Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[Anewman]

Hi, can some of you pros tell me which lens would be most appropriate for the Canon XTI digital rebel when shooting sports?

Depends on specific sports(and level) and BUDGET.

Just dont want to scare you.

 

[Miss Kelly]

70-200L IS f/2.8 Price ~$1600

 

[Groucho]

I'll be honest - the first month or so after purchasing the XTi, I was having buyers remorse because it seemed my pictures from the XTI were worse than from my P&S. But I realized it was all operator error, and sat down and did lots and lots of reading.

That's another thing that's both good and bad about DSLRs...

If you're getting bad results, it's almost certainly the fault of the photographer, not the camera - even if you use cheap lenses, any DSLR is capable of producing high-quality photos. The good part is that you don't need to upgrade your camera body in search of better quality; the bad part is that you have no one but yourself to blame for lousy photos.

 

[Master Mason]

70-200L IS f/2.8 Price ~$1600

Actually the IS does not help you with sports, it won't stop a moving subject, will just let you go to a slower shutter speed hand held, which will cause blurry pictures in sports anyway.

I have the 70-200 f/2.8L non IS version that I have used for baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling, has been great. And about 500 less than the IS version.

If the cannon version is out of the budget check the sigma 70-200 f/2.8 there are a couple of different versions so be carefull which one you would get though.

The big thing is get the 2.8 so you can keep you shutter speed fast enough to freeze the action.

 

[Michele]

Actually the IS does not help you with sports, it won't stop a moving subject, will just let you go to a slower shutter speed hand held, which will cause blurry pictures in sports anyway.

I have the 70-200 f/2.8L non IS version that I have used for baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling, has been great. And about 500 less than the IS version.

If the cannon version is out of the budget check the sigma 70-200 f/2.8 there are a couple of different versions so be carefull which one you would get though.

The big thing is get the 2.8 so you can keep you shutter speed fast enough to freeze the action.

Can you elaborate on the Sigma different versions and which one would be a good one?

Thanks, I am looking for a lens in this range also.

 

[Anewman]

Can you elaborate on the Sigma different versions and which one would be a good one?

Thanks, I am looking for a lens in this range also.

The newest version is the APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG MACRO HSM(introduced in Early 2006).

Some of the older versions may lack the "macro" abilities and/or the DG coating and/or the HSM(faster focusing).

The version before the current one was APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG / HSM(lacks Macro) and was introduced in mid 2005.

Not that Macro would help with sports shots, but it gives you an indication of the lenses actual age. If you buy new from a reputable dealer it is not an issue, but if buying used from EBAY many times they mislabel these lenses so look for actual images of the lens being sold.

The current DG MACRO version is $829 from Beachcamera(no tax free shipping).

 

[mikamah]

I'll be honest - the first month or so after purchasing the XTi, I was having buyers remorse because it seemed my pictures from the XTI were worse than from my P&S. But I realized it was all operator error, and sat down and did lots and lots of reading. The great thing about digital is that you can practice to your hearts content and instantly see the results

.
I have had mine for just 6 weeks, and have only had p&s cameras before. I felt exactly like this, but I'm getting better at it. Wanting a longer zoom lens for my son in sports is what got me looking and I figured even though it is way more than I know what to do with, I can learn. Petersons book Understanding Exposure is great and very easy to understand. I've been playing around with the settings and will try a manual setting and then turn to auto and take the same pic and compare. So far, outside in bright light, the auto takes better than I do.
I absolutely love the speed of it, and with your 2 year old, you will too. P&S cameras are sooo much slower.
Enjoy it. You'll get some awesome pics.

 

[KatInHat]

I am shopping for my first slr camera and can't decide between the
canon rebel xti and the nikon d40x. Any advise?? Thank you.

 

[ukcatfan]

If those were the only choices, it would be the XTi due to the D40x not having a focus motor. Until Nikon makes a cheap 50mm wide aperture prime that has its own focus motor, the D40 series is out IMO. I personally would go with the K10D at this level though.

Kevin

 

[KrazyPete]

If those were the only choices, it would be the XTi due to the D40x not having a focus motor.

But then again, the XTi doesn't have a spot meter.

 

[ukcatfan]

But then again, the XTi doesn't have a spot meter.

This is true and I do use my spot metering fairly often, but I would rather go without that to get to use more lenses with AF. More the reason to go for a K10D.

KatInHat, have you considered the K100D or the XT? Both are pretty good deals right now and not all that much less in features compared to your original selection.

Kevin

 

[jann1033]

both the xti and d40 were listed as editors picks for 2007
http://www.popphoto.com/americanphotofeatures/4240/editors-choice-2007.html
as far as the spot meter goes the xt( and i think xti) does have a partial metering mode( think it's something like 9% of the area for partial rather than 3% for spot)which is what i have been using

 

[KatInHat]

Thank you so much for your advise. I have never considered the K100d or Xt but I will check them out today.
From what I have read/been told the Nikon D40 does not have the af lens but the D40x (newer version) does come with the af lens.

 

[YEKCIM]

Thank you so much for your advise. I have never considered the K100d or Xt but I will check them out today.
From what I have read/been told the Nikon D40 does not have the af lens but the D40x (newer version) does come with the af lens.

What neither the D40 nor the D40x have is an in-body focus motor. They will only AF with lenses made by Nikon or 3rd party manufacturers that have the AF motor *in the lens*. The 50mm lens issue seems to be the deal breaker for most people. The 50mm is a very sharp, very fast, very inexpensive lens for low-light situations, but it does not have a focus motor. The 50mm *will* focus on a D40/D40X, but it will not autofocus. If you don't see yourself wanting/needing the capability the 50mm offers, you may well be fine with the D40/D40X. I have the D50 and lenses (see sig below) and, while I use the