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Xti + these lenses. Good combo? Plz Advize.

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Alana the Maineah

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Gorham, USA, ME, US
I am a DSLR newbie about to purchase the following and wanted a few final opinions. Purchases will be made on my MasterCard which covers theft for 90 days! (vital because I head to Guatemala in 4 weeks)
  • See my questions to follow.
Rebel XTi - $809 from Circuit City

Accidental Coverage - $219, 4yrs, from Circuit City
  • 60mm f2.8 USM Macro lens $404, Circuit City
  • 17-85f4-5.6 IS USM $539, Circuit City
Starter Kit (charger, battery, bag, haze filter) $73, Amazon.com
  • Circuit does not offer the "Accidental" policy on the two lenses. Is there anywhere else I can find it? I don't own a home and live with my sister in her home so I can't buy renters or a rider.
  • Still yet to purchase - tripod (since I am blowing so much cash, any advice on a prtable but stable option??)
  • Other advice?
 
Don't buy their insurance. You can buy Mack insurance on the camera and lenses from any authorized Mack dealer within 30 days, and find it a lot cheaper. Check around with B&H, Adorama, others. Also, there's somebody on eBay who says they're authorized.

I used to buy insurance, but I don't anymore. Canon covers you for a year. If your equipment has problems, it is most likely to show up within the year. I do, however, make sure that I have enough renters insurance (homeowners) to cover loss/theft etc.

I would recommend the 100mm macro. It's probably more versatile (can be used for portraits) than the 60mm and does great macro work. I think it's a little harder to use the 60mm, though I don't own one and don't know for sure.
 
There's the issue - I don't have any way right now to buy renters or a homeowners rider.

Why would you not purchase the accidental policy on the camera only for $219? The manufaturer won't cover me if I drop it or otherwise cause damage to it.
 
I would check into that policy. I would be really surprised if it covers accidents/theft/loss. They usually cover malfunction of properly used/cared for equipment.

Why don't you call someone at say, State Farm, tell them your situation and see if they can offer anything.

The Mack warranty only covers malfunction issues-- not accidents etc.
 
$219 for an $809 camera, over 25% rate!! Do you expect to drop & break one forth of your equipment? Are you that clumsy?? You may as well put your money on horses. At least you get better returns.
--
Peter Kwok
http://www.pbase.com/peterkwok
 
All it would take is setting it down once and the cat pulling it onto the floor by it's strap. Sweaty hands. Fumbling quickly for the camera. Someone grabbing it without my consent.

That could break 1/4 of the camera really quickly.
 
Alana the Maineah said:
I am a DSLR newbie about to purchase the following and wanted a few
final opinions. Purchases will be made on my MasterCard which
covers theft for 90 days! (vital because I head to Guatemala in 4
weeks)
  • See my questions to follow.
Rebel XTi - $809 from Circuit City

Accidental Coverage - $219, 4yrs, from Circuit City
  • 60mm f2.8 USM Macro lens $404, Circuit City
  • 17-85f4-5.6 IS USM $539, Circuit City
Starter Kit (charger, battery, bag, haze filter) $73, Amazon.com
  • Circuit does not offer the "Accidental" policy on the two lenses.
Is there anywhere else I can find it? I don't own a home and live
with my sister in her home so I can't buy renters or a rider.
  • Still yet to purchase - tripod (since I am blowing so much cash,
any advice on a prtable but stable option??)
  • Other advice?
Click to expand...
I would seriously consider just getting the XTi and the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS and maybe a longer zoom like the 70-300 IS. Also, the camera already comes with a charger and a battery. Maybe get just an extra battery and a good bag (like a photo backpack).

I don't have any opinion on camera insurance since I've never used it.

--
Whoever said 'a picture is worth a thousand words' was a cheapskate.

http://www.pbase.com/dot_borg
 
Alana the Maineah said:
Is there an ETA on that lens?
Click to expand...
The 70-200 f/4L IS is supposed to be available in November.
Alana the Maineah said:
What am I gaining / trading off from the 17-85 IS to the 70-200 L
f/4?
Click to expand...
They're very different lenses. The 70-200 is, of course, a medium to long telephoto zoom and the 17-85 is wide angle to medium telephoto.

I personally would spend the extra money on the 17-55 f/2.8 IS as it's a much better lens than the 17-85. Also, the 60mm macro is an excellent lens too.

--
Whoever said 'a picture is worth a thousand words' was a cheapskate.

http://www.pbase.com/dot_borg
 
Barugon said:
They're very different lenses. The 70-200 is, of course, a medium
to long telephoto zoom and the 17-85 is wide angle to medium
telephoto.

I personally would spend the extra money on the 17-55 f/2.8 IS as
it's a much better lens than the 17-85. Also, the 60mm macro is an
excellent lens too.
Click to expand...
I think, for what I shoot, I need the wide more than I need the zoom. I don't actually have the extra $500 right now!
 
Got my Xti this weekend. YAY!

I read that the 17-55 and 17-85 are great lenses but not the best for stopping action.

Which lenses would perform well to capture landscapes and as a walkaround but also deliver great action shots.

I really appreciate all the help!
 
I think you are thinking of the kit lens, not the 17-55, which is 2.8 and as fast as a zoom gets.

I think you are wanting too much in one lense. The 17-55 EF-S 2.8 is an amazing lens, and fast, but don't expect it to be able to zoom in to capture most sports. I think you are going to need more than one lens. Maybe get the 17-85 or 17-55 and a telephoto prime, as one of the only fast zooms in the telephoto range is the 70-200 2.8, which is expensive, big and heavy.

Unless you have a ton of money to spend, I would start out with just 1 or maybe 2 good lenses and wait to see what you need. Sports lenses tend to be very expensive and huge. If you are only doing outdoor, daylight sports, a good lens would be a 70-300 IS.
 
You can insure about $10000 worth of photo equipment for about $100 per year with a personal property policy. Try any of the major insurance companies.
 
Alana the Maineah said:
Got my Xti this weekend. YAY!

I read that the 17-55 and 17-85 are great lenses but not the best
for stopping action.

Which lenses would perform well to capture landscapes and as a
walkaround but also deliver great action shots.

I really appreciate all the help!
Click to expand...
If you want wide and fast there is no better choice that the 50 f1.8. Fast, sharp and $cheap$!

(ok it's not so wide, but for people is fine, and there is where the action is...)

--
Paolo Barettoni
http://www.pbase.com/paolobar
 
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