Which lenses should I get with the Canon Rebel T1i?

I am going to buy a Canon Rebel T1i. Now I need to decide which lenses to get with it.
For an additional $115, I can get it with the Canon 18-55mm IS kit lens.

If I pay another $135 beyond that ($250 total), I will get a second lens: the Canon 55-250mm IS lens. This sounds like a good deal, but I am not sure if I will need the 55-250mm lens. I don't know what kind of photo I will shoot. I am getting the camera just for fun.

So should I buy the camera with just the 18-55mm lens, or with both lenses? How useful do you fine the 55-250mm lens to be?

Alternatively, do you recommend that I forgo these two lenses, and start off right away with an upgrade lens?

I would get both lenses. The 55-250 sells for $299 so it is a good deal at $135.

This is a DSLR you are buying. It is a DSLR because it has interchangeable lenses. If you get a DSLR and only one lens then what is the point? I can guarantee you that you will use the telephoto. Don't your kids play sports? Don't you enjoy walking in nature? Don't you enjoy spying on your neighbors? Wouldn't you like to photograph the moon?
--
Tom Seiler
My portfolio:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SeilerBird/MyPortfolio

Def opt for the 55-250 at that price. I paid £250 for mine.

stomrunner said:

I am going to buy a Canon Rebel T1i. Now I need to decide which lenses to get with it.
For an additional $115, I can get it with the Canon 18-55mm IS kit lens.

If I pay another $135 beyond that ($250 total), I will get a second lens: the Canon 55-250mm IS lens. This sounds like a good deal, but I am not sure if I will need the 55-250mm lens. I don't know what kind of photo I will shoot. I am getting the camera just for fun.

So should I buy the camera with just the 18-55mm lens, or with both lenses? How useful do you fine the 55-250mm lens to be?

Alternatively, do you recommend that I forgo these two lenses, and start off right away with an upgrade lens?

Click to expand...

The T1i is a very capable DSLR that has a high resolution 18 MP APS-C sensor. Unfortunately, the 18-55mm "kit" lens's resolving power in not quite up to the task of getting the most out of the T1i's sensor. Canon offers it as a decent "budget" mid-range zoom lens for those who are just starting out, or who don't have alot of extra funds to purchase a more capable lens right away.

Having said that, the 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS can be a very respectable stop-gap lens if used carefully: meaning - try not to use it at the extremes (wide open @ 18mm and 55mm - as well as not stopping it down too much beyond F11 - because of increasing loss of edge detail due to defraction). I've found that in my own experiences with the lens on the T1i, that it is good-to-very good if kept in the more narrow parameters

of around 24mm-35mm(38-55mm FF equivalent), stopped down to f5.6 -f8. You could purchase a 18-55 IS for the time being, and save for a 17-55 or 24-105L.

But if there is any way that you might be able to spend a bit more, you might want to take a look at Tamron's 17-50mm f2.8($425) - which is a very nice, fast and lightweight mid-range zoom for everyday photography.

Good luck with you new T1i. It a great little DSLR that can do some very big things.

stevielee said:

The T1i is a very capable DSLR that has a high resolution 18 MP APS-C sensor. Unfortunately, the 18-55mm "kit" lens's resolving power in not quite up to the task of getting the most out of the T1i's sensor

Click to expand...

The T1i has a 15 mp sensor.
--
Tom Seiler
My portfolio:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SeilerBird/MyPortfolio

Re> If I pay another $135 beyond that ($250 total), I will get a second lens: the Canon 55-250mm IS lens. This sounds like a good deal,

Yes, it is a good deal. Do this.

BAK

BAK said:

Re> If I pay another $135 beyond that ($250 total), I will get a second lens: the Canon 55-250mm IS lens. This sounds like a good deal,

Yes, it is a good deal. Do this.

BAK

Click to expand...

Enthusiastic +1!

I got the T1i with the 18-55 IS, and added the 55-250 IS later for $260, and am VERY glad I did. I love the pictures I get with it.

I have the T1i (about 5 weeks now) with the 18-55 and 55-250 Canon kit lenses. Since you're getting it for fun (and believe me, it's LOTS of fun), get both lenses. These are excellent lenses compared to the basic kit lenses of years ago.

