EOS 30D w / 18-55mm or XTI EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Stand'rd Zoom

[alfa147x]

I shoot a lot of diffrent things but mostly sports, and dances
I'm planing on building a whitebox

So what should I buy?

EOS 30D w / 18-55mm (ebay used)
$650.00

or
$499.00 EOS Rebel XTi (Black) w/18-55mm Lens
+ $246.00 EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Stand'rd Zoom

Its so hard to decide!
Thanks

This is what I currently have

Canon 50mm f/1.8
Quantaray 75 - 300 f/ 4.0

 

[soydios]

Sports and dances = low light. That means f/2.8 or faster lenses. That means one thing: expensive.

The 18-55mm lens is a general-purpose kit model with a small aperture. The 10-22mm lens is way too wide for sports. 18mm is wide enough for dances. 55mm generally isn't close enough for sports, either.

The ideal sports lens is the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM (or VR AF-S for Nikon).

What do you already have, and what's your budget?

 

[alfa147x]

This is what I have:

Canon 50mm f/1.8
Quantaray 75 - 300 f/ 4.0

I don't want to spend more than $700

 

[alfa147x]

I really wanted a wide angle lens but i don't remember why though ....

How about the
Canon EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Instead of the 10-22mm
This one is like $200 cheaper than the wide angle

 

[alfa147x]

lower Budget and poll added ^

 

[soydios]

I voted for the 30D. The 30D is a superior body than the XTi overall, and you won't miss the 55-75mm focal range gap.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: soydios
Sports and dances = low light. That means f/2.8 or faster lenses. That means one thing: expensive.

You can get the 85mm f/1.8 which is an awesome lens for under $300 used. Its long enough to cover an indoor basketball game. Coupled with the 30D and ISO800 - 1600 your good to go. Of course that may blow the budget. The 50mm f/1.8 is good, but he will have to walk around more to get the good shot.

 

[4x4expy]

If the XTi you are referring to is new, that is the route I would take. Generally a good, used 30D is running around $700-750 without a lens right now, so the price should be around $800 for that package. A "too good to be true" price on a DSLR on Ebay smells like trouble. Image-wise they are nearly equal. The 30D is better built, but doesn't actually take photos better than the XTi. Buying new, would get you a warranty, buying used there would be none. If you're looking to buy used equipment, you could also try the "For Sale" forum at fredmiranda.com. I have bought and sold $3-4000 in photo equipment in the last couple of years there without ever a problem.

I agree with the 85mm/1.8 what you shoot. It is fantastic for it's price. I had one that I used with an XT and 20D. When I sold my Canon gear, the 85 was the hardest to part with. For sports and dim light you have to have a fast lenses. IS will help if you are shooting something that's not moving. Moving subjects will still blur if you don't have enough shutter speed which you can do with the larger apertures.

 

[vanderStoep]

good glass is always better than a good cemra which will be outdated before you know it. So I have voted for the 28-135.

But please do indeed consider the XTi with Tamron 17-50 f2.8 or the new and improved canon 18-55IS or some primes.

 

[randomlinh]

I'd say throw in an 85 f/1.8 as the lens, on a used 30D With active things you need to shoot, I don't see either lens choice you have listed as being very viable. Ok, workable, but the 85 is sooo nice and fast. I voted on the 30D for the slight speed advantage, but if budgets came to push or shove, hell, get a used XTi, and thow on the 85

 

[JulesMaximus]

30D hands down. It's a much better camera than the XTi.

You have a decent, fast prime and the lens you are considering with the XTi isn't markedly better than the kit lens IMO. I'd get the 30D and start saving for some better lenses.

 

[alfa147x]

today i was down at frys and OMG i loved how the 30d felt in my hand compared to the XTi

 

[alfa147x]

The 30d wins hands down compared to the XTI IMO

 

[cparker]

The 30d would be better for sports with a faster frame rate. But won't do you much good for sports or dances, I would think with the 18-55 "kit" lens although the 1.8 50 would be fast enough. Your best bet would be to pick up the xti (or save even more with an xt) and go for another fast prime or two. The 85 1.8 should be great and if you need wide angle you could go for the 35 2.0. Or maybe just jump for a 100 fast prime either 2.0 or the 2.8 macro. Having the 30d body with slow glass will only frustrate you unless you can use an external flash or shoot in daylight. And lenses are much better investments than digital bodies as they hardly depreciate at all while the bodies drop in value pretty rapidly.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'd get a cheap Rebel XT myself, and spend the extra money on better (f/2.8 or better) lenses.

 

[Kelvrick]

Downgrade to something like a 20d and see if you can scrounge a bit more and get a sigma or tamron 18-50 2.8. You're on a crop body, the 50 will be very hard for you to effectively use indoors so I say sell it unless you plan on doing portraits in a more controlled setting.

 

[alfa147x]

Well its over I just bought the 30d NEW with the 18 -55 lens

Im planning on selling my phone for the 28 - 135

Thanks for the Help!!!!

 

[punchkin]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
Well its over I just bought the 30d NEW with the 18 -55 lens

Im planning on selling my phone for the 28 - 135

Thanks for the Help!!!!

Awesome choice. You will be able to take shots in lower light than you would have with the XTi, use a bit faster shutter speed for sports in low light, etc.