Cameras & Camcorders

[#1]

I might be buying 450D in a few hours due to some pretty good pricing during Canadian Boxing Day deals. Some lens deals will be valid only if I get the lens at the same time as the camera. I will be making a lot of pictures indoors (family events, portraits, kids, etc) so I was thinking of picking up something like Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II Lens. There is also a good deal on another lens if I buy it with the camera: Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5 II USM. I will need something with a good zoom when it gets warmer for my trips to the mountains and vacations in Mexico. Anyway, here are the prices:

I can get XSi with a kit (18-55mm IS Lens, DSLR bag, extra battery, battery grip and camera strap) for $699CAD. If I buy online, the store also offers Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5 II USM Lens for $170CAD. I am not sure if I need the EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5 II USM (I am usually reluctant to buy stuff offerd by stores as a "package deal" - usually it is never of a good quality) but the price is really attractive.... They also have on sale Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II Lens for $120CAD (I'm sure I'm going to need something like that for my indoor family shots). I hear Canon Wide Angle EF 35mm f/2.0 Autofocus Lens might be a better alternative to Canon EF 50mm but in Canada it'll cost me almost 3 times more than EF 50mm.

I can not spend too much on lenses (and I do not intend to until I get more familiar with the camera), but the above two lenses are kind of close to my budget.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone!

[#2]

Here are the lenses to avoid:

Canon 75-300mm - This is the worst excuse for a lens ever. I have it and hate it.

Canon 55-200mm - Not as terrible as the 75-300mm but it's still not very good.

Canon 18-55mm - The non-IS version is pretty bad. It comes with the XTi and XS but you might find it snuck in with the XSi and XS

Here are the good lenses:

Canon 18-55mm IS - The version with IS is very good, the optics are improved and image stabilization just makes things better

Canon 55-250mm IS - Again, this version has improved optics over the older 55-200mm and has image stabilization included.

Canon 50mm f/1.8 - This is a cheap, high quality lens. Build quality isn't so great but the optics are superb.

Canon 70-300mm IS - More expensive, but if you can get it in a bundle, do it. It's the improved version of the 75-300mm (Actually the 75-300mm IS, which was the replacement for the 75-300mm) and again the optics are superior.

Any Canon L lens. If you see a red ring on it, it's good. Future Shop carries the Canon 70-200mm f/4L, 70-200mm f/4L IS, 17-400mm f/4L, and 24-105 f/4L. These are all the best lenses you can buy.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, ask. We're all a little obsessed here.

[#3]

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Mammoth wrote:
If you see a red ring on it, it's good.

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Or if the lens is white instead of black!

[#4]

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digital_cam wrote:

Or if the lens is white instead of black!

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Not in the case of the Opteka 650-1300mm... (Google it..)

[#5]

lol touche.

[#6]

White lenses are just plain obnoxious. I'm glad Nikon has a limited selection in that colour scheme.

Just one of my million-and-one pet peeves about enthusiasts :\

I'm more likely to trust in a "tried and true" lens than one of a particular colour or single-letter branding. 

[#7]

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jhamerphoto wrote:
I'm more likely to trust in a "tried and true" lens than one of a particular colour or single-letter branding. 

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So you're saying Canon L glass isn't tried and true? My mistake, I guess they use them for sports because they aren't that good.

[#8]

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jhamerphoto wrote:

White lenses are just plain obnoxious. I'm glad Nikon has a limited selection in that colour scheme.

Just one of my million-and-one pet peeves about enthusiasts :\

I'm more likely to trust in a "tried and true" lens than one of a particular colour or single-letter branding. 

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Yeah, I have to side with Cam on this one. You may not like enthusiast with white L lenses or the white color of the lenses, but having been fortunate to solely shoot with Canon's L series (when I was shooting Canon) I have to testify to their greatness in lack of better word. 

True, there is a quality and performance difference amongst the L series lenses, but overall they outperform any other series of Canon glass and equals Nikon's top lineup of lenses.  

I am sure you have shot with L lenses as well, seeing that you work at Future Shop, so can't dislike them all together I imagine. 

Have a Happy New Year. 

Klaus

www.seeingthemoment.com

[#9]

The white paint also serves the function of reflecting light and thus heat from the lens, which is cause for concern with supertelephotos. (And I suppose carrying a white lens wouldn't burn as much as a black one)

If you can't handle the white lenses, get Sigma supertelephotos, they're black and come with EOS mounts. (300-800mm is what I want..)

[#10]

Why not go for the 200-500mm f2.8?

Klaus

www.seeingthemoment.com