I am new, stupid and want your help!

kitacanon wrote in post #4096544
There was DEFINITELY lag in the VF as the IS couldn't keep up with my not so fast pan...no lag with the IS off...

Just checking: What mode was the IS on?
Some lenses have a mode 1 and 2:

It is very difficult to get good shots with the $200 70-300 lens. My friend listened to the RITZ's clerk and bought the Xti with 70-300 for her daughter's cheerleading. All her shots come out blurry and bad exposure. I told her to spend a little more and it would make a world of difference. She has the money, but she said she's not ready for the cost commitment. The OP really has very little she can do with the tools she has. If she cannot afford a better lens, maybe it is time she rent a f2.8 lens and try it. Maybe for a major game or homecoming or some other more important event. Good photography is mostly talent, but the right tools can make our jobs so much easier and better. Good luck!

Again thank you all. Clearly you can tell I am a novice when it comes to cameras. I really do enjoy the Rebel XTI camera for what I generally use a camera for. It is nice for everyday stuff that I usually shoot.
Incase someone missed something, my ISP is set to 1600 as high as it can go.
I am going to go to a local camera store and see if they rent, resell etc.
I am a little leary of renting over the internet. I don't want to pay for damages of a person before me. Also most of them want a business address. Yeah I can supply one, but I am the one renting the lens. I guess they want to keep those rentals more towards the pros such as most of yourselves. I am alright with that.
I also run agility wth my pup so it looks like I am going to need a better lens.
I think I'd like a tripod just because I'd like to use one. I have a bad back and that would take the weight from around my neck.
Here is a shot of my pup a papillon at agility school. We are still learning. LOL!

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gizmo3 wrote in post #4099024
I am a little leary of renting over the internet. I don't want to pay for damages of a person before me. Also most of them want a business address. Yeah I can supply one, but I am the one renting the lens. I guess they want to keep those rentals more towards the pros such as most of yourselves. I am alright with that.

I have no personal interest in the company I suggested you rent from. I have rented instance specific lens's from them on a few occasions and they have shipped to my home. I am only giving them props because of my previous hassle free experiences. They are owned by a practicing physician who is also a member here on POTN. All their equipment is as new. Most " real " pros have what they need and if not go out and buy it if needed.

Isn't the whole IS vs non-IS discussion a mute point since the OP has clearly stated that she cannot spend significant money on upgrades?

Seems like a waste of discussion - at least in the short term.

gizmo3 wrote in post #4099024
So besides needing a better camera I need a better lens.

You people have been a wealth of knowledge for me. I was really getting some odd answers when I calling around. Including from Canon.

Just a better lens. Your camera will do just fine.

The XTi is a capable camera, think mostly about fast lens and panning with shutter 1/250 or faster if possible.

kitacanon wrote in post #4096544
Maybe there's something wrong with the copy this BB's locked display cabinet...
There was DEFINITELY lag in the VF as the IS couldn't keep up with my not so fast pan...no lag with the IS off...
The fella at BB was just looking at the LCD with me...no expertise was needed to see that there was no gain in sharpness using IS.

That's it right there - the 28-135 doesn't have Mode 2 for IS. Mode 2 is intended for panning, so the IS isn't fighting your panning action. Try using that lens at slow speeds without panning, or pick up a 70-200 IS, put it in Mode 2, and pan.

bauerman wrote in post #4099331
Isn't the whole IS vs non-IS discussion a mute point since the OP has clearly stated that she cannot spend significant money on upgrades?

Seems like a waste of discussion - at least in the short term.

No this hasn't bee an useless thread.
Even if I can't afford a lens right now, I have been given a lot different techniques to try.
I don't think I would have even considered renting a lens even though I did find a few sites out there, had someone not recommended it here.

No discussioin is useless, unless no one learns from it.

René Damkot wrote in post #4098859
Just checking: What mode was the IS on?
Some lenses have a mode 1 and 2:

I'll check into that, thanx...I was getting "seasick" with all that lag...

kitacanon wrote in post #4101666
I'll check into that, thanx...I was getting "seasick" with all that lag...

Explain "lag" please.

If you're panning with an IS lens that doesn't have Mode 2 IS, or where Mode 2 IS isn't turned on, the IS will try to "damp" the motion of your panning, so what you see in the finder will be very jerky. Basically, the IS mechanism tries to hold your aim on what was at the center of the FoV when you first activated IS. You move too far for it to cope, so it readjusts to the new center area (and you see it jerk over) until that gets too far off, and repeat indefinately.

This thread has devolved into an IS discussion - it happens. The OP has no and has no plans to buy an IS lens from what I read.

It happens, but do you suggest that misinformation be left unchallenged just because it's off topic? OP has got several immediately useful suggestions, as well as information for continued development down the road. IMO that's all good.

I'm sure the panning and mode 2 discussions are useful discussions for people outside of the OP. I think that the best suggestions that have been offered in this thread are centered around what can be done with the OP's existing equipment.