Lens for Canon XTi ? [merged]

[sunshine4]

Photography Lens for Canon XTi

I have a Canon XTi with the 18-55mm and the 55-250mm that came as a bundle. I am going to Hawaii in Jan and want a new lens for Christmas. I am no pro at this. Anybody know what to suggest for me? I hear the 75-300mm is good but will that be much different than my 55-250? It is all confusing to me.

 

[sunshine4]

Photography Lens for Canon XTi

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I have a Canon XTi with the 18-55mm and the 55-250mm that came as a bundle. I am going to Hawaii in Jan and want a new lens for Christmas. I am no pro at this. Anybody know what to suggest for me? I hear the 75-300mm is good but will that be much different than my 55-250? It is all confusing to me.

 

[ThreeLittleBirds]

It really depends on what you want to shoot. I have a 17-85mm as my walkaround lens. It is described as "the jack of all trades, master of none" and this is really what it is. This does not mean that pictures are subpar, just maybe not as exacting as they would be with a more specific lens.

I love love love my 10-22mm ultra wide angle lens for landscape shots.

For portraits, and even somewhat macro (emphasis on somewhat), I love my 50mm (1.4) lens.

If you want good sunset shots, I suggest looking into a speedlite instead of a new lens. For any shots that you use a flash, once you use the speedlite, you will never want to go back to the onboard flash again (except for sunflare shots).

Examples:

10-22mm ultra wide....

17-85mm w/ speedlite

50mm used as a macro

17-85 during day, no flash...

 

[SDKath]

Hi there,

You have 2 really great reach kit lenses so I would not buy another one. On DSLR, your 75-250 lens is more like a 100-300+ lens. It makes no sense to add another of the same range to what you have.

What you could consider, however, is a macro lens! For Hawaii and all the amazing flowers, a macro could let you take shots that your regular lenses can't even hope to get. They are usually fixed length (mine is 100mm and is an excellent length for general portrait pix too) but in addition, they allow you to get really close to your subject (just a few mm away) and take extreme closeups. You would have a blast in Hawaii with one of these lenses! They are not cheap, however, but you don't necessarily need to buy from Canon. You can get one from one of the 3rd party manufacturers for much less (like Tamron/Sigma).

Here is a nice one from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-AF-90mm-2-8-SP/dp/B00021EEA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320009173&sr=8-1

Here is a macro shot I took in Victoria, BC at Butchart Gardens in May... (Canon 7D with 100mm/2.8L Canon macro lens)

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[dougp26364]

Unless you're a pro photographer, the above post is spot on (17-85mm). Yes you can buy more expensive lenses but for the average amature or pro-am photographer, this is probably the best basic lens for walking around.

This is not to say you kit lenses are bad. Either of those two will take excellent photo's if you know how to use your camera. IMHO, the most important thing to learn is how to shoot in the manual or semi-manual modes rather than in the automatic modes where the camera chooses all the setting for you.

Most of the photo's taken in my photo albums have been taken with a kit Nikon 18-55mm lens but, they've either been taken in apature mode or shutter mode. If you haven't already done so, spend time learning how to shoot in apature mode before spending several hundred dollars on a new lens.

 

[sunshine4]

Wow that picture is great . Yes they do seem pricey. They were even high used on ebay. I did find this one on overstock but it is not auto focus.
http://www.overstock.com/Electronic...r-Canon-Cameras/3915055/customer-reviews.html
What do you think?

 

[sunshine4]

It really depends on what you want to shoot. I have a 17-85mm as my walkaround lens. It is described as "the jack of all trades, master of none" and this is really what it is. This does not mean that pictures are subpar, just maybe not as exacting as they would be with a more specific lens.

I love love love my 10-22mm ultra wide angle lens for landscape shots.

For portraits, and even somewhat macro (emphasis on somewhat), I love my 50mm (1.4) lens.

If you want good sunset shots, I suggest looking into a speedlite instead of a new lens. For any shots that you use a flash, once you use the speedlite, you will never want to go back to the onboard flash again (except for sunflare shots).



Examples:

10-22mm ultra wide....

17-85mm w/ speedlite

50mm used as a macro

17-85 during day, no flash...

I do have a Promater flash and I rarely use it I guess I better brush up and learn some of this suff since I do not have much time. Would the 17-85 be much different than the 11-55? Thanks for posting your pics.

