New to Canon and SLR!!

[Peki31]

Hi everyone! I just stumbled on this site and it is excellent! I just received a Canon XTi as a gift a couple of days ago. I love photography , but am really just just beginning. I love to take pictures of my daughter and some scenery. I also sell clothing on Ebay. The camera I received came with a Kit lens, which I have read reviews of it all over the board. Basically my question is what else do I need to buy for taking pics. Like I said, mostly people, indoor and outdoor, indoor parties (very low light), clothing (indoor) and some scenery. I want something where I can capture the silly things kids do (while they are doing them). I would like an additional lens (at least one for now), but I don't want to spend crazy money on it just yet. Could anyone suggest a lens that's not too high to fit my needs? also do I need to buy an additional flash, since I take many indoor pictures? Thanks to anyone for your help!

PS - I am in awe with the beautiful pictures I have seen thusfar from all of you.

[NewTekBuzz]

Hi and welcome.

I went with the 50mm f/1.4 ($350ish) for low light shooting. I just got the 580 flash about 2 weeks ago.. wish I would have got the flash first. it is real hard to catch the shots you want of little ones moving about in low light. I say go for the 430 or 580 flash and master that first. bounce the flash and you will get great results.

Tim

[RebelRat]

I find the 50 too long for most indoor shooting. I'm considering the 35mm f2 myself. Though not quite as fast as the 50mm f1.4. I have seen many excellent shots with this lens.

Flash can be handy, but, I prefer to not use them too often. I generally shoot at a higher ISO setting and Raw file format.

[Scott6]

Hi and welcome.

I went with the 50mm f/1.4 ($350ish) for low light shooting. I just got the 580 flash about 2 weeks ago.. wish I would have got the flash first. it is real hard to catch the shots you want of little ones moving about in low light. I say go for the 430 or 580 flash and master that first. bounce the flash and you will get great results.

Tim

agreed! speedlights are great! far far better than trying to shoot the "natural look" with no flash. Even with a f1.4 lens your going to have ahard time. Flash makes it all easy.

I chose the 24-70 f2.8L over the 17-40 f4L mainly because of the extra stops down. this was before i got ym flash. Now I use my 24-70 at f5.6-F8 with flash in doors almsot all the time.

I could have saved money, and god a wider primary indoor lens had I known I was going to love my speedlight so much.

[adam75south]

and get a good diffuser for the flash too. i don't know what i'd do without my flash.

high ISO and wide aperture will work, but they're not going to light up eyes like a flash will.

[Peki31]

Thanks everyone for your responses! So does the attached flash not do so great for indoor shots?

[RebelRat]

The built on flash works if you really need a flash for fairly close shots. Because the built on flash is so close to the lens, it does tend to suffer from red eyes more often.

[24Peter]

Hi everyone! I just stumbled on this site and it is excellent! I just received a Canon XTi as a gift a couple of days ago. I love photography , but am really just just beginning. I love to take pictures of my daughter and some scenery. I also sell clothing on Ebay. The camera I received came with a Kit lens, which I have read reviews of it all over the board. Basically my question is what else do I need to buy for taking pics. Like I said, mostly people, indoor and outdoor, indoor parties (very low light), clothing (indoor) and some scenery. I want something where I can capture the silly things kids do (while they are doing them). I would like an additional lens (at least one for now), but I don't want to spend crazy money on it just yet. Could anyone suggest a lens that's not too high to fit my needs? also do I need to buy an additional flash, since I take many indoor pictures? Thanks to anyone for your help!

I'd suggest working with what you have right now. No need to go off buying additional lenses or flashes (esp. expensive pro-level lenses). Learn how to use your camera's different settings/ modes as well as the built in flash. If you can't do those things, a 17-40 F4L or 24-70 f2.8L isn't going to make your photos any better. There is a learning curve with a DSLR, but that's the fun of it. Then later when you're ready you can add a better lens and/or an external flash. The only exception would be if you want to take telephoto shots right now. Obvoiusly you can't do that with your kits lens, but from your post it doesn't sound like it's on your list of needs right now.
Also, learn how to do some basic photo editing as this can go a lot further in creating useable photos than adding an expensive lens. :)

[Peki31]

Thanks Peter!! I finally opened the camera and tried it yesterday. Honestly I didn't care for the Kit lens very much. I guess I was used to my old Minolta one which I like. I do want an everyday lens or a telephoto, but not a professional or very expensive one. Just something to learn on. I will probabbly also get the 50mm/1.8 to try for portraits. My daughter is in ballet and has her first show coming up, plus her school show so I want to have something to capture that. Can you suggest a decent (but not expensive) everyday lens and telephoto lens? I've been trying to some research, but have been getting really overwhelmed!! Thanks so much for the great advice!

Lana

[24Peter]

Thanks Peter!! I finally opened the camera and tried it yesterday. Honestly I didn't care for the Kit lens very much. I guess I was used to my old Minolta one which I like. I do want an everyday lens or a telephoto, but not a professional or very expensive one. Just something to learn on. I will probabbly also get the 50mm/1.8 to try for portraits. My daughter is in ballet and has her first show coming up, plus her school show so I want to have something to capture that. Can you suggest a decent (but not expensive) everyday lens and telephoto lens? I've been trying to some research, but have been getting really overwhelmed!! Thanks so much for the great advice!

Lana

Well bear in mind my choices often diverge from the other really good photographers on this forum so take these with a grain of salt, but here goes:

short zoom lenses:

#1 - Canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 II USM http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=4490
#2 - Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=4491
#3 - Tamron SP AF 28-75mm 2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=4205
#4 - (to replace your kit lens) Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical
http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=33048

long zoom lenses:

#1 - (if you can swing the price) Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=22655
#2 - (or if you're on a budget) Sigma AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Zoom Macro Super II http://www.canogacamera.com/detail.aspx?ID=8902

[Peki31]

Thanks Peter!! I was actually also thinking of going with the Sigma 70-300 for now. Not ready to spend $500 on the Canon one yet!! Have you heard of Quantaray? My SIL just told me about it and said she has their flashes and lenses for her Canon. I never heard of it, but just saw it on Ritz and they are pretty cheap. I haven't seen these metioned on here, jsut thought I'd ask. But, I imagine you get what you pay for!

Lana

[24Peter]

Thanks Peter!! I was actually also thinking of going with the Sigma 70-300 for now. Not ready to spend $500 on the Canon one yet!! Have you heard of Quantaray? My SIL just told me about it and said she has their flashes and lenses for her Canon. I never heard of it, but just saw it on Ritz and they are pretty cheap. I haven't seen these metioned on here, jsut thought I'd ask. But, I imagine you get what you pay for!

Lana

If you're not happy with your kit lens, you'll be even less happy with Quantray products. My understanding is it's very low end stuff. I wouldn't go there. Also IMHO, Ritz is not a place to buy camera equipment if you're interested in saving $. There may be other reasons for shopping there (convenience, location, service) but I have never seen what I would consider good prices on their stuff. They're usually charging retail list prices where other places will do much better.