I have the Cannon Rebel XT with the standard lens (18-55). I am looking to make a new purchase and can't decide between a flash or a new lens (or specifically which lens). I use the camera primarily for taking picures of my daughter. I don't take advantage of all the bells and whistles on the camera (so my next purchase shoud probably be lessons), as I am new to SLR cameras. Does anyone have any suggestions on what my next purchase shoud be?
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Novice - What should my next purchase be?
- Thread starter ccrear
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Gary S
Veteran Member
It's a fantastic lens, you'll love it. And of course I'm kidding about buying it. What I DO think you might want to buy, is a moderate range zoom lens. They're great for photographing kids as they run around outside. I use my 70-200 f4 when shooting kids, both in sports and just outside candids. There are less expensive zooms, but if you value image quality, that's a very good zoom to buy.
If you're more inclinded to shoot indoor photos and like the look of natural lighting, you can buy a fast prime lens. The inexpensive 50mm f1.8 lens is a way to get started with fast primes that won't empty your wallet. There are some other choices too, for a little more money. Be aware that prime lenses are one fixed focal length. They do not zoom.
There are plenty of places on the web to learn about lenses, here's one to get you started.
http://the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/
If you're more inclinded to shoot indoor photos and like the look of natural lighting, you can buy a fast prime lens. The inexpensive 50mm f1.8 lens is a way to get started with fast primes that won't empty your wallet. There are some other choices too, for a little more money. Be aware that prime lenses are one fixed focal length. They do not zoom.
There are plenty of places on the web to learn about lenses, here's one to get you started.
http://the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/
nikt
Leading Member
So many options... pictures of your daughter is a good start point. Peoples faces are most demanding on lenses, with many subtle details. Something like the canon 50mm f1.4 or the 85 f1.8 would be a great investment. You will find that the quality will be just so much better than the kit lens that you will only use the kit for landscapes and as a paper weight. You won't regret buying primes.
--
All matter is energy condensed to a slower vibration,
And we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively.
Death is an illusion,
Life is a dream,
And we are the imagination of ourselves.
Be here now.
--
All matter is energy condensed to a slower vibration,
And we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively.
Death is an illusion,
Life is a dream,
And we are the imagination of ourselves.
Be here now.
Juli Valley
Forum Pro
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.
Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.
Lemming51
Forum Pro
Get a good high power flash that will bounce and it'll improve the pictures of your daughter better than replacing the kit zoom with a more expensive zoom. The speedlight's patterned near-infrared autofocus assist light will also improve autofocus indoors.
Common recommendations are the Canon 430EX or the Sigma EF 500 DG Super.
Common recommendations are the Canon 430EX or the Sigma EF 500 DG Super.
E.J.
Leading Member
If you don't know, you should save your money until you do know. Nobody can answer the question for you. Use the equipment you have and take pictures and then this will tell you after a while what type of shots you are not getting due to the limitations of your equipment and then base your future purchase decisions on that.
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EJP
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EJP
Upgrade the kit lens to something else. Budget allowing, get the 17-55IS. Then you'll know what to expect from the other lenses you're going to buy later.
EF 70-200 F4 L (with or without IS) and EF-S 10-22 are good choices as well. They are optically in different league than the kit lens so you'll probably end up upgrading the standard zoom quite quickly.
Timo
EF 70-200 F4 L (with or without IS) and EF-S 10-22 are good choices as well. They are optically in different league than the kit lens so you'll probably end up upgrading the standard zoom quite quickly.
Timo
AZak Johns
Forum Enthusiast
I've bought both a 50mm 1.8 and a Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for shooting pictures of my baby boy. The 50mm shoots slightly better pictures, but is quite inconvenient in confined spaces. I love the Tamron and find myself using the wide angle quite a bit to get effects in close-up pictures.
The fast apperture is absolutely key for me and was the major reason to switch from point&shoot to SLR. I can get a good picture without flash in the dimmest places.
In terms of flash, I borrowed a Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER from a friend and I really liked it as a flash, especially when bouncing off the ceiling. However, I barely used it as I got good pictures without a flash. In your situation I would clearly go for a faster lens instead of a flash.
Here is an earlier post where I compared zoom lenses:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=20781917
The fast apperture is absolutely key for me and was the major reason to switch from point&shoot to SLR. I can get a good picture without flash in the dimmest places.
