Rebel XT lens help

[wxcloud9xw]

Well, I finally got my Canon Rebel XT tonight. My father by some grace of God wanted to get me the camera himself from wolfcamera.:D I got the kit lens with it...I know it's a so-so lens, but they didn't have the body only option and hey my father was paying. I was shocked at the difference in image quality from my Nikon coolpix 8800 8mp and the XT. People's faces and their skin tones just look so much more true to life.:eek: It seems to capture more detail. I guess It has to do with the larger sensor size compared to my Nikon fixed lens 8mp camera.

Now I'm left with about 1,100 dollars to spend on lenses after buying a very nice tripod and camera bag and flash. My main focus is portraits and group shots; indoors and outdoors. I know 50mm f/1.4 will be in my line-up first. What lens/es should I get next? A wide angle prime, a wide angle zoom, a telephoto zoom?

Rougly these are the lenses I've been thinking about in my current price range. EF 17-40mm f/4 L, EF 24mm prime, 85mm f/1.9, EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L


Option 1: 50mmf/1.4+24mm f/2.8+85mmf/1.8+lens hoods=$1,030.00
Option 2: 50mmf/1.4+17-40mm f/4 L+lens hood=1,025.00
Option 3: 50mmf/1.4+70-200mm f/4 L+lens hood=935.00
-BHphotovideo.com

Which option would you pick..or revise? thanks everyone!

[Bluedog]

My choices are as followed in my sig below though they'll run you a little over budget. For sure add a Canon Speedlite in the future too. A Prime would be a good choice also.

Advice: learn to shoot in RAW format. Its not difficult to learn and give RawShooter Essentials 2005 (http://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.asp) a try its Free and a very good RAW converter application.

[Rex914]

Congrats! You're lucky to have gotten your camera relatively soon. :) I just fouled up my chance of getting a D200 this year, so it looks like it'll be yet another 2-4 weeks minimum before my camera sees the light of day (no pun intended).

Of the three packages shown, number 3 is the best overall in terms of how it fits with your current setup. It'll cover you from 18 to 200. But I know that you wanted to do group portraits, and the 17-40 would be better, but not ideal for it. What I'd recommend is take option 3 and then add on a 28mm f/2.8 which goes for $170.

Don't forget triple rebates. Those figures appear to come before rebates, right?

50mmf/1.4+70-200mm f/4 L+lens hood = $935 - $225 (Rebel XT) - $45 (50/1.4) - $75 (70-200/4)

[wxcloud9xw]

I'm just wondering if the 70-200 would be near as sharp as a 50 or 85mm non-L prime?

P.S. can the 50mm f/1.4 be used outdoors in bright sunlight as long as it has a lens hood and the aperture is kept near atleast 2.8 or higher? to avoid lens flare and the like.

[Rex914]

If you have the lens hood, you shouldn't have too many problems with flare.

The 70-200/4 is just as sharp as the other 2 70-200's which are regarded to be as sharp as the equivalent consumer primes in that range. It should suffice to say that it's a terrific lens that you won't be disappointed in using. It's one of the best price/performance/versatility lenses in the entire lineup, and I'm including the 50/1.8 in there since it's cheap and good but nowhere near as versatile as the 70-200.

[Bluedog]

My copy of the 70-200 f/4L is very sharp wide open. This lens is easy to use handheld.

[wxcloud9xw]

I may just get the 50mm f/1.4 and the 70-200mm f/4 L ..I have the kit lens for group shots temporarily...I can just save and get the wide angle primes or zooms a couple of months later for sharper/more contrasty group photography. I think having the 70-200L could double as an outdoor portrait zoom and walk around. Thanks so much for your quick/responsive help guys:) :cool:

[Bluedog]

The Kit lens gets a lot of bad publicity but its not that bad. The build quality is cheapish indeed, just remember that generally it preforms well in the f/8 range.

[wxcloud9xw]

yeah the kit lens produces "very good" images in the 24-50mm range. yes it does have a cheapish build to it..I think it's pretty good for the 100 dollar price for it. wish the 70-200mm f/4 came in black..oh well..can't complain considering the low price for its tack sharp images and L quality.

[wxcloud9xw]

wow I just realized the tripod mount ring for the 70-200 is 120 dollars...

[wxcloud9xw]

sorry for the multiple posts...Ok because of the stupid 120 dollar tripod collar and shipping I'm going to have to delay one of the two and get it the first half of next month. I can't afford both and a flash right now. I know a good flash is important and the 70-200 doesn't work as well indoors without a flash.

Option 1: EF 50mm f/1.4+lens hood+430ex flash+softcase=635 after shpping
Option 2: EF 70-200mmf/4+lens collar+430ex flash=970 after shipping

what will be more usefull in the shortterm until I can get both; for indoor/outdoor photography?

[Bluedog]

sorry for the multiple posts...Ok because of the stupid 120 dollar tripod collar and shipping I'm going to have to delay one of the two and get it the first half of next month. I can't afford both and a flash right now. I know a good flash is important and the 70-200 doesn't work as well indoors without a flash.

Option 1: EF 50mm f/1.4+lens hood+430ex flash+softcase=635 after shpping
Option 2: EF 70-200mmf/4+lens collar+430ex flash=970 after shipping

what will be more usefull in the shortterm until I can get both; for indoor/outdoor photography?

Get the Black one for $89 if that helps any. I went that route and it looks better IMO.

[ReF]

sorry for the multiple posts...Ok because of the stupid 120 dollar tripod collar and shipping I'm going to have to delay one of the two and get it the first half of next month. I can't afford both and a flash right now. I know a good flash is important and the 70-200 doesn't work as well indoors without a flash.

Option 1: EF 50mm f/1.4+lens hood+430ex flash+softcase=635 after shpping
Option 2: EF 70-200mmf/4+lens collar+430ex flash=970 after shipping

what will be more usefull in the shortterm until I can get both; for indoor/outdoor photography?

the 50's front element is recessed pretty deep (same for f1.8 and f1.4) so i never felt the need for a hood unless a filter is attached. i also never felt the need for a tripod collar with the 70-200 f4 even with a 1.4x TC attached, since i find this lens rather light. i'd say skip the collar and hood this round so you can try to squeeze in the 70-200, 50, and flash all in at this time.

[wxcloud9xw]

Well, I ended up deciding to go with the EF 70-200mm f/4L zoom, collar mount, and speedlight route. I should get it Wednesday afternoon and will test it out asap:D . I read a bunch of reviews where quite a few people say it's as sharp as most primes accept maybe the 85mm primes. I guess next step would be to get the 50mm f/1.4 primarily for indoor use. thanks for all the help guys.

For those of you that have the 70-200mm L zoom..I wonder how much of a difference there will be in image quality and sharpness over the 18-55 kit lens?

[Bluedog]

For those of you that have the 70-200mm L zoom..I wonder how much of a difference there will be in image quality and sharpness over the 18-55 kit lens?

Good choice ... I wouldn't even worry about comparing the two. The Kit lens I had produced some very nice shoots but at the same time suffered from CA in bright contrast situations. The 70-200 f/4L should serve you well, even wide open.

[ReF]

For those of you that have the 70-200mm L zoom..I wonder how much of a difference there will be in image quality and sharpness over the 18-55 kit lens?

it will be more meaingful when you see for yourself as what we tell you are just our opinions.