New Rebel XS user

Hello from Arkansas.

I just purchased a Rebel Digital XS with the 18-55mm lens. I also got an add on lens, a Quantaray 70-300mm.

I am not new to photography, however, I haven't used an SLR since the late '70's. So I am pretty much dumb about these newer type cameras.

In playing trying to get familiar with this new tool, I found that in the full auto mode the 18-55mm lens does not really auto-focus? Well it does something, but the lens doesn't really adjust as it does when I switch the mode to "P."

So can someone please explain to me the difference and/or advantages/disadvantag​es of using the "P" mode.

Last question (this time) what does everyone consider as the perfect lens? I'd love to find a good all around lens that will afford me typical photography. i.e. family/pet, outdoors scenery, nature/wildlife, and action shots without carrying several different lenses.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

tawcat

I'm not sure what kind of focusing issue you are getting. P and green box are pretty similar, except P allows you to push the wheel to choose difference combinations, ie: slower shutter but narrower aperture. P also allows you to use a lot of the settings that Auto doesn't allow you access to, such as ISO, or saving photos in RAW. When I started I didn't use P much, but now when I'm trying to catch something in a hurry, I use P a lot. I almost never use green box, in part because I always shoot in RAW.

As for the "perfect lens" you will get tons of replies. If I was only going to have one lens it would be the 24-105L. It isn't as heavy as some of the f/2.8 lenses, it covers a wider range than most lenses, has IS, and is known to be one of the sharpest lenses in Canon's lineup.

The downsides are that it is not very wide on a crop camera like the Rebel, it isn't as long as some of the super zooms (like the 18-200) and it isn't as good in low light as something like the 24-70 f/2.8. Everything is a compromise, but that lens is one I would deal with.

If you want more range, then something like the Canon 18-200 or Tamron 18-270 is good.

I also expect someone will tell you the perfect lens is either a 50 or 30mm fast prime, and there is some good reasoning behind that.

Thank you Jason. I think I will continue to use the green box for a while until I get comfortable with the camera. Thanks for the lens tips. I guess the 18-55 and 70-300 I have are probably a good start.

Its a learning curve, Im about 3 months in with my XSI.I was on the P mode, but found the camera taking more control than I wanted it too. I have now started to adjust with the Av mode with my new purchase of the 50 1.8. The best part is how I am able to take 10 or 1,000 pictures and does not cost me a single roll of film. Being able to snap as many as I want and learn from it all is the best.

tawcat wrote in post #7624945
Thank you Jason. I think I will continue to use the green box for a while until I get comfortable with the camera. Thanks for the lens tips. I guess the 18-55 and 70-300 I have are probably a good start.

If you are thinking about sticking with those two, I strongly recommend picking up a 50mm to go with it. The f/1.4 is probably a better lens, but runs around $300, the f/1.8 is very similar optical quality, and can be found brand new for $85 online. It is good to have the low light, shallow depth of field capabilities of the 50mm prime.

So your saying rather than to go with another zoom/telephoto lens I should go with a single range (not sure that is correct terminology) lens?

No, I'm saying if you are deciding to stick to the 18-55 and 70-300 for a while, the 50 would be a good cheap addition.

You will have most of 18-300 focal range covered, but all with pretty slow apertures. The 50 gives you less range in focal length, but gives you a lot of flexibility in aperture.

It is very common for someone to get started with a kit wide to normal, normal to telephoto, and then add a 50 prime. It kinda gives you a taste of everything, and then you can decide on what type of lens will benefit you best down the road.

Camera lenses are all about trade offs. A lens with a single focal length (called a prime lens) will typically be faster (smaller aperture number, meaning better in low-light). But you lose the versatility of a zoom. Primes also typically have a better image quality than a zoom of the same price. Some people say that primes are better for learning, because they force you to think more about composition, instead of just zooming and shooting, some say that is old fashioned thinking.

I think in the end most people that stick to photography gravitate towards prime or zoom, depending on their style. My current plan is to get very high quality zooms that aren't as fast (One of the reasons I recently switched to Canon was for the f/4 L lenses) and some primes to use for low light.

Keep reading up from resources on here and in your library on how to improve. Eventually you will find that those lenses limit what you want to do. By hanging around here you will get an idea of what will serve your needs better.

Best to post pictures and let others give you feedback on how to improve.