In terms of flash, I borrowed a Sigma EF-500 DG SUPER from a friend and I really liked it as a flash, especially when bouncing off the ceiling. However, I barely used it as I got good pictures without a flash. In your situation I would clearly go for a faster lens instead of a flash.
Here is an earlier post where I compared zoom lenses:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=20781917
skipcooney
Member
The Canon 35mm f/2.0 prime costs around $230 and will give you sharp pictures. It was my first upgrade from the kit lens and I was very happy with it. Fast enough to use indoors without flash.
D
DavidW
Guest
Use it a little first. Then you will get an idea of what you feel you need next. I bought my 20D with the kit lens and it takes pretty good pictures. If you feel you must buy something I would go for either a flash or a 17-85IS lens.
I have a 17-85 and use it 98 percent of the time. I too mostly shoot my kids. To me it is the perfect "walk around" lens.
For a flash I use the 425EX which I already had. Once you get experience it works just fine.
If you have any questions email me because I don't get much computer time now.
Good luck
David
I have a 17-85 and use it 98 percent of the time. I too mostly shoot my kids. To me it is the perfect "walk around" lens.
For a flash I use the 425EX which I already had. Once you get experience it works just fine.
If you have any questions email me because I don't get much computer time now.
Good luck
David
StuartBell
Senior Member
And when you've got over the shock of the cost of the 17-55IS, pause a little!
There have been several good suggestions for lenses alongside your current 'kit' lens. I'd go for one of them before thinking about your kit lens. But if the DSLR 'bug' really bites, you'll want to replace it, eventually, in which case the Tamron 17-50/2.8 is well under half the cost of the Canon.
So, I'd suggest the 70-200/4L as a starter.
Stuart
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Tom Rowland
Veteran Member
So far there have been two posts suggesting you may need to spend more time taking pix. This experience may give you a better feel for what you need.
Several folks have suggested lens, and some have given reasons for particular lens. Some of the reasons deal with lens that should result in images with better IQ than your current lens. But in your question you never mentioned you have an IQ problem with your kit lens. Others suggested a different focal length for various reasons, but again your question never mentioned any foclal length problem with your current lens.
There also have been a couple of suggestions for flash units. While your question did mention a new flash you never indicated you have a problem with your popup flash. How much do you actually use the popup? Are you having problems with red eye from your current flash?
I would also point out that taking pix of kids covers a lot of ground. A 6 month old baby is much less mobile than a 6 year old running around in circles. The best lens for one might not be the best lens for the other. And a flash might be great for the six year old, but might awaken a sleeping baby.
It is usually a lot easier to answer equiptment selection questions once you have a good idea of what exactally you want to photograph, and perhaps more to the point what problems you are having with your current equiptment doing that.
Several folks have suggested lens, and some have given reasons for particular lens. Some of the reasons deal with lens that should result in images with better IQ than your current lens. But in your question you never mentioned you have an IQ problem with your kit lens. Others suggested a different focal length for various reasons, but again your question never mentioned any foclal length problem with your current lens.
There also have been a couple of suggestions for flash units. While your question did mention a new flash you never indicated you have a problem with your popup flash. How much do you actually use the popup? Are you having problems with red eye from your current flash?
I would also point out that taking pix of kids covers a lot of ground. A 6 month old baby is much less mobile than a 6 year old running around in circles. The best lens for one might not be the best lens for the other. And a flash might be great for the six year old, but might awaken a sleeping baby.
It is usually a lot easier to answer equiptment selection questions once you have a good idea of what exactally you want to photograph, and perhaps more to the point what problems you are having with your current equiptment doing that.
No lens helps as much as bounced flash when taking photos indoors. Take a look at Sigma 500 model (cheaper one might work very well) for around $150. Still you will need to set custom WB.
Take a look at 50/1.8 - it is fine inexpensive lens.
Personally I am using 50/1.8 almost exclusively indoors together with older Canon 420EX. Should have gotten Sigma instead.
Take a look at 50/1.8 - it is fine inexpensive lens.
Personally I am using 50/1.8 almost exclusively indoors together with older Canon 420EX. Should have gotten Sigma instead.
XTIGuy
Forum Enthusiast
You said it yourself - you don't know how to take advantage of all the camera body offers. So, take lessons! Or teach yourself! Use it, use it, use it! Myself, this is also my first SLR and I'm coming up to 3000 pics since Sept. And I'm still learning a LOT! SO many features I haven't even touched on in the camera as of yet.
