help?!?!?!!

Hello! If you can take some time to help this sort-of-newb out, it'd be greatly appreciated!!!!

I've set my mind in purchasing Canon Rebel XT/350D. I want to purchase the camera body while stepping away from the "kit" lenses, and just buy lenses separately. I know that kit lenses can be great with addition of various filters, so should I just stick to that?? Or should I invest more and get lesnes???? The only problem with buying lenses separately is........ There are so many lenses out there, and I feel like I'm just bombarded with information. I've been researching on them for few days and I feel like I'm not getting clear ideas as to what I want.

I have 3 years of photography behind me(which is not a lot compared to some people out there), and the experience was with film. I had a Minolta, one of those auto/manual kinds. It was a hand-down from my father, and he already had a good macro & reg., so I really didn't need to worry about choosing/buying lenses.

I've had Canon SD550 P&S, which worked great for me for a while, but I want to move on & do something with dSLRs.. As soon as I can figure out what to do/buy.

I'm looking for a just standard 'starter' lens, and one macro. I've read the top 10 lens choices, and this is what I came down to.

Starter lenses (which one should I choose?????)
EF 50mm f/1.8 II (~$80)
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (~$300)
EF 28-135mm f/3.5
EF 17-85mm f/4

Macro
EF 100mm f/2.8 (~$400)


I usually shoot landscape. I don't have much experience with macros, so I guess I can play around with it when I get the dSLR. I'll do portraits from time to time, usually children.

Of course, the prices matter as I'm a poor college student. So if there are any lenses out there that can perform as well as the ones I've posted for CHEAPER, please share the info?!

Oh question. Does Canon share its lenses for film & dSLR?? B/c when I was shopping for lenses on ebay, it gave me the model, but said 'film' so.. that got me little confused.

The Tamron AF 28-75 XR DI LD f2.8 (is $349 @ bhphotovideo.com) is supposed to be a very fast sharp lens. It's recommended a lot on the forum. The 50 1.8 is a good starter lens, though it's a little flimsy...you hear of it being broken alot...the 100mm macro is an excellent lens as well, but as for the others, I'm unfamiliar with them. It depends on what you want to shoot but the above Tamron is a vg. price for a fast, mid-range zoom (perhaps someone who has it may be able to tell you it's good/bad points). Good luck assembling your kit and welcome to the forum.

And any EF (or EF-S) lens will fit on the digital cam's. (EF-S lenses only fit on the XT, XTI, 10D, 20D & 30D). FD lenses do not.

Sigma 17-70. Great range, optics, and price.

I think if I were you I'd buy the new 400D for starters. From what I've read its a definite step up from the 300D.

For lenses:

1) the 17-85 is a good starter lens and; 2) the 100f/2.8 macro is a definite keeper.

If you can manage it, the 17-40L is a much better lens than the 17-85 and is one you'll keep, rather than replace or upgrade.

All of canon's ef series lenses are for film or digital, while the ef-s series is digital only.

Permagrin wrote in post #2064414
... EF-S lenses only fit on the XT, XTI, 10D, 20D & 30D ...

The 10D does not work with EF-S lenses... I believe that the first camera to support the EF-S mount was the Digital Rebel / 300D.

SimonG wrote in post #2064568
The 10D does not work with EF-S lenses... I believe that the first camera to support the EF-S mount was the Digital Rebel / 300D.

My mistake. I thought it did...sorry.

Not a problem... we knew what you meant.

Go for a 17-85 IS USM. Not the fastest lens but very good IQ (proven)!
It has IS (comp for not being a fast lens)! and USM (fast focus)!
Great focal range (17mm landscape) 50-85mm portret etc..)!

The Canon lens can be sold second hand without degrading its price by 50% (Tamron and Sigma will be 50% less worth second hand)!

Overkill wrote in post #2064600
Go for a 17-85 IS USM. Not the fastest lens but very good IQ (proven)! ...

It also has a hefty dose of distortion at wide angles.

I would not consider either of the 50 mm options if this is to be your only lens for a while... it's just not wide enough for a variety of uses (it has the FOV of a moderate telephoto on a crop camera). Instead, I'd probablly consider one of the third party zooms as suggested, or perhaps the Sigma 30 f/1.4.

Edit: there's an ongoing conversation on third party zooms for crop cameras here that's worth a look.

ysP wrote in post #2064403
Hello! If you can take some time to help this sort-of-newb out, it'd be greatly appreciated!!!!

There are so many lenses out there, and I feel like I'm just bombarded with information. I've been researching on them for few days and I feel like I'm not getting clear ideas as to what I want.