 

[sunshine4]

Thanks for sharing your pic site Doug. I will start brushing up on A mode.

 

[ThreeLittleBirds]

Get the book Understanding Exposure. It is short and very informative.

and...

A book specific to the xti by David Busch. I believe he has one for all Canon specific cameras. I have a 40D, and I have this book. VERY easy read and informative so you can not just be shooting in auto mode.

 

[sunshine4]

Ok I do have the XTi book by Charlotte Lowe I will look for the one by David Bush. Is the 17-85 much different than an 18-55 which I have?

 

[ThreeLittleBirds]

It is a better lens, but if you are looking to add glass to your collection, I would look into some more specialty lenses as the 18-55 adequately serves as a walk around lens. My 17-85 was the original kit lens with the 40D, then they switched to the 18-55. I was lucky to have gotten one w/ the 17-85 as it is now a $450 lens.

I spent a lot of time on Amazon looking at lenses and reviews. Many will have personal photos shown so you can see the differences between lenses.

I always urge people to pick one area in which they want to focus when it comes to vacation shots. You don't want to spend your whole time just taking pictures and missing out on the moments. For example, I had one incredible whale watching trip and I captured several incredible shots. Those shots now grace our walls, and I no longer bring a camera on whale watching trips. I just enjoy the experience.

I enjoy taking macro photos of flowers and such, so I often will bring my camera for a walk along the beachwalk, or up to the lavender garden in Kula. Otherwise, my camera hardly comes out.

Next trip I am determined to get a good family sunset picture (with me actually in the picture). So, I am in the market for a light but sturdy tripod and a remote.

 

[Mosca]

I'd get the 18-200, or not get anything. The reason I'd get the 18-200 is so that I wouldn't have to swap lenses, I'd just leave the all-in-one on. OR, I'd get a small camera, maybe the new Canon S100, and use just that.

Me, I just leave the 17-55 on my camera. Every time I've ever taken a long lens along, I've left it in the room, or taken it along and never swapped lenses. Sometimes I'll take just the 28-135, that's a nice lens. But the 17-55 fits my shooting style. Or I take the Olympus EP-1, which is a smaller camera with interchangeable lenses. But even then, I just leave on the 14-42.

After tossing the ideas around by writing them down, if I were you, with that kit, I'd keep my money in my pocket. That's a nice light outfit, covers a wide range, and takes a nice picture. If you're just a GWAC (guy/gal with a camera) the money can be better spent elsewhere. You can probably get 95% of what you want with the 18-55.

Use the money for the lens to go ziplining, or for a sunset boat ride, or a beachside dining experience; use it to go somewhere where you'll get photographs that you couldn't get with ANY lens.

 

[HatTrick]

I hear the 75-300mm is good but will that be much different than my 55-250? It is all confusing to me.

This will help: http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/EFLenses101/focal_length.html

And remember that, because of the XTi's sensor size, you have to multiply the lens values by 1.6 to get the "35mm equivalent". So a 55-250 is actually an 88-400 when attached to your camera.

 

[HatTrick]

After tossing the ideas around by writing them down, if I were you, with that kit, I'd keep my money in my pocket. That's a nice light outfit, covers a wide range, and takes a nice picture. If you're just a GWAC (guy/gal with a camera) the money can be better spent elsewhere. You can probably get 95% of what you want with the 18-55.

Use the money for the lens to go ziplining, or for a sunset boat ride, or a beachside dining experience; use it to go somewhere where you'll get photographs that you couldn't get with ANY lens.

I second that. Use your XTi book and spend some time getting to really know your camera before the trip. If you're like most of us, once you're in Hawaii you won't want to be taking the time to switch lenses and will end up using the 18-55 most of the time. With all of the landscape shooting you'll be doing, you'll appreciate the wider lens.

 

[RonB]

I have a Canon XTi with the 18-55mm and the 55-250mm that came as a bundle. I am going to Hawaii in Jan and want a new lens for Christmas. I am no pro at this. Anybody know what to suggest for me? I hear the 75-300mm is good but will that be much different than my 55-250? It is all confusing to me.

