than $100. on the For Sale forum here. Also consider the 18-135 STM. That one may be over your budget if you don't want to spend more than you did for the camera.

Thanks for your help!

That's the lens, not the body.

I had an XTi once. Takes fine images, despite the lack of bells and whistles. The main functional difference between that and the 50D you learned on (I had one of those too) is not the extra MP, but rather the difference in ergonomics and controls. Very different on the Rebels (any of them) and the XXD cameras.

One lens that might be worth your consideration is the older (non-vibration-control) Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. The AF isn't the fastest in the world, and it lacks vibration control, of course, but it is a very sharp lens for the price and faster than the kit lens.

The xti is a great portrait camera, get a decent lens and it can still make magic. I've printed at 20" x 30" with great results. Now for action the xti struggles as the af isn't very fast, it won't give you great results but you can get some decent shots. That lens is useless. I purchased it many moons ago thinking it was a great purchase, but alas it's not. I think the best shots I got from it were static on a tripod, one of the moon during an eclipse, and the other of a soccer player not moving.

If you can save up for a decent lens go for it. I used the 28-135 on the xti for a long time and it usually got the job done. It's not a great lens, but it's versatile.