I got the REBEL XT, now need lenses!

[talltigeguy]

I got the Rebel XT. It should be in the mail soon. Got it on Ebay. It is a refurbished camera. Time will tell if that is a bad idea...but came with 90 day warranty from Canon. The guy has like 23K positive feedback, and the camera comes with some goodies for $400 like an extra battery, card reader, case and 4GB card. So I took it. Feel free to tell me the refurbished was a bad idea, but it is too late to change my mind.

Anyhow, it comes without a lens. The most common lens I see is the 18-55mm lens, and seems like that is a pretty cheap lens, that might be good for starters, but since I don't have that one, I can get whatever I want. A friend of mine who does photos for weddings and such (http://www.jennysmithphotography.com/) says that the lens really makes the photo. So I understand that a cheap lens may give me cheap pictures, but I am on a budget here.

Most pics will be outside in broad daylight, like boating, but also at kids soccer games and just general family photos like birthdays, holidays and on crazy hair day at school. I don't think I need the 1K zoom lens to catch the deer on the mountain on a cloudy day at sunset. One with a fairly decent zoom would be nice to catch the facial expressions during a soccer game, or while wakeboarding and then one for those around the house shots. So I was wondering what lenses any of you camera specialists would recommend...Ideas?

[chpthril]

Congrats.

I have the 70-300 zoom. If I were to replace that lens, I would go with the 100-400mm. Depending on what all you want to do with this camera, I would recommend something like a 17-88mm to fill in the gap. With the 70-300, you would have to be 30yds away just to take a pic of the kids or something.

When a friend bought his digi rebel a couple of yrs ago, he went with a less $$$ aftermarket zoom and regrets it. It has a much slower focus speed then the Canon.

[talltigeguy]

There is a wide variety of 70-300 zoom lenses out there from $150 to $1500. That seems to be a pretty poplular lens size, but I am not sure about spending that kind of money.

[chpthril]

Best Buy has the same 300mm that I have for $240, and the 300mm w/IS for $700.

The 300 would be the minimum zoom would want. Any less zoom then that, and you wasted your money buying the camera body.

You can get the 100-400 w/IS for about $1500.

[LovinPowell]

I have two lenses an 18-55 for regular photos and a 75-300 which cost about 150 (without I/S). I think that the next one that I buy will have image stabilization.

[dogbert]

If you get a macro zoom lense, don't bother with the stabilizer. Get a monopod instead, it's only $30. You'll spend $300-$400 for the stabilizer.

[ragboy]

There is a wide variety of 70-300 zoom lenses out there from $150 to $1500. That seems to be a pretty poplular lens size, but I am not sure about spending that kind of money.

I think the combo of the 18-55 and the 70-300 is a good combo, you will need both. I do refurbished all the time, and 99% of the time is fine, but I have never done on ebay.

I got my 75-300mm lens at walmart for about $200. I would stick with the canon lenses, we tried a tamara lens, and it is so much cheaper than the canon.

[LovinPowell]

we tried a tamara lens, and it is so much cheaper than the canon.

I was considering a Tamara, what didn't you like about them?

[Moki]

Congratulations! You are going to love that camera! I buy refurbished all the time, they go through more quality assurance checks than normal products.

I opted to spend more money and got a better lens than what comes in the kit. I'll find out later what lens I bought.

Regarding lenses:
"Speaking of which, something important to remember about digital SLRs is that due to their smaller sensor size (compared with 35mm film) and therefore narrower angle-of-view, the effective focal range of the lens is 1.6 times what it says on the lens. That means that the 18-55 included in the lens kit is equivalent to a 28.8 - 88 mm if used on a 35mm camera. This is great if you like telephoto shots, but for wide-angle you may have to invest some money into some wide-angle lenses"

source: dcresource.com

Here is a good review, there are 29 pages to it:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/

[ragboy]

I was considering a Tamara, what didn't you like about them?

The canon is just much better quality. You can tell the moment you hold both in your hand. The tamara is cheap, and feels like it is going to break easy.

[talltigeguy]

So this is a pretty decent deal?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830998381

[chpthril]

Thats a great lens at a great price.

[dogbert]

Thats a great lens at a great price.

Nah, it's a great lens at a smokin' price

[LovinPowell]

The canon is just much better quality. You can tell the moment you hold both in your hand. The tamara is cheap, and feels like it is going to break easy.

Sorry, got confused on the name, the lense that was recommended to me was the Tamron 70-300. Is that the brand that you were referring to, or is there also a Tamara?

[LovinPowell]

What about these?

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-75-300mm.../dp/B00004THD0

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-75-300mm.../dp/B00004THCZ

It appears that the only difference is the USM, I believe that is the Ultrasonic Motor, is that worth the difference in price?