Rebel XTi Starter kit suggestions?

• Rebel XTi body
  
• Giottos Lens Cleaning Kit with Small Rocket Air Blower
  
• Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens
  
• Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer
  
• Canon 72mm Circular Polarizer Glass Filter
  
• ExpoImaging ExpoDisc 77mm Neutral White Balance Filter
  
• Canon EH-15L Semi-Hard Case - for Rebel Ti, T2, or K2 with up to 28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM Lens?????????????
  
  
• Phottix Battery Grip
  
• 4GB CF card Extreme IV

So I am putting together a starter kit and would really appreciate any advice that you can offer. I originally wanted to go with the 5D, but was persuaded by another forum member to start with a cheaper body, and spend the bucks on good glass. As long as I get EF lenses I can always switch out the body later.

I'm not completely satisfied with what I've been reading about the 28-135mm lens particularly regarding its poor quality with full-frame cameras, but I want a mid-range lens preferably with IS and figure I can always sell it later with the body as a kit lens. However, if anyone has any recommendations for a mid-range lens, I would love to hear.

The camera will be used for a variety of settings including a studio setting, social events, nature, night.

Also are there any recommendations on cases for my camera & lenses? It would be great for it to fit the body with the battery grip and mid-range lens.

Has anyone tried out the Lensbaby 3G on this body?

In what situations is an auxillary flash needed? How is the onboard flash?

Overall, does anyone see anything missing from this starter kit?

Thanks and I appreciate all your replies.

Keep the first, third, and the last item.
The second, fourth and sixth could be debated, but the rest is junk.

You could probably make a better deal if you bought only the items that you really need and stay away from bundles.

Just my 2 cents, welcome to POTN!

i think that the money spent on the grip could definitely be going to a better cause such as something wider than 28mm (considering the 1.6x factor). 28mm really is not wide enough, its a dilemma i myself face.

I do not plan on a bundle.
Any suggestions for a case and other battery grip product?
I really am leaning toward the battery grip because I have heard that the XTi is relatively small and I have big hands.
I want it to feel comfortable.
What lens would you recommend midget? The EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Autofocus Lens?

xti body
17-40 and or 50mm 1.4 - great lenses that will set you up nicely now and for the future
big 2gb plus card

get a used grip if you really cant stand it

How much should I pay for a grip?

not sure...see what they go for in the sell section

I don't think, if you go into a store and actually handle the XTi, that you'll find it's really all that small. Smaller than the 20D and the like, yes, but P&S small, no.

Yeah, try the XTi without the grip and see how you like it. I've been using my XTi without a grip for a while now and enjoy the portability factor. I do attach an Opteka grip when I'm using a large lens (70-200 f4 IS) or plan to be shooting for some length of time.

XTi + grip is a must for a lot of people, makes a huge difference. Weighs the camera better with heavier lenses attached, and makes the camera much easier to hold. Plus there are the vertical controls which are nice.

i started out with an XTi kit, pretty much this kit, bought it from these people as well. http://www.digicombos.​com/product_p/cnxti3cl​gb4.htm

i now have a 5D+ grip, and nothing from the orignal kit, the lenses that i have are all L lenses now, tripod is different (better), better flash, ect. ect.


i think it depends on how serious you are wanting to get into photography, i got pretty lucky, a buddy of mine i work with bought my stuff from me for 700$ for everything, and i paid about 1,000$ so yes i did lose some money, and if i had it to do over again, i would personaly go strait to the 5D, but i am also now intrested in free lance work.

i would say if you are going to be serious about it, then go strait to the 5D or 1d mk III, in the long run you will save your self some money. If you dont know that much about photography in general and you want a good camera to learn from, then the XTi will be a good route, and it could server as a back up body for you if you decide to become more serious in the future.

as far as your bag question i got a lowepro, i was also thinking about a kata, i got the lowepro because it had a place for my laptop and it has a rain jacket built in.


i hope this helps some, i know what your going though and have already gone though it my self. good luck with your decision.

Regarding the big stuff:

- The 28-135mm lens has the very first generation of IS technology that Canon used I believe, and isn't nearly as effective as the more recent iterations. I think a lot people would recommend the 24-105 f/4L IS lens instead, for that and other reasons. I realize that's a heck of a price difference, but if you check the reviews I think you'll see a lot of happy people with 24-105mm lenses.

