 BetterPhoto Member |
Suggestions for tele lens (Canon Rebel XT) Hi All. I am a beginner photographer interested primarily in landscapes and architecture. I want to get a lens other than the one that came with my Rebel XT for telephoto. Any suggestions? I also need to stay within a moderate budget. Thanks in advance. Virginia
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Christopher A. Vedros |
The 18-55mm kit lens is actually a pretty good fit for landscapes and architecture. What type of pictures are you planning to take with a telephoto? Do you want a normal to short telephoto for portraits? Or a long telephoto for wildlife? Or a medium telephoto with macro capabilities for shooting close-ups? Sometimes it's hard to know what you really need when you are starting out. You may be better served for now with a general purpose all-in-one zoom like a 28-200mm or 28-300mm zoom. Sigma and Tamron both make decent zooms in this category. Chris
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. Thanks so much for the prompt reply. At this time, I'm not interested in taking portraits other than of my girls and my pets. I definitely have an interest in the macro photography. I love the detail captured. I live in Atlanta and the guy at Wolfe Camera suggested a Quantray (their brand and misspelled!) 55-200 mm for 180.00. It doesn't have the macro switch though. Do you have a preference between the Sigma and Tamron? And would you purchase on-line? Thanks. Virginia
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Christopher A. Vedros |
I have a preference for Sigma lenses because I have first-hand experience with them. I haven't owned any Tamron lenses, I've just heard and read that they make a quality product. Most of what I've heard about Quantaray lenses is that they are pretty cheap and you generally get what you pay for. I've bought some of my accessories from a local pro camera shop, everything else has been ordered from B&H Photo (bhphotovideo.com). This includes 3 cameras, 5 lenses, flashes, tripods, cases, filters, etc. They have fair prices, excellent customer service, and they are very dependable. Chris
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. I can't thank you enough. This is so weird, I had just e-mailed B&H about the sigma lens, heard from them, and was checking reviews of their site on google. You have just made my decision easier for me. I'm going to order now. Again, thanks for all the help. Regards, Virginia
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. One more question if you don't mind. Wd you suggest for my rebel xt the Sigma WideAngleTele28-200f/3.5-5.6DG Compact or ZoomWideAngleTeleMACRO 28-300mm f3.5-6.3DGJ Compact. Both are the same price of $250.00. I so much appreciate your help. Virginia
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
also, look into the Tamron 28-200 (AF Aspherical Macro?) lens on the B&H site.. it comes in silver or black.. I got one and love it on my XT.. its small, light and performs great! The car shots in my gallery were taken with it. most are listed with the camera and lens used. craig-
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. Again, my thanks to you for all the information. I actually ordered a sigma zoom tele 70-300 mm DG Macro Autofocus for $200.00. Figured this was middle of the road. What do you think? I'm going to look at the Tamron, too. I think this lens may be heavy (the one I ordered) But I like to feel the stability. I have a canon power shot I carry around, and it's too little for my long fingers. We will see. Virginia
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BetterPhoto Member |
Just checked out the Tamron. Sounds absolutely awesome. A bit above my budget though for right now. I like the changes in weight and size that were made. Virginia
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John G. Clifford Jr |
Hmmm... I've heard that the Sigma 70-300 is an okay lens, but not a great one. It is too long to be a great walkaround telephoto, IMO. In the Sigma line, my choice would have been the 18-125, or perhaps the 18-200 if you wanted a little more reach (although the 18-125 is better optically). The 55-200 DC 'kit' lens is also available. You can often pick these up for $100 or less, and they do a good job (but the 18-125 is a better lens). Remember the crop factor for your dSLR turns the 70-300 into the 35mm equivalent of a 122-480 lens, and that's a LONG lens that will require either higher ISOs or lower shutter speeds... and a tripod... for best results. If you want a good telephoto lens AND a good macro lens, note that often you can't get both in the same package. Something has to be compromised. My recommendation is to get a good telephoto lens first. Again, I'd pick the 18-125 as a good all-around lens, the 35mm equivalent of a 30-200 lens. Then, I'd pick up a good macro lens, or (my choice) an M42 adapter, a good M42 macro lens, and a set of M42 extension tubes.
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. Darn, I wish I had known this yesterday. I'll check out the new lens and maybe return it for the one you suggested. The help I had was from an amateur yet fairly experienced person. I didn't realize the lens would not be a good "walk around". I'm going to check out your advice on B&H. Thanks. Virginia
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. FYI...I just checked what I ordered and fortunately the lens is only 4.7 inches long and weighs a little over 1 pound. It is a new sigma designed for digital cameras. If you want to look at it--70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro. Let me know what you think. I so appreciate your advice. Virginia
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Virginia, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I think using the 70-300mm lens as your general-purpose lens, you'll find that 70mm on your Rebel XT is not wide enough. In other words, this lens will be all telephoto, and no wide angle or normal range. A lens that starts at 28mm or wider on the short end would be more useful for general purposes. I used a Sigma 28-300mm lens as my main walkaround lens for a few years. It came in a package with a 35mm Canon Rebel Ti. I continued to use it as my main lens when I moved to the Digital Rebel. I later added 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8 lenses for portraits, and I also had the 18-55mm kit lens if I needed something a little wider than 28mm. I recently moved to the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses. I keep the 24-70mm lens on my camera almost all the time, unless I'm at the zoo or somewhere else where most of my shots will be long telephoto shots. Chris
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hi Chris. Again, thank you for all the information. I think I'll check out the 28mm-300 as my walkaround lens. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the other information so I will know what to work towards. This can certainly be an expensive hobby. But I love it. I've started carrying my canon power shot with me in my car. Don't want to miss anything. Thanks again. Have a great weekend. Virginia
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BetterPhoto Member |
Chris, I just checked out the sigma 28-300mm as you suggested. Do you think it would be wise for me to return the 70-300 and replace it with the 28-300? The price difference is only $80.00; and the capabilities are wide angle, tele; and macro. If you don't mind will you e-mail me at ladymadagan@hotmail.com? this is my work e-mail that we have been corresponding through. Thanks. Va
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