Lens options

[MÀÐÐØGMîÇK]

Hi all good forum.
I am about to buy the Cannon rebel xti.
I am going to buy just the body and then add a lens at the shop.
One question i have please is I want to be able to take photos quickly.
I am going to buy the 28-80 lens as this will do almost all the type of pictures that i want to take.
I would like a lens that will focus fast.

any ideas please

thanks

Mick

[RichNY]

Mick- I am a bit confused.

Since you are telling us exactly what you are going to buy what type of suggestions do you want?

[MÀÐÐØGMîÇK]

Well reading all the forums and test reviews i am going to buy the camera with just the body as they say that the lens it comes with as a package isnt the best one to get.
I like the sound of the sigma lens 28-80 but does the auto focus really differ between lenses.
i want to find a lens that is 28-80 but will focus fast.
I undestand that i will have to get a fast card to help in that department but any views on a lens.
Money is an issue but good advice means i might save a little longer.
I want to use the camera for every day use and also to take pictures for my web site (its a web site for ATV's) www.atvhudsonvalley.com it has a gallery that i use my old digital camera finepix A210 at 1 meg its old beat up and just keeps going.
but i want to take action shots and general as well.
hope this helps explain

thanks
Mick

[timmciglobal]

The 28-80 is a peice of crap. It's 45>130 once you factor crop and it's rather bad optically.

As far as the XTi you realize its NOT weather sealed and bringing it around tons of sand and dirt is most likly horribly bad idea (ATV'ing) unless you put in some bags and seal up the lenses.

Tim

[MÀÐÐØGMîÇK]

Ok thanks for the info so what do you suggest for the same kind of money?


Mick

[timmciglobal]

The 28-105 USM II isn't a bad lens for cheap (F3.5 to 4.5 version not the 4>5.6 version)

28-135 IS I find a nice lens, bit more expensive but good.

Tim

[Vich]

Weather sealed camera bodies are usually the Pro-Level stuff. Even a 4 year old model may cost $1K (and that's a good deal).

The pro weather-sealed lenses are also expensive, generally figure on $1K and up.

A good weather sealed box runs from $100 to $300 new. Of course, the $300 ones are for scuba divers, probably more than you need. There's some simi-sealed contraptions for less.

Alternatively; make your own weather protection cloth. My wife sewed elastic bands and velcro into some wind-breaker material for me that I use at the beach. Just figure you may have to pay for cleaning from time to time because that dang sand-dust finds it's way in somehow. Just don't change lenses without closing the car doors first so that at least the sand is kept out (hard to de-dust the air).

The cheapest weather sealed DSLR is probably the Nikon D200. At $1500K you can hardly call it cheap, but that's less than the cheapest Canon 1D at 3x that price.

Note: The action of Zooming can suck air into the lens cavity unless you get one that stays at a constant lengh (ie: the zooming mechanism is all internal).

For a lens, you probably want USM for the fastest focusing. The 28-105 USM gets good reviews (click here (http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=206&sort=7&cat=27&page=1)), particularly for the price (about $250).

EDIT: Oops, forgot to mention. There's 2 versions of the Canon 28-105. The f4.0-5.6 is crap. I was refering to the f3.5-4.5 one. Oh wait, I see Tim has already recommended this and pointed out that important detail.

[timmciglobal]

cheapest sealed is K10d.

The D200 isn't sealed just "resistant" it lacks seals in a lot of spots.

Tim

[unix04]

The 28-105 USM II isn't a bad lens for cheap (F3.5 to 4.5 version not the 4>5.6 version)

28-135 IS I find a nice lens, bit more expensive but good.

Tim

i'd 2nd the 28~105. USM is great :)

the theres a USM version of the 18~55 kit lens as well. you can find some decent deals out there in the $120 range.

mick, perhaps you should try using any of the lenses you're interested in at the camera shop, and see if it's fast enough for you. the focus speed is noticeably different, but even non-usm's can still focus pretty fast.

[MÀÐÐØGMîÇK]

Hey all thanks for the replies.
I am reading up on the lenses at the moment and it seems to get good reviews.
I will try them all in the shop i am going to B&H in the city they are pretty good at letting you try them.

I want to be able to take the camera on holiday and also take action shots of my ATV club

thanks
again

Mick

[Vich]

cheapest sealed is K10d.

The D200 isn't sealed just "resistant" it lacks seals in a lot of spots.

Tim

What brand is the K10d?

[gmtech79]

What brand is the K10d?

Pentax K10d

[zmikers]

I want to be able to take the camera on holiday and also take action shots of my ATV club


The 28-105 USM is a great lens for the money, definitely buy that one. Other things to think about when choosing other leses to partner the 28-105. The 1.6 crop factor means you are going to be a little shy on the wide angle end. So picking up a wide angle is probably a good idea. Also, for travelling, the 70-300 USM III is a great light weight lens for a relatively cheap price.