A good general purpose lens for Canon Rebel XTi?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/30/2008 03:39:59 AM · #1

I am planning to get a Canon Rebel XTi body. However, I dont want to get the default lens it ships with (Canon 18-55mm I think).

Can someone recommend a good general purpose lens (for normal portrait as well as some basic Macro work, I dont really need telephoto right now) for the body?

I have heard Tamron ones are pretty good, and cheap. For me, cash is also a limit. I am looking for an economical one, but with still decent results.

Please suggest?

Retroesque

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/30/2008 03:49:19 AM · #2

Perhaps if you tell us what you prefer to photograph we'd be better placed to assist. People, Landscapes etc?

Cidpilot

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/30/2008 04:52:16 AM · #3

There are plenty of lens' around that would fit into a general purpose category- it all really, really depends on your budget. For the money, the kit lens that comes with it, if its the stabilized 18-55, should do rather well for your purposes (only based on the fact that you're looking to get an entry level SLR). I would consider the 18-55 stabilized or the 17-85 4-5.6 stabilized lens (both Canon). Check out this site:

//www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-Lens-Reviews.aspx

Good luck!

slickchik

OM System OM-1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

08/30/2008 10:34:46 AM · #4

I had a Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical IF for Canon. It was a nice lens at a good price. I sold it because it just wasn't as nice as the Canon IS 24-105 f/4 and that was what I really wanted. BUT price difference is HUGE.

If you are short on cash and are not a lens snob (which I admit I am) the Tamron is a very nice option.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/30/2008 11:09:28 AM · #5

If I had to have just one lens for my 1.6 crop body. It would be the 85 F1.8. Its an amazing lens on any body, but seems to work fantastically on the 1.6 sensor.

Matt

togtog

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/30/2008 11:15:08 AM · #6

Isn't the new 18-200mm an option? That is like Nikon's most popular lens, if Canon didn't screw up I would suspect theirs will be very popular as well. Or doesn't it fit the XTi?

skylercall

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/30/2008 11:30:33 AM · #7

The Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di is pretty popular. I really like mine. The build quality isn't as great as the Canon equivalent but it is much cheaper and much lighter.

08/30/2008 12:05:51 PM · #8

Originally posted by iamwoman:

Perhaps if you tell us what you prefer to photograph we'd be better placed to assist. People, Landscapes etc?

I am just beginning with SLRs, and am thinking portraits and Macro would be ok to begin with. For landscapes and/or tele-zoom I can get a lens later.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/30/2008 12:07:38 PM · #9

Thanks all for the replies.

I am looking for a beginer's lens, and cheap. Although I must admit I am fancied by macro photography as much as by portraits (not yet into tele or wide angle shots).

How is the Sigma one (I doubt I will use the tele zoom, but its cheap):

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/30/2008 12:15:58 PM · #10

Anything over 50mm or so will be too much zoom for an "only" lens, and even though the Sigma or Tamron might be labeled "macro" they can only focus somewhat close, not true macro. I would strongly recommend the Tamron 28-75 or Sigma 18-200 OS (or wait for reviews on the Canon 18-200). If you want decent macro capability, add an extension tube.

08/30/2008 12:21:12 PM · #11

Originally posted by skylercall:

The Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di is pretty popular. I really like mine. The build quality isn't as great as the Canon equivalent but it is much cheaper and much lighter.

Thank you. Most people have suggested that to me. I am just a tad confused though.. can I use this lens for basic macro work? Like flies and insect's close up? I dont need to get their hair sharp as yet.. just a decent closeup with a blurry background..

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/30/2008 12:25:00 PM · #12

Originally posted by scalvert:

Thanks Scalvert. I heard that longer the focal length, the fatrther you can stay from the subject to get the same macro. Is that true? But longer focal length lense also seem more expensive. I think I wont worry about too much details as yet and just get a decent lens for now.

skylercall

Canon EOS-7D

08/31/2008 12:46:07 AM · #13

Originally posted by Prash:

Originally posted by skylercall:
The Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di is pretty popular. I really like mine.

Can I use this lens for basic macro work? Like flies and insect's close up? I dont need to get their hair sharp as yet.. just a decent closeup with a blurry background..