- In conjunction with the above, I'd get either the 50mm f/1.4 (like you have) or the 85mm f/1.8 lens depending on which focal length you think you'd be more likely to use. Either way, you'll have a fast inexpensive prime lens which lets you do completely different things than the zoom lens will.

Regarding accessories:

- The Giottos Rocker Air Blowers are great. The small is OK if you want one in your camera bag. The medium is a lot easier to use if you're leaving it at home.

- You don't need the Extreme IV CompactFlash cards. They're twice as fast as the Extreme III CompactFlash cards, however that speed is only usable when downloading from the card to your computer and even then only if you buy their FireWire card reader also. The Extreme III CompactFlash cards cost significantly less still, and support faster write speeds than any current Canon camera is capable of.

- With the above said, it's really nice having a card reader to use. I got the Sandisk Extreme USB 2.0 Card Reader for $20 I think.

- I do like the battery grips. They give you convenient buttons in portrait mode, better balance with larger lenses, more flexibility with batteries, etc. I just went with the Canon BG-E3 grip.

- If you do get the battery grip, you'll probably want to get at least a second battery. Ideally you'd get another battery charger and three additional batteries, so that you can have two batteries in the grip and two charging at all times. Don't bother with the ultra-expensive Canon rechargeable batteries (NB-2LH), get their equivalents at Sterlingtek.com for $11 each with higher capacity to boot.

- I bought the 430 EX speedlight along with my Rebel XTi, and I've never used the on-camera flash. You'll want the speedlight if you do any real amount of flash photography, as you really need it to get rid of red-eye at the least but also for better range and such as well. The focus assist light on the speedlight is terrific too and barely noticeable, whereas I think the on-camera flash will do this obnoxious strobing thing.

- I don't really have an opinion on the filters. I don't use them as of yet.

- Camera bag selection is a very personal matter. Good luck.

1) get the Xti body

2) 50mm f1.4

3) canon 75-300 tele or tamron 70-300. i say this because you said nature. these lenses are not the greatest by any means. they are cheap around $200. i bought a cheap one to learn with before i bought the 70-200f2.8L to see if a long tele was something i would use enough to spend money on or if a shorter tele would suffice for me.

4) maybe not a polarizing filter. but for sure a uv filter if for nothing else than to protect your lens these also have no effect on your pics as far as i can tell.

5) battery grip? yes. it made all the difference with mine as far as stability,fatigue on the hands. plus it offers extra storage for the batteries you will end up buying.

6) as RiffRaff stated 2 extra batteries from Sterlingtek $11 a piece.

7) 430ex and at least 3 sets of rechargeable batteries

8) as far as the case that is for you to decide. it depends on where you want to end up. (how many toys) i mean how much equipment do yo plan on buying.
9) personally i use 2gb cards i have 4 total. extreme III are fine.

If you are going to keep the 28-135 for price reasons and are going to buy screw in filters of any type and are truely intending to by good glass (as in L) in the future...buy your screw in filters at 77mm size and use a step up ring (72-77mm) for the filters.
Most of the affordable L glass zooms (except for the great 70-200 f/4 L IS or non IS which is 67mm) are 77mm filter size.

Many users have complained that in the long run the non-Canon grips with lots of usage don't hold up for various reasons. Your milage may vary.
Forget the Canon semi hard case. If you are doing nature shots and planning on carrying one zoom lens of some type get either a Tamrac soft holster case (has an outside pocket that will hold your filter(s) or even better but more bucks LowePro 75AW toploader holster case (this one comes with a chest harness and a shoulder strap) and has a built in rain cover and lots of pockets.

Look at my sig I started out similar to your setup. I still use the 28-135 with my XTi. And if you weren't dead set on the 50 f/1.4 ...the combo of the Tokina 12-24 and the Canon 28-135 works great.
The 24-105 IS L is super but pricy at around a $1k USD.

Have fun

-rang

New Canon 18-55mm IS?

personally I'm not a big fan of the entry-level Canon lenses, but if you're set on an entry level with IS, the new 18-55mm might work for you. I went for a constant f2.8 instead, but it's not *quite* enough to get normal light indoors unless you're near some windows (without pushing the ISO too high). anybody have any experience with the new lens? Canon is claiming 4-stop IS, which ranks up there with the best of their lenses...