My First SLR (XTI)...Now Which lens do you recommend?

Just bought my first SLR, a XTI, which I got in a closeout at my local Office Depot for $399. It came with the 18-55 IS lens kit. I would like to get an additional lens that comes with more zoom. Christmas and my birthday is coming up quick and could use recommendations on which lens would be a good choice for my second lens? I like to take pictures of the kids, vacations, son's basketball games, etc...

Congrats on the new camera!!! If your looking for something not to expensive in the canon line you could get the 55-250 F4-5.6 IS lens. I think it's a pretty good performer. Check out the lens sample photo archive to see the posts of other folks with this lens.

If you want to shoot indoor sports, you should check into the EF 85mm f/1.8 lens. It runs about $340 at B&H Photo.

Good Luck!

I think the top 3 inexpensive starter lenses would be as follows:

1. 18-55 IS
2. 55-250 IS
3. 50 f/1.8

With 1 and 2, you'll have 18-250 IS with decent sharpness. These aren't L quality lenses, but they're good. The 55-250 is actually quite sharp, and the 18-55 is a good walk around lens. The 50 f/1.8 is very sharp and fast for the price, and arguably the best bargain out there. It is capable of producing stunningly sharp images. Just take a look at the lens sample photo archive for ideas of what you can expect. Note that the 50 f/1.8 is a prime, so it doesn't zoom - it's fixed at 50mm.

I think a 55-250 will give you more zoom, without breaking the budget. Not to mention I hear it's pretty nice for the $$. You cna always sell later and change if you don't like it.

I personally would recommend a prime though. 50 1.8 (1.4) or 85 1.8 as mentioned above. This will give you more play in low light, and fun with shallow DOF.

Guess it depends what you are shooting.

$400 for an XTi and a 18-55 IS? Wow! Talk about a great deal on a great entry level DSLR!!! Congrats!

I think the 55-250 IS is the logical zoom lens for you. It won't break the bank, but will give you decent range and will compliment the 18-55 nicely. I also would pick up the nifty fifty...the 50mm f/1.8. It's inexpensive and will give you something with a big aperture...

I would go for the 55-250IS so long as you keep in mind that it won't really gain you a whole lot indoor's for sports (you mentioned basketball). For that I would put in another vote for the 85 1.8. It gets recommended quite often for indoor sports and shouldn't break the bank too bad.

I would start out with the 18-55mm IS. For as cheap as that lens is it's very good. I have one on an XTi and it does real well in daylight as well as indoors, probably isn't very good in very low light though. From there you can build your glass collection knowing what you want to do that the 18-55mm IS can't.

Another lens I can highly recommend is the EF-S 60mm macro. This would be good for small objects as well as portraits. It's very sharp and if your patient you can find them under $300.

congrats!

get the 55-250 IS to compliment your 18-55 IS. that combo will cover most of your shooting needs for the moment. the 50 1.8 is also a good addition to your kit. its a good introduction to primes.

I just bought a XTi kit - non IS lens, for 450.. must say I am thoroughly jealous of the deal you came up with if that really is the IS lens.

I think my next purchase (lens-wise) will be a 50mm f/1.8 and then a tele. Speaking of which, why is everyone suggesting the 55-250 instead of like.. 70-300 type of lens? Just curious

I got an XTi last year and this is my lens path so far: 50mm f/1.8, 55-250 IS, sigma 10-20.

Okay, I've really done some homework on the 55-200 IS and the best deal I can find is for $230.

I have some more questions -I'm new to this and sometimes I can overlook the obvious.

1. What does the phrase "nifty fifty" mean?
2. I haven't read completely through the manual yet but was wondering how to shoot in black and white without any post editing?
3. Should I detach the lens each time I go to put it in the bag or can it stay attached?

Any recommendations for learning about shooting with an SLR? Again I have an XTI.

Are you sure that you got the 18-55 IS? I thought the XTi came with a 18-55 non-IS

KCmike wrote in post #6912402
Okay, I've really done some homework on the 55-200 IS and the best deal I can find is for $230.

I have some more questions -I'm new to this and sometimes I can overlook the obvious.

1. What does the phrase "nifty fifty" mean?
2. I haven't read completely through the manual yet but was wondering how to shoot in black and white without any post editing?
3. Should I detach the lens each time I go to put it in the bag or can it stay attached?

Any recommendations for learning about shooting with an SLR? Again I have an XTI.

1) Nickname for the 50mm lens
2) Press the set button and scroll to monochrome
3) If it fits in attached, I'd leave it like that. It's up to you though, taking it off just means you have to put it back on.

KCmike wrote in post #6912402
1. What does the phrase "nifty fifty" mean?
2. I haven't read completely through the manual yet but was wondering how to shoot in black and white without any post editing?
3. Should I detach the lens each time I go to put it in the bag or can it stay attached?

1. Debatable, it is what some nicknamed the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 and what others nicknamed the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 (aka "the thrifty fifty"). There has been no absolute resolution on this.
2. Shoot in jpg and set your picture style to the correct setting for B&W/mono (I forget the menu exactly, its been a while since I played with an XTi)...although I would never recommend shooting in jpg unless you are running out of cardspace (RAW is so much more flexible).
3. Personal preference. But it can stay attached safely and this will reduce the chances of even more dust of entering your camera body (which usually occurs during lens swap). I think most people store them with the lens attached. The only time I wouild detach the two would be for long or very bumpy trips (i.e. intercontinental flights).

Read the forum more, USE THE SEARCH FEATURE, and get a good book ("Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is usually the recommendation and can be had for cheap on Amazon).

I would be wary of running out and buying lower-end/cheaper lenses. Sometimes it pays off in the longrun to just save up for the good (or at least better) glass.

aeroblade wrote in post #6912431
Are you sure that you got the 18-55 IS? I thought the XTi came with a 18-55 non-IS

You are correct, Canon shipped the XTi kit with an 18-55 non-IS lens. The XSi was the first Rebel kit sold with the IS kit lens (followed by the XS).