Lenses for Canon EOS Rebel XSI or T1i

[bxrwiggles]

I'm looking at getting a Canon EOS Rebel, either the XSI or the newer version T1i. I'm going to be taking pics mainly of my dogs outside, running around, doing agility and also inside the house for candids and portraits. Also taking some travel/landscape photos. I've read on here that you need a fast lens in order to capture action shots especially in low light. According to my internet research the best Canon zoom lens for action shots is a 55-200 f/2.8 IS but that lens costs around $1500 - yikes!!! That lens is way too expensive for me right now.

What lenses would you recommend I get for this camera to start off with?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Caney Creek]

There will always be a "best lens" for everything, but it's usually going to be the most expensive one The cheaper lenses won't be quite as fast as the f/2.8 of course but there are plenty of decent ones that can get the job done. Especially if you're outside in daylight it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

For action shots I'd recommend a zoom lens that is at least 200mm at the long end. An Image Stabilization feature is a MUST!

For travel and landscape shots, you'll want a wider lens, something like 18mm. You might be able to find an affordable wide-to-telephoto zoom lens that meets BOTH of those requirements (18 - 200+ mm), or you can get two separate lenses. You could buy two that you like without spending a ton.

I have a Canon 40D and started out with only one lens: the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6. The 135mm is long enough for me to take good shots of the dogs running around in the backyard, but not long enough for capturing good action shots of sports games, which would be the case for agility shots too. And I can't tell you how many times I've gotten frustrated over the 28mm "wide" end when I'm trying to take pictures of landscapes or the person sitting right next to me, and I have to take 10 steps BACK to get a good shot (which is not always possible). So for Christmas I got the Canon 18-55mm IS lens and am happy that everything fits in the frame without me having to move

Here's a list of lenses that fit your needs. I'd suggest going through them and comparing prices and features, and reading some of the reviews. Don't discount "off-brand" lenses, but make sure that whatever you get has Image/Optical Stabilization.

SLR Camera Lenses

 

[Caney Creek]

Just saw this one

Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS for just $255.

Canon | EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Autofocus Lens | 2044B002AA

 

[gmacleod]

I'm going to be taking pics mainly of my dogs outside, running around, doing agility and also inside the house for candids and portraits. Also taking some travel/landscape photos.

It is not one lens that is going to do all that (or at least, not beyond the mediocre). Lenses are tools, after all, and you need to select the correct tool(s) for the job(s) that you want it to do.

It would be helpful if you could give an idea of which of those functions is your greatest priority, and what sort of conditions you're going to be taking the photos in (how good is the light typically, what sort of distance, etc). LOL - where I am, for example, I wouldn't touch a f4-5.6 zoom lens with a bargepole as that's about how useful it would be (and I have no use for mediocre photos - I'd rather get fewer good pictures than dozens of crappy ones).

Also relevant are budget, and how much you want everything "right now" versus being willing to wait.

One reasonable compromise might be Canon's 70-200 f4. At f4, it isn't a fast lens. But it has a fairly fast autofocus and at least it is a constant f4 (so the telephoto end remains useful). There is also an IS version, which is exceptionally good, but much more expensive (whilst with the non-stabilised one - which is still a very good lens - you can get some good bargains). I have this lens, and it takes some quite decent photos, including action shots in reasonable light conditions.

 

[bxrwiggles]

Thanks Caney and gmac for your responses.

I knew that I wasn't going to be able to get away with just having one lens. My main priority for the new camera is to take pictures of the dogs as follows listed in priority order:

1. action shots of them running around/playing/leaping in my fenced-in backyard (yard is maybe a 1/4 acre??)
2. doing agility (i.e. jumping over a jump, going thru the weave poles, exiting a tunnel, walking on the teeter/see-saw. (For this I can get inside the ring and get as close to the dog as I need to be.)
3. candids/portraits of them both outside and inside the house.

I currently have a Kodak Z812IS point and shoot camera that has an optical zoom that can take some pretty decent pics but I also get a lot of blurred photos which can be very frustrating and that's just trying to capture the dogs either sitting for portraits or candids. I don't even attempt to take any action shots with this camera.