I started shooting in the 60s and enjoy it as a hobby although I have sold a photo from time to time. You need to ask yourselves what shots you think you will miss with what you have. I think your answer would be not much. If you need to spend $$ on photo gear, you would probably get more use from an external flash. An external flash that pivots will give you much better results than the onboard flash if you take the time to learn how to use it.
Macro lenses are nice, but not esay to learn to use if you are not willing to spend some time learning how to use it. I wouldn't buy a cheap macro lens because what makes a macro shot work is the sharp detail. Sigma, Tameron, and Canon all make well respected macro lenses.
One final thought - in order to use it, you have to carry it around with you. The less you have to carry, the more likely you are to carry it...
You can see some of my photos here.
I hope this helps ~ Ron

 

[sunshine4]

I do already have an external flash. It sounds like the 18-200 of nothing and just spend my $$$ in Hawaii. LOL Like I will have trouble with that?
RON Thanks your pictures looked great.

 

[Mosca]

If you're looking to add something to your kit, don't sell a cheap point and shoot short. There will be places you won't want to take your big camera; a nice restaurant, perhaps; and the point and shoot will take perfectly acceptable pictures there.

I've gotten some pretty remarkable shots in places I couldn't, or wouldn't, take my big camera, using point-and- shoots:

Canon G9:

Olympus EP1 (not really a p&s, but the same size as the G9):

Nikon P5000:

 

[sunshine4]

Oh that will not be a problem. I will have my trusty little Olympus (underwater) camera with me whereever I go!

 

[mtngal]

Not everyone looks at things the same, so when someone says "I want a new lens" and doesn't add the words "for..." it's kind of hard to recommend anything.

I love shooting macro and do it often. However, my macro lens is probably my least used lens on trips. So if I were looking for a lens for a trip, it wouldn't be a macro lens. Usually the wide angle kit lenses can do very nicely as a close-up lens for flowers and such.

Is there something you find that your two lenses DON'T do? Any type of limitations? Are there times you want to pick out something that is just too small/too far away with your current long lens? Or do you find yourself being frustrated because you can't get everything in with the wider lens? Or do you find your shots have camera shake/motion blur because you can't get fast enough shutter speeds?

I'm not a fan of all-in-one lenses like the 18-200 or 18-250/270. They usually make some significant compromises in order to have such a huge range. Depending on which one you get, it might not give you any better pictures than a point and shoot camera would, so why bother dragging the bigger camera along? They usually don't offer any better quality than the two lenses you have (and some of the older ones were worse). Also, with a little practice, it doesn't take much time or effort to change lenses - I do it all the time - while hiking, traveling, birding, etc. About the only times I wouldn't change lenses is in high winds or a sand storm.

I'd second one of Bryan Peterson's books (Understanding Exposure or Understanding Photography Field Guide), easy to read, easy to understand and very helpful, fun exercises. Before I bought a new lens, I'd read through one of those two books, do the exercises and get a better idea how to get the most out of the equipment you have. Then decide if there's something you need.

There's a lot of lenses out there and you can spend a great deal of money on them (believe me, I know, I have a bag full of lenses - several bags full come to think of it). But what works for me might be the last thing you want to use. The best thing to do is define what it is you're missing/want and then address those needs.

 

[SDKath]

Don't get a manual only focus lens. That's a nightmare to deal with!

I think your 2 kit lenses are really all you need! REALLY! I have been photographing things/people (mostly things) since I was 15, and until I was old enough to buy more expensive lenses (about age 40), I had an ~18-200 lens. That was it. I had pictures published with that lens. I also took pix for our school magazine in college with that lens. Never did I feel like I needed more.

The macro is a nice addition but the 2 lenses you have are ALL you will need. I would definitely take both though (and learn to change your lenses out without getting crud into your camera or the inside of your lens).

Maybe try taking a photo course locally too before Jan. You can google some and get great tips on how to use your camera really well.

Also, while I know everyone says you need to learn to shoot in manual, I really never do this. It takes years to learn and today's cameras are so sophisticated at metering, that it's a dying breed of photogs who shoot manual only.

Learn when to shoot in A priority and when in S priority. That's all you will need. I am in A-priority about 95% of the time. I am also in autofocus about 75% of the time, usually on spot focus....

Katherine

 

[sunshine4]

Get the book Understanding Exposure. It is short and very informative.

and...

A book specific to the xti by David Busch. I believe he has one for all Canon specific cameras. I have a 40D, and I have this book. VERY easy read and informative so you can not just be shooting in auto mode.

I got David Buschs book and I am only on chapter 2 and I love it. I did have Charlotte Lowes XTi Digital Feild Guide. But I am really liking this one too. Thanks again.