If you really wanna spend some money and buy something, I'd suggest a good tripod. That's my next purchase. With a tripod you will take better pictures, but also open up very low light/night picture taking opportunities.
And if you are happy with the kit lens and still want a medium telephoto - the Tamron 55-200 f4-5.6 Di II is pretty decent considering the very very low price. But all the equipment in the world won't do too much if you don't know how to take advantage of it with the camera - so learn first.
Good luck!
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http://londonshutter.photoblog.com
I want a Holga!
If you really wanna spend some money and buy something, I'd suggest a good tripod. That's my next purchase. With a tripod you will take better pictures, but also open up very low light/night picture taking opportunities.
And if you are happy with the kit lens and still want a medium telephoto - the Tamron 55-200 f4-5.6 Di II is pretty decent considering the very very low price. But all the equipment in the world won't do too much if you don't know how to take advantage of it with the camera - so learn first.
Good luck!
--
http://londonshutter.photoblog.com
I want a Holga!
foggy
Forum Enthusiast
In looking at the responses to your question I agree with some of them and think they are right on the money. You are new to shooting and didn't provide enough info to give a real good response. In saying that I would say the answers given throw different, truth out if viewed from that persons perspective. Here are some questions that might get you better answers after providing the info.
1 What is your budget?
2 How old are your subjects?
3 What are they doing?
4 What distance are you from them?
5 Are you indoors? If so how much light is available?
6 Generally what part of the world are you from? If outdoors is it sunny where you are shooting or are you in the northern or southern climates with a lot of snow or a lot of rain? Is this type of weather something you will be dealing with for the short term future and impact your photos?
7 If indoors your answer could be a flash or a fast IS lens using higher ISOs to freeze action trading off some noise. (That could be taken care of with Noise Ninja). If you are at some distance from your subject and want the versatility of a zoom the fastest lens you could get might be around an F2.8 in a 70-200mm length. If this fit your shooting needs the other trade offs is weight and cost. If you are of light build carrying a 70-200 F2.8 might be to much. Or cost to much. Then a 70-200 F4 would carry better, cost less and the 2 big short comings would be less light than the F2.8 and though good not near the boka of the F2.8 lens. This is the quality of light and focus in front and behind your subject when you shoot wide open. This can mean a picture that isolates your subject better without distracting things in the background of the picture. This is one of the qualities you get when you pay the money for the faster f2.8 lens in the examples given.
Put together some more info on what you are doing along the lines of some of these questions. Then gel it down in as few words as you can and you might get answers more focused on your needs and that would help point you in the direction you want to go.
Good shooting
Foggy
t
1 What is your budget?
2 How old are your subjects?
3 What are they doing?
4 What distance are you from them?
5 Are you indoors? If so how much light is available?
6 Generally what part of the world are you from? If outdoors is it sunny where you are shooting or are you in the northern or southern climates with a lot of snow or a lot of rain? Is this type of weather something you will be dealing with for the short term future and impact your photos?
7 If indoors your answer could be a flash or a fast IS lens using higher ISOs to freeze action trading off some noise. (That could be taken care of with Noise Ninja). If you are at some distance from your subject and want the versatility of a zoom the fastest lens you could get might be around an F2.8 in a 70-200mm length. If this fit your shooting needs the other trade offs is weight and cost. If you are of light build carrying a 70-200 F2.8 might be to much. Or cost to much. Then a 70-200 F4 would carry better, cost less and the 2 big short comings would be less light than the F2.8 and though good not near the boka of the F2.8 lens. This is the quality of light and focus in front and behind your subject when you shoot wide open. This can mean a picture that isolates your subject better without distracting things in the background of the picture. This is one of the qualities you get when you pay the money for the faster f2.8 lens in the examples given.
Put together some more info on what you are doing along the lines of some of these questions. Then gel it down in as few words as you can and you might get answers more focused on your needs and that would help point you in the direction you want to go.
Good shooting
Foggy
t
Tom Rowland
Veteran Member
has been that a baby will wake up for any reason, or no reason. They will also go to sleep for any reason or no reason.
But the point of my post was that untill more information about what the OP is trying to image is available it is a fool task to try and suggest what he needs to buy.
But the point of my post was that untill more information about what the OP is trying to image is available it is a fool task to try and suggest what he needs to buy.
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