24-70

[lambchops511]

I'm a noob. I just picked up my Canon XSi with 18-55 IS. After a few days playing around with it, it seems like the 18-55IS really sucks at low light even at ISO 1600. Am I doing something wrong? Or is it the lens?

What should I do for a 2nd lens? I know I am going a bit fast, but I want to take advantage of the 20% off on ebay.

I can buy a 24-70 2.8 for $1000. Should I?

I am into macro photography as well.

 

[IeraseU]

Low light? Get a 50 f/1.8 for under $100. That will work well for you in low light. No need to spend a lot of money at this point. As you gain more experience you will have a better handle on what you need to buy in order to take that next step.

 

[joutlaw]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
Low light? Get a 50 f/1.8 for under $100. That will work well for you in low light. No need to spend a lot of money at this point. As you gain more experience you will have a better handle on what you need to buy in order to take that next step.

Couldn't agree more.

I have the same camera and I am a DSLR noob. I bought the 50mm f/1.8 and couldn't be happier. I've heard the plastic/fantastic term used for this lens and it's true. It takes great pics with tons of bokeh.

 

[joutlaw]

I should add it probably wont be the best for macro out of the box. It has a hard time focuses close up in my experience, but you still get great shots... you just might have to crop.

 

[joutlaw]

Here's some pics



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[lambchops511]

Yep . I just bought a 50mm prime on ebay .

what about a 70-200 f/4 L . that was originally my 2nd lens

im going to LA . San Diego and Vegas on July 4, so if i buy it i want to buy it before then

 

[IeraseU]

The 70-200 f/4 is a good lens.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: joutlaw
Here's some pics



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why does it ask me to log in?

 

[corkyg]

Yeah - those links are not good - they require one to log in, but there is no place to do that. Not good forum sharing links.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
The 70-200 f/4 is a good lens.

I would also recommend the 70-300 IS USM. Its a tough decision....IS vs L glass, black vs white body...(the 70-300 is built like a tank and I have gotten many good shots with it).

 

[PowerRanger]

Just how "low" light are we talking about here? What kind of pictures are you trying to take? Action or static? Your links are no good so I have no pictures to reference.

Overall I'd suggest the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS (~$1000). Its a perfect marriage of speed and stabilisation. It is an EF-S lens however, so it won't work on full frame cameras (5D, 1DMKIII, 1DS-MKIII). But if you're really working in extreme lowlight, f/2.8 won't do either. Take a look at primes around f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8. If you're on a budget, a 50mm f/1.4 will be nice. If you're really on a budget, then the 50mm f/1.8.

 

[joutlaw]

My bad... first time using skydrive from m$

See if these work:
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[bub]

I have a Canon XTi.
Purchased a refurbished by Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens.
Refurbished cause this lens has a history of dust which Canon fixes with refurbish.
Sent this lens back. Pics way too soft. Almost blurry.
Purchased a new 24-105 f/4 L IS.
Very happy with this one.
It takes wonderful, sharp pics.
This lens is about the same size,weight, and price as the 17-55.
Don't seem to miss the f/2.8 since indoor shots use flash anyway.
But the extra distance of the 105mm is just great.
See the rating and reviews here:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/rev...5&sort=7&cat=27&page=1
Forgot to mention, both above lens are large and heavy!
Either will double the weight of your camera!
Both are around 4.5" long.
So, if that is a concern, maybe the Tamron 17-50 f/2/8 @ $600 less might be one to look at.

 

[daveshel]

As a noob you might not yet have a handle on the difference between reduced frame and full frame. The sensor in your XSi is smaller than the sensor that of a full frame camera like the 5D (which has a sensor the same size as 35mm film). The difference does not have so much an effect on picture quality as it does the relationship between the camera and the lens. The XSi is said to have a 'crop factor' of 1.6, which means that a 70-200 lens will have an effective focal range of 112-320. This has some benefit of giving you some additional reach with a given lens, but the trade-off is at the wide end of the range. The lens that I consider ideal for my shooting on my 5D is the 24-105, but on the XSi, the wide end of the range would be more like 38mm, which would not be wide enough for some of my landscape shooting. So make sure you take this into consideration when choosing your lens.