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,