How I've been using the lenses: the 18--55 is great for landscapes, portraits, indoor shooting, closeups of flowers, etc. The 55-250 is great for wild animals coming through my area (I live on the edge of woods), and objects I can't get closer to. If you just get one lens, I think you're missing out.

Something else I can heartily recommend is a good book on the T1i:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-Digital-Field-Guide/dp/0470521287/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280456087&sr=1-6

I think you'll really enjoy the new camera.

Is the field guide better than the dummies book?

Yes get it with both lenses you will be glad you did.

You might also say what you want to photograph. People cn the direct you to what lenses are best for that.

Don't get the 55-250.

Do you need a zoom lens? What are you shooting?

The 18-55 is a mediocre lens as well.

I had both lenses and replaced them. The T1i is much better camera for those lenses.

If you do not need a zoom lens get the Canon 15-85, a superb combo with the T1i.

If you need a zoom lens, start with the Tamron 17-50, save a while and get one of the 70-200.

I bought 18-55 IS as a kit lens with my 450d. It is a good lens, indeed, I have lots of fine photos taken with it. However, I find some better options nowadays. If only you could spend money on Canon17 - 85 IS USM, Canon 15-85 IS USM or Tamron 17-50 as a 'starter',go for them.

Condor99 said:

stevielee said:

The T1i is a very capable DSLR that has a high resolution 18 MP APS-C sensor. Unfortunately, the 18-55mm "kit" lens's resolving power in not quite up to the task of getting the most out of the T1i's sensor

Click to expand...

The T1i has a 15 mp sensor.
--
Tom Seiler
My portfolio:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SeilerBird/MyPortfolio

Click to expand...

Right. Got my Ti MP count mixed up.

stomrunner said:

Is the field guide better than the dummies book?

Click to expand...

I haven't used the dummies book so I can't say. I would say the Field Guide is a very, very good book. Not only does it cover the camera well, but it taught me a lot more about photography in general, which I needed. I now have a real good grasp not only on what the camera does, but why/when to use the various features.

Just to be redundant, I think you'll be very happyu with the 18-55 and 55-250. Great lenses for the price, and honestly, I think you need to spend at least double what they cost to get something significantly better. There's a lot of people very happy with this pair of lenses. I don't know about you, but for me, being able to zoom in on something with that long reach is really cool.

Here are a couple pictures I took with my T1i with the 55-250 lens. In this instance, the dragonflies were on a branch out in a pond, so there was no way I could get any closer (and stay dry!) I zoomed all the way to 250mm and shot. From where I was standing, I couldn't make out any details on these insects. But note in the second picture you can see the actual barbs on his legs, and a spiderweb, which I didn't even know was there.

Bear in mind, I've only been using this camera for a month, and I still have a long way to go. I'm sure others could've done a much better job than I!

Another lens I could get in addition to the kit lens is the 75-300mm. This option will be around $30-50 cheaper than the 55-250mm lens.

Which one is better? How is image quality of the 75-300 compared to the 55-250? From the stats, it seems like the lack of IS may significantly hurt the 70-300's performance.

In my opinion, for the price, the 55-250mm is unbeatable. Depends how much more money you want to spend. Some 55-250mm pics below.

Enjoy your camera and don't forget to post the pics.

stomrunner said:

Another lens I could get in addition to the kit lens is the 75-300mm. This option will be around $30-50 cheaper than the 55-250mm lens.

Which one is better? How is image quality of the 75-300 compared to the 55-250? From the stats, it seems like the lack of IS may significantly hurt the 70-300's performance.

Click to expand...

--

'The whole idea of learning Photography is to reduce the number of Monkeys it takes.'

The 24-105 is not the right walk around for a crop. The 17-55 F2.8 is more expensive than the camera. The 17-55 IS F3.5-5.6 would be a good candidate in my opinion and the 55-250 for the slight extra money would round things out for the OP as a starter.
--
http://www.martindareff.com

Hoi An Vietnam Old City

Canon 55-250mm is the best lightweight, affordable telephoto lens of any system. You can't beat it, even though I switch to Nikon I keep the T1i and 55-250mm lens and won't get rid of them.

Like the OP, I'll be getting a T1i very soon (my first DSLR). I was thinking about the Canon 17-85mm to start out. Anyone have any opinions on this lens?