Rebel XP lens - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/28/2006 07:36:26 PM · #1

I'm an accomplished videographer, with quite a bit of equipment and experience. (It is my full time job.) I enjoy still photography, but haven't yet gotten into a digital SLR. (I have a film SLR and a digital point-and-shoot currently.)

I'm looking at buying the Rebel XP (350D). I think it's the best value, even though it feels quite small to me. I'm looking at Beach Camera (www.BeachCamera.com) because they have the best prices. ($720, body only.)

They offer a number of different lens packages. One of the packages includes these lenses:

28-80/3.5-5.6 ASPHERICAL F/CANON EOS

75-300 LD F4-5.6 FS=62 / CANON EOS

//www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNACKD42

The package includes quite a bit of stuff, and is $379. I believe the lenses are $250 without the package.

I would probably also buy a 50mm prime, for portraits.

What are your thoughts on the two lenses listed here? Any recommendations on another lens (or two) of better quality, at a decent price?

Thanks for the help.

-Mike

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/28/2006 07:52:35 PM · #2

Good price on the camera, but those lenses are pretty mediocre (the low price retailers make their money on these bundles). An excellent alternative is the Tamron 28-75. If money is tight, I'd start with the USM version of the kit lens and the Canon 50mm f/1.8 you mentioned. The Sigma 18-125 is also a decent lens to get you started.

yido

Canon EOS-5D

02/28/2006 07:53:14 PM · #3

I'd advoid them as they are not great lenses.
Just buy the body only from them.
I think a 50mm f1.8 is a good starter lens for portraits.
You may want a lens for "walking around" shooting landscape and cityscape.
For that I'd recommend some lenses like a Sigma 10-20 or a Tamron 17-35.
Also newegg.com has great prices on CF cards as well. I like Kingston Pro CF cards for it's good value.
good luck

02/28/2006 08:30:26 PM · #4

Beach Camera is definately a bargain. I found them six months ago when my brother asked my advice on a still camera. He saw the same camera on Amazon and Beach; $50 cheaper at Beach. I had never heard of them and advised against it. He went with them anyway, got the camera in just a few days, and got a free (if not cheesy) lens cleaning kit with it.

Now, browsing myself (gotta keep up with the brother), I find the strange thing to be their pricing.

A week ago I'd been up late checking prices, and saw the 350 bundled with a 28-200 lens (that, in the description, was referenced as a 28-300 lens) for around $1100. A bargain, I thought, but I was just beginning to look. The next morning, the same kit was $1250. I chalked it up to bad memory (or cold feet), and kept looking.

Today, at work, I made this post. The camera, body only, was $720. Now (an hour later), the silver is $723 and the black is $727.

I'm not going to sweat about seven bucks on a thousand dollar purchase... It's just strange, eh?

Anyhow, looking at the Sigma 18-125 f/3.5-5.6 lens, and a Tamron 18-200 f/3.5-6.3.

The Tamron:
//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=363593&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Further thoughts or reccomendations?

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

02/28/2006 08:39:51 PM · #5

Beach camera is a reputable seller. I'be bought from them many a times without a problem. As for lenses, if you are looking at a one lens solution, the Tamron 18-200 or a Sigma 18-125 may do just fine.

Prof_Fate

02/28/2006 10:43:51 PM · #6

The 50 1.8 is a nice lens - go for it.

as for all around lens - tamron SP 24-135. Fantastic lens.
Need a faster or wider lens, the tamron 17-35, canon 17-40, sigma 18-50 2.8 EX, the new sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 might work. Canon has their 17-85 IS USM but I think the tamron i mentioned first is a better choice.

for long shots, best value is the sigma 70-300 APO super macro 2. Most versatile would be a 70-200 2.8 and a 1.4x TC, but the sigma is $200, a 70-200 2.8 and TC will start at $1000.

fstopopen

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/28/2006 10:56:44 PM · #7

I'm going to second (or third) the 50mm 1.8. great lens, great price. I use a sigma 18-200 as a walk around lens. great reach, goes wide too. Not as sharp as canon L series, or even the 50mm, but I've taken some great stuff with it.

btw, what do you do in the televison industry? I work for the local PBS station in the documentary department. Shot news for a couple of years before that.

drake

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

02/28/2006 11:44:07 PM · #8

I will add that my first two lenses for my camera were the Sigma 18-200 & Canon 50mm f1.8. They have served me very well and kept me happy.

Prof_Fate

02/28/2006 11:50:16 PM · #9

The 50 1.8 at work - low light, shallow DOF - and quite sharp - all good things about this lens

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

03/01/2006 01:01:34 AM · #10

Thank you all for your $0.02 worth!

The 50mm 1.8 is a done deal, I've added it to the list. Thanks for the proof image, Fate. :-)

fstopopen, I am a videographer. I shot news for several years, and about three months ago moved into promotions and production. Also, I own a DV cam (the GY DV-500, for those who care), and do various freelance production when I'm not at "work" work.

Part of the reason I'm trying to get back into still photography is I feel that my video has hit a real plateau, and I struggle to improve further.

Anyhow, I looked at the sigma 70-200, and I like it, but i'd really like something that would go that long, but also go wide. (Can you tell yet that I'm a spoiled video guy?)

How about this Sigma 28-300 .. Am I just asking too much from a single lens?

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=245258&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

03/01/2006 10:40:21 AM · #11

Hey, get the Sigma 18-200... at $300, you can not beat it.

Here is an example real wide at 18mm ...

Here is zoomed at 200mm...

Here is a portrait from the recent duotone challenge...

The lense is small and compact. I shot the portrait at 1/25 and it was sharp and clear. I can not recommend this lense enough.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

03/01/2006 11:08:28 AM · #12

Originally posted by photomikey:

... even though it feels quite small to me.

You could get the battery grip, which adds a bit of size. I've got one and the camera feels MUCH nicer to hold with it on. I think it helps me to hold it a bit steadier too. The grip will work with one or two batteries in it.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/01/2006 04:33:26 PM · #13

Thank you all for your constructive advice.

Thank you to whoever referenced the Fred Miranda reviews, it makes it SO MUCH EASIER to see a dozen lenses lined up side by side with umpteen reviews under each one.

I scrapped the idea of trying to get a quality lens that goes 200mm. In my price range, they seem to get fuzzy that far out.

I'm going to buy the Rebel XT body only (black), with the Canon 55mm 1.8 prime, and a Canon 28-105. Later on, if I need to shoot the moon, I can get a 200mm then.

This is all in my shopping cart, and I'm dieing to buy, but wanted to see if there was any final advice.

Thanks!

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

03/01/2006 04:40:16 PM · #14

By coincidence, I'm putting a 28-105 up for sale on eBay tonight. It's a good lens, but the Tamron 28-75 is better.