Canon XTi 18-55 mm Kit Lens, Any Good?

Got a Canon 18-55 mm Kit Lens with my new Xti today, and wondered how good it is. I can do some pretty good close ups with it; it works to about 8" from the subject. I also have my old Canon 35-80mm lens that came with my Rebel EOS 35mm and wondered which one is better?

Thanks,

Jim

It is one of the best $150 lenses you can get. I liked it but it is just an entry level lens.

Thanks --

Since I'm also "entry level" it should work out just fine!

Its not a bad lens.You can always add as you get use to the camera.

I've seen images from the kit lens that blows me away with how well they are. I personally know a photographer who used the kit lens just about exclusively for more then a year and the images I have seen of his are simply amazing. Yes it is a cheap peice of crap (compared to a L lens) but it has a great deal of value and is a very useful lens in most situations, especially fore entry level, which is what the Rebel series are in the first place.

Yes there is a ton of better lenses but none are as cheap as the kit lens with exception the 50mm f1.8 MKII (Nifty 50) so don't worry about it. When I had one with my Rebel XT (that I kept for only a weekend and returned it) the images I took with it were beyond impressive. Even with a 20D I have considered buying one of these lenses (eventually bought the 17-40 L though). This image of my dads eye was taken in Auto mode with the kit lens and onboard flash. Simply amazing!

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Thanks, everyone --

I almost didn't buy the camera with the kit lens, glad I did.

I wanted to be able to take close ups of auto part serial numbers, etc.
when I put them up for sale. Tried it out tonight and noticed something strange. When I focused in on my wifes ring I noticed that the flash or something was sparking while the lens was focusing then it flashed. Is that normal, or was it because I was shooting a shiny object?

Just use the kit lens and if you find that it limits you, buy a new lens. That's the fun of slr's, all the lenses you can get.

davvet2 wrote in post #2269904
Thanks, everyone --

I almost didn't buy the camera with the kit lens, glad I did.

I wanted to be able to take close ups of auto part serial numbers, etc.
when I put them up for sale. Tried it out tonight and noticed something strange. When I focused in on my wifes ring I noticed that the flash or something was sparking while the lens was focusing then it flashed. Is that normal, or was it because I was shooting a shiny object?

i think its normal. switch it to "creative" modes such as Manual (M) or Aperture Priority (AV) and such. Then the flash will only pop up when you press the flash button.

oh if you meant the flashing thing yes its normal it keeps flashing so it can get a light reading i suppose. it always does that on mine.

The way I look at it is...this lens is only as good as the photographer...there are other lenses that can help the photog look a little better then they are and some make them look worse. this lens is capable of many things. The better a photog you are the better this lens can do...

laimis.s wrote in post #2272310
i think its normal. switch it to "creative" modes such as Manual (M) or Aperture Priority (AV) and such. Then the flash will only pop up when you press the flash button.

oh if you meant the flashing thing yes its normal it keeps flashing so it can get a light reading i suppose. it always does that on mine.

Thanks,

It sorta reminded me of an arc welder! Just wanted to be sure there was nothing wrong with the camera and/or I wasn't doing something wrong.

Jim

the flash doing a strobe thing is the flash acting as a AF assist, it helps the camera focus when there's not enough light on the subject

That makes sense --

Thanks, Mike

Jim

The kit lens is just fine for normal use, it works best with an aperture of about f/8
The strobe effect you describe is how the camera manages toi focus in low light - I can't stand it! It only happens in auto - if you have a speedlite there is a red AF assist lamp which comes on and is far less intrusive.
My 20D does AF assist the same way and first time it happened I thought the camera was broken.

Take a spin through the kit lens archive.

I never gave my lens kit a chance. I got a sigma 17-70 right alway. Im very new too photography. I compare the two lens and the kit lens is a lot more softer. So im happy that I did change. But I think it would have been better for me to learn on.