I live in Connecticut, USA where we get a real mix of sunny and cloudy days. We have quite a few tall trees in our back yard that do provide shade to the yard but I've learned that I can get out there at certain times of the day and get great sunlight. I also love capturing pics of the dogs in the snow. Winter snow photos are fantastic but tend to have less available light especially right after a good snowstorm.

Wouldn't 2 different lenses be able to handle 1, 2 and 3 above? So, for example, could one lens be able to handle 1 and 2 and use a different lens for 3? How important is it to have the IS feature on a lens as I do see the considerable difference in price over one without IS?

 

[gmacleod]

Wouldn't 2 different lenses be able to handle 1, 2 and 3 above? So, for example, could one lens be able to handle 1 and 2 and use a different lens for 3? How important is it to have the IS feature on a lens as I do see the considerable difference in price over one without IS?

Yes, you'd probably get away with two lenses - though it depends a bit on the distance from which you're trying to take the photos IS isn't strictly a requirement - what this does for you is help stabilise the picture. That is very useful if (a) you don't have the steadiest hands in the west, or (b) are trying to take photos in not-great light conditions (in which case, it will allow you to avoid increasing ISO by some margin, which in turn means 'cleaner' pictures).

Personally, I would put greater priority on lens speed than IS. Each stop on a lens represents doubling of speed, after all. So an f4 lens, for example, is twice as fast as a f5.6. And f2.8 is twice as fast as f4. This isn't a minor matter (which is why people are prepared to pay so much for quick lenses - it matters, and is the difference between being able to take a clear photo or not). So if you can afford it/are prepared to pay for it, faster lenses are worth having.

My early suggestions would still include that 70-200 f4 lens - which should be decent enough for the action shots, except in really poor light conditions (where you'd be wanting something at f2.8 or faster). It will also do decent portraits outdoors. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L - Review / Test Report Of course, the f2.8 version is better suited - but there is a very large price differential, so if you want a reasonable alternative, this lens is probably it.

For indoor portraits, you probably want something that is both wide and quick. Canon's 17-55 f2.8 IS would be excellent, but perhaps a bit pricy. A reasonably priced alternative is Sigma's 17-70 f2.8-4.5 (not as good as the former, but respectable). Bear in mind that it is only f2.8 at the wide end though!

One last lens that you might consider picking up is Canon's 50mm f1.8 II. This is a very inexpensive lens - actually the cheapest - unlikely to set you back more than about $60. A 50mm isn't that useful on a cropped sensor camera, and the build quality isn't the highest either. But it is a good lens that delivers well in poor light conditions. It takes good portraits too (and the fast speed makes it very suitable for indoor use - providing you have enough space, as it isn't that wide). Here's an example from this lens, combined with a Canon 350D (Rebel xTi): Boxer Dog Photo Gallery & Postcard - Henri - 7 years

 

[bxrwiggles]

Thanks so much for your suggestions and links on the lenses! Looks like I may need to consider the IS after all based on your remarks gmac.

Do you have any recommendations for an external flash unit as I've heard the built-in ones aren't that great?

BTW - Henri is still looking wonderful as usual! Love that boy. My girl Jazz, also a brindle, turns 6 in April and she has way more gray on her face. Her face started to turn fairly young right after her surgery for a mast cell tumor at 3 1/2.

 

[boxmom]

I shoot with a Nikon so don't know about the specific Canon lenses, but I recently picked up a used 70-210 f4 (similar to what gmac is recommending). I would have liked to get the 70-200 2.8, but like the Canon the Nikon is also much more expense. Anyway, I got the f4 for 175 bucks, and it works fantastic for capturing my two in action. I recently took some shots in a snow storm, and while 2.8 would have been real nice, f4 worked out ok. Remember, your lenses are an investment. If you keep good care of them you can always trade up when your skill and desires for better pictures grows.

 

[Draymia]

Hi folks,

I am learning a lot from this thread. I received a Rebel T1i for Christmas and now have some work to do. But, once I get the hang of things and some better lenses, I know I will be happy!

Thank You!!

 

[bxrwiggles]

Diana - wow that is a super price for the lens you got. I'll have to check out used lenses to see what I can find but I have a feeling that if I'm looking for an "IS" version of that lens there may not be too many out there for sale.

Cheryl - lucky you getting that camera for xmas. Have you had a chance to use it yet?