I haven't tried shooting macros with that lens but if you are looking for a sharp subject with a blurry foreground/background, this lens is great for that because it can be set as low as f/2.8 at any focal length.

shalrath

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

08/31/2008 01:07:47 AM · #14

I had that lens for a while. It is top notch, it won't quite stretch to true macro, but you will get very close. As for quality in a zoom in that range, it's on par with all its competitors if not better. Great value for money. I sold mine because I'm starting to prefer shooting with primes...

sherpet

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/31/2008 01:38:44 AM · #15

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

I love this lens above and it is the one i have on my camera all the time. Yes, it can take macro. I am not sure if it will fit on the camera body that you are choosing, but I think it does.

You say you are buying the 'Canon Rebel XTi', and if this is the same camera 'Canon EOS 400 Rebel XTi', then it will definitely fit, and be worth having the lens I suggested above.

Message edited by author 2008-08-31 01:44:32.

Tajhad

Canon EOS R

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

08/31/2008 08:29:58 AM · #16

Prash
If you aren't certain about what you want to shot - you will probably want a general purpose zoom. The prime, macro lenses will definitely get you best results with macro work but then you are stuck with one primal length (say the 85mm canon)and you may find you are doing less macro work and wanting to experiment with other focal ranges. My own experices support the folk who have mentioned the Tamron 28-75. Not perfect for everything but very handy range. The 28 range is good for some selected landscapes or street scenes (but you may want a wider range, say a 17-40 or a 10-20, for more specialised landscapes etc). The 75 end is not a long zoom but is handy for portraits or a short zoom in. And it's 2.8f through the whole range - very handy. It also has a semi macro function. Will focus closer than a normal lens but not as close as a true macro lens. The quality is excellent (closer to the L glass quality than the other class end). It gives you a good quality, all round general purpose lens to play with until you decide on a particular aspect you want to pursue (landscape, macro, telephoto)and purchase them as needed.

08/31/2008 12:46:24 PM · #17

Originally posted by Tajhad:

Thank you for a detailed analysis, it really helped. I think I will go for the Tamron 28-75 (or the Canon equivalent mentioned in the other posts) to begin with and then see into buying more as I learn more.

Much appreciated!

Message edited by author 2008-08-31 12:46:55.

08/31/2008 12:47:29 PM · #18

Originally posted by sherpet:

Thanks a lot. i will research more on this one. Appreciate the advice!

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

08/31/2008 12:48:18 PM · #19

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I now have more than enough information to choose a starter lens.

Thanks!

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

08/31/2008 03:49:51 PM · #20

A 10-400 L with IS would be nice. Dream on, Slippy.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

08/31/2008 05:29:28 PM · #21

The Tamron 28-75 got a couple of mentions earlier. If you don't want super-wide, then this would be a good lens with which to start, I feel. It produces wonderfully sharp images. The only downside of it is that the constant f/2.8 aperture will spoil you.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/03/2008 04:15:30 PM · #22

Thanks all for the advice.

I have another question:

While reading a review here about Canon's 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens, I found that the author tested this lens with f-stop setting outside the advertised range (at f8 or f16 for example).

Is it possible to use a lend beyond its prescribed range of aperture?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I need to know this before buying a first SLR.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/03/2008 04:50:11 PM · #23

Any lens can be "stopped down" to f/8, f/11, etc. The listed aperture (f/2.8, etc.) is simply the widest you can open the aperture for low light. Zoom lenses that list a range of apertures (f/3.5-6.3) are those that can be opened to f/3,5 at the wide end, but can only be opened to f/6.3 when zoomed in.

The Tamron is a constant aperture lens- it can be opened to f/2.8 throughout its zoom range, but can be stopped down as far as f/32. One other nice advantage of constant aperture lenses is that they are generally parfocal (once you focus on something, you can zoom without having to refocus).

Message edited by author 2008-09-03 16:54:30.

hajeka

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

09/03/2008 05:04:02 PM · #24

I'm not really an expert, but I do love my Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. Perhaps not the greatest one, but it has a nice wide angle, some nice tele and you can make nice macros with it. And... it's number 1 here on DPC, just look at the LENS_ID :-)