Read this:

http://www.aboriginemu​ndi.com/photo/Glass-buying-guide.pdf

And a few tips:
- An excellent allround lens is the Tammy 28-75 f/2.8. Has closeup possibilities too so you don't need to buy a macro right away.
- A good low light lens that won't break your wallet is the Canon 50 f/1.8
- A good zoom is the Canon 70-200 f/4

P.

ysP wrote in post #2064403
Hello! If you can take some time to help this sort-of-newb out, it'd be greatly appreciated!!!!

I've set my mind in purchasing Canon Rebel XT/350D. I want to purchase the camera body while stepping away from the "kit" lenses, and just buy lenses separately. I know that kit lenses can be great with addition of various filters, so should I just stick to that?? Or should I invest more and get lesnes???? The only problem with buying lenses separately is........ There are so many lenses out there, and I feel like I'm just bombarded with information. I've been researching on them for few days and I feel like I'm not getting clear ideas as to what I want.

I have 3 years of photography behind me(which is not a lot compared to some people out there), and the experience was with film. I had a Minolta, one of those auto/manual kinds. It was a hand-down from my father, and he already had a good macro & reg., so I really didn't need to worry about choosing/buying lenses.

I've had Canon SD550 P&S, which worked great for me for a while, but I want to move on & do something with dSLRs.. As soon as I can figure out what to do/buy.

I'm looking for a just standard 'starter' lens, and one macro. I've read the top 10 lens choices, and this is what I came down to.

Starter lenses (which one should I choose?????)
EF 50mm f/1.8 II (~$80)
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (~$300)
EF 28-135mm f/3.5
EF 17-85mm f/4

Macro
EF 100mm f/2.8 (~$400)


I usually shoot landscape. I don't have much experience with macros, so I guess I can play around with it when I get the dSLR. I'll do portraits from time to time, usually children.

Of course, the prices matter as I'm a poor college student. So if there are any lenses out there that can perform as well as the ones I've posted for CHEAPER, please share the info?!

Oh question. Does Canon share its lenses for film & dSLR?? B/c when I was shopping for lenses on ebay, it gave me the model, but said 'film' so.. that got me little confused.

The kit lens whilst not the best lens around is in fact not that bad optically despite the crappy build quality.

When I got started with my system I had no EF lenses and just got a body with the kit lens knowing I would replace it. This allowed me to fill out my system from the extreems first. So I got the 100mm macro, then a bit later the EF-S 10-22, the 50/1.4 and the 200/2.8L and it was not untill a year later that I replaced the kit lens. I have a log of kit in order of aquisition with reasons and comments here which may be of interest. This also allows you to understand how you use your camera before getting more kit.

Now I have had a film SLR system before that for 20 years so I knew what lenses I wanted. I think, if you are new to photography this stratagy is even more benificial, unless you have so much cash you can aford to make mistakes.

Another thing is if you will always stay with APS-C sensors or ever plan to go full frame - this may affect your lens stratagy.

I have some old mussings on lenses here with quite a bit of info.

If you want to understand the Canon lens line up they do publish a book that covers most of the lenses except the ones that are very new.

ysP,
When I came in to DSLR's from film the lenses I started with was a Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5, a Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro and a Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6. All of these lenses can produce excellent results (especially the macro!). I like you also shot on Minolta 35mm film cameras, however unlike film when you put a 28mm lens on a 1.6 DSLR (most are 1.6 because of the small sensor) it will be like a 45mm lens. So it won't be quite a wide angle but will have a long zoom (105mm x 1.6 = 168mm). Just something to keep in mind as you look for your lenses
Good Luck with your choice

Try the 17-85. 28-135 is nowhere near wide enough especially for a landscape. Do not forget your 1.6X crop factor.

I more than got by on a 17-85 despite all the flak and all the bashing it gets. In fact, I quite enjoyed the lens. Outdoors for landscapes in the daytime, stop down to f/8, quality is excellent there. At night, shoot wide open or whatever aperture you need. If the light's low enough, even a L lens will look like a $70 lens.

For macro, you might want to consider the EF-S 60mm macro, it is cheaper than the 100mm macro (also a superb choice) and its quality is absolutely mind-blowing. The bad thing is that you'll then look at every other lens and ask "why can't they all be this good"

Buy the 50 f/1.8 separately for a fast prime when you need it. It's affordable enough that you can pick it up a few months down the road after you've recovered from the initial investment.

The 400D is very, very worth it. Go for it. If I wasn't upgrading so far beyond the Rebel series I would buy one too. No, don't ask where I am going, I have been led into temptation. (and the postman had BETTER deliver that temptation tomorrow!!!)