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Kit Lens quality

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HankK

HankK

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Two days ago I picked up a Rebel Xti kit with the 18-55 Lens. I picked up the camera as something smaller for every day use and travel. I have a Canon 5D and a bunch of L lenses.

I have been very pleased with the quality of the photos, although slight underexposure, and love the settings display on the back.

I have put my 17-40L and 50f1.4 on it to see differences. To be honest, for standard 8x10 prints even with crops, I am not sure that these heavier or less versatile lenses provide that much, if any, better quality. I know the kit lens feels like junk plastic but I have been surprised. I tested on portrait eyes and eyelashes.

I read the DPReview comments on the lens. That being the one written for the earlier Rebel. I also read the other review, can't remember the WEB site but it is the one that does all the canon lens reviews, and he thought it was junk from an IQ standpoint.

Any comments on the kit lens plus's and minus's would be appreciated.
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Hank K
 
I have used the kit lens since about June. (Along with a 50mm f/1.8) I intentionally held off on more expensive lenses until I had a better idea of just what I want...the notion of constantly trading them like baseball cards isn't for me. I'm heading for a 17-55mm IS and a 70-200 f/4 I believe.

In the meantime, I am simply enjoying the kit. It isn't perfect, but can give me some good shots. I have gotten to know it. I had it already hung on my XT this morning when I came upon a beautiful spot. I grabbed this shot in a hurry, and was on about my business.



If you pixel peep it, you will see some CA. Other similar shots were more afflicted. This was shot at f/10. It is sharper when a bit more wide open.

In fact, lack of sharpness is an issue on some shots.

Barrel distortion wide open is a serious issue for me. It has ruined many a fine shot taken with the kit lens.

On the other hand, last weekend I took the following, and there is nothing wrong with the shot that I'd blame on the kit lens.



The standard wisdom is the kit lens "can" give you some great shots. I find that to be true. Just work with it to see what it can and cannot do.

regards
 
The kit lens if used at f/8.0 to f/11 will be decent. I dont know if its because less things will be out of focus, but I seem to see more detail at those f-points.
 
I found the kit lens to produce soft, flat images, kind of a blurry representation of what my eye actually saw. Not to mention that it's slow with lousy bokeh. Nothing like the glorious pop I got from my G3.

I've since purchased the 50mm 1.8 and Tamron 17-50 2.8. Both are outstanding on all counts. The kit works for some...not for me (I don't print, only view on screen).
 
It is far from being a quality lens, but it works. And, I have seen some beautiful shots posted on this Forum by users of the 18-55 kit lens. Personally, I like the small size and versatility and IQ of my copy. However, I am starting to look at a wider zoom, like the EF S 10-22mm because sometimes the kit lens just isn't wide enough. Then I'll look at the EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM. That should cover the bases for me for awhile.
Good luck.
Jim
--
Favorite slogan: Photographers take pictures, not cameras.
 
The small and light aspects of this lens is a real plus.

The one comment I have seen so far that concerns me was a comment made about focus accuracy. It seems that one person's lens gave inconsistent shots of a brick wall. I did try two shots with each of my lenses. I have to say that the first shot with me kit lens was a bit out of focus but this will require more testing. I believe my 17-40L also had one shot slightly out of focus. I do need to do a bit more testing with a tripod and stationary subject.
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Hank K
Canon 1dsM2, 5D, L lenses, Zeiss lenses
 
I found the kit lens capable of very good results when closed down to f/8-11. Because it is an inexpensive lens, many dismiss it as cheap and nasty. No doubt if they replaced the plastic fitting with a metal one and doubled the price, more people would accept it.
HankK said:
Two days ago I picked up a Rebel Xti kit with the 18-55 Lens. I
picked up the camera as something smaller for every day use and
travel. I have a Canon 5D and a bunch of L lenses.

I have been very pleased with the quality of the photos, although
slight underexposure, and love the settings display on the back.

I have put my 17-40L and 50f1.4 on it to see differences. To be
honest, for standard 8x10 prints even with crops, I am not sure
that these heavier or less versatile lenses provide that much, if
any, better quality. I know the kit lens feels like junk plastic
but I have been surprised. I tested on portrait eyes and eyelashes.

I read the DPReview comments on the lens. That being the one
written for the earlier Rebel. I also read the other review,
can't remember the WEB site but it is the one that does all the
canon lens reviews, and he thought it was junk from an IQ
standpoint.

Any comments on the kit lens plus's and minus's would be appreciated.
--
Hank K
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--

 
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