Buying a rebel and need help with lens selection

[dcislander]

Hey all,
Canon's current rebates have finally helped make up my mind to get the 300D vs. the 20D. Once all is said and done, the Rebel will only cost $500 or $600 depending on the lenses I buy with it. Too ceap to pass up. What I am torn over is the lens selection I am now freed up to buy. While I cannot afford the big $$ L lenses (in most cases) I can get something a bit better than the kit lens (if advised so), especially now that quite a few lenses qualify for an additional $100-$200 off the Rebel. Part of the reason for the camera/lenses is an upcoming trip which will include an African Safari, and a month in China. A tripod is not an option so I thought the 75-300 IS(see below) would be a good option. I really want to limit myself to toting 2 lenses across the world. Here's the rebate deal for anyone not familiar with it-- if you buy a 300D, you get $100 off. For each additional add on (up to 2) you get another $100 off (up to $300). Plus they either double or triple the rebate on the lenses as well. Here's the deal. I have no idea which lenses to get and need some advice.

These are the lenses in my running:
Rebel Kit Lens 18mm-55mm f/3.5-5.6
or, forgo the kit lens and get one of the following in its place:
EF17-40mm f/4 (eligible for rebate--an extra $100 off the Rebel and $25 or $50 off the lens) or
EF-S 17-85mm f/4.0-5.6 USM IS (no rebates on lens or camera)
Plus I was planning on getting the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (eligible for rebate--an extra $100 off the Rebel and $25 or $50 off the lens)

Price breakdowns:
A. $800 total
Rebel with kit lens $900-$100 rebate=$800
B. $1220 total
Rebel with kit lens $900-$200 rebate=$700
75-300 IS $550-$30=$520
C. $1605 total
Rebel body only $800-$300 rebate=$500
75-300 IS $550-$45 rebate=$505
EF 17-40mmf/4 L USM $680-$75 rebate=$605
D. $1670
Rebel body only $800-$200 rebate+$600
75-300 IS $550-$30 rebate=$520
EF-S 17-85mm f/4.0-5.6 USM IS=$550 (no rebate)

Lenses that qualify for the rebate (note many are out of my price range):
EF Zoom EF 16-35 2.8 LU $50 $100 $150
EF 17-404 LU $25 $50 $75
EF 24-70 2.8 LU $45 $90 $135
EF 28-135 3.5-5.6 ISU $15 $30 $45
EF 28-200 3.5-5.6 U $15 $30 $45
EF 70-200 2.8 L IS U $50 $100 $150
EF 70-200 2.8 LU $40 $80 $120
EF 70-200 4 LU $25 $50 $75
EF 75-300 4-5.6 ISU $15 $30 $45
EF 100-400 4.5-5.6L ISU $50 $100 $150


Any advise you have would be much appreciated. Thank. Happy holidays.

[LoveOfSelene]

Hey all,
Canon's current rebates have finally helped make up my mind to get the 300D vs. the 20D. Once all is said and done, the Rebel will only cost $500 or $600 depending on the lenses I buy with it. Too ceap to pass up. What I am torn over is the lens selection I am now freed up to buy. While I cannot afford the big $$ L lenses (in most cases) I can get something a bit better than the kit lens (if advised so), especially now that quite a few lenses qualify for an additional $100-$200 off the Rebel. Part of the reason for the camera/lenses is an upcoming trip which will include an African Safari, and a month in China. A tripod is not an option so I thought the 75-300 IS(see below) would be a good option. I really want to limit myself to toting 2 lenses across the world. Here's the rebate deal for anyone not familiar with it-- if you buy a 300D, you get $100 off. For each additional add on (up to 2) you get another $100 off (up to $300). Plus they either double or triple the rebate on the lenses as well. Here's the deal. I have no idea which lenses to get and need some advice.

These are the lenses in my running:
Rebel Kit Lens 18mm-55mm f/3.5-5.6
or, forgo the kit lens and get one of the following in its place:
EF17-40mm f/4 (eligible for rebate--an extra $100 off the Rebel and $25 or $50 off the lens) or
EF-S 17-85mm f/4.0-5.6 USM IS (no rebates on lens or camera)
Plus I was planning on getting the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (eligible for rebate--an extra $100 off the Rebel and $25 or $50 off the lens)

Price breakdowns:
A. $800 total
Rebel with kit lens $900-$100 rebate=$800
B. $1220 total
Rebel with kit lens $900-$200 rebate=$700
75-300 IS $550-$30=$520
C. $1605 total
Rebel body only $800-$300 rebate=$500
75-300 IS $550-$45 rebate=$505
EF 17-40mmf/4 L USM $680-$75 rebate=$605
D. $1670
Rebel body only $800-$200 rebate+$600
75-300 IS $550-$30 rebate=$520
EF-S 17-85mm f/4.0-5.6 USM IS=$550 (no rebate)

Lenses that qualify for the rebate (note many are out of my price range):
EF Zoom EF 16-35 2.8 LU $50 $100 $150
EF 17-404 LU $25 $50 $75
EF 24-70 2.8 LU $45 $90 $135
EF 28-135 3.5-5.6 ISU $15 $30 $45
EF 28-200 3.5-5.6 U $15 $30 $45
EF 70-200 2.8 L IS U $50 $100 $150
EF 70-200 2.8 LU $40 $80 $120
EF 70-200 4 LU $25 $50 $75
EF 75-300 4-5.6 ISU $15 $30 $45
EF 100-400 4.5-5.6L ISU $50 $100 $150


Any advise you have would be much appreciated. Thank. Happy holidays.

IMHO i would pick choice D.
The Rebel and the 75-300 IS. But for the 17-85, i rather buy the 28-135 IS USM. Why? b/c from users comments and reviews i read online the 17-85 has qite a bit of CA and the at 17mm it only can get to an F/4 while at 28mm on the 28-135 can get to a F/3.5, allowing more light to enter.
On the other hand the 28-135 isn't a good wide angle lens. If you need a wide angle lens go for the 17-85, a lil CA wouldn't hurt ;)
And you can get another rebate for the 28-135 :)

Anywho, I hope this helps.

[dcislander]

Thanks for your advise. I saw the 28-135mm but was worried that it presented too much overlap with the 75-300mm to make sense, and that I needed to cover the wider range. Do you agree? Thanks again.

[LoveOfSelene]

Thanks for your advise. I saw the 28-135mm but was worried that it presented too much overlap with the 75-300mm to make sense, and that I needed to cover the wider range. Do you agree? Thanks again.

I was thinking the same thing when I bought these lenses a year back for my 10D. Personaly I use the 28-135 for a "walkaround lens" and 99% of the time its always on the camera. Unless i have a special situation that requires me to use telephoto power past 200mm (ie. animal photography). But since you goin to buy the d-rebel, i would sugest getting it w/ the 18-55 kit if you need a wide angle lens, thats pretty cheap in terms of price. For the extra 100$ it's not bad for what it offers.

As you said, you were goin to an African Safari and to China. IMHO you prolly will use the 75-300 the most for the Safari one. But the China one you prolly will use a 28-135 or the 17-85 (which ever one you choose).

In the D-Rebel the 28-135 will be an 44.8-216. And the 75-300 will be an 120-480. The 17-85 will be an 27.2-136. B/c of the field of view multiplyer.

True. That the 17-85 and the 75-300 will provide a tad bit more coverage.

To get the same coverage as above w/ the 28-135 and 75-300 you will need an wide angle lens such as the 16-35, 17-40, or the cheaper 18-55. Thats 3 lenses.

It's your choice. Neither option is bad. Just based on your preference.

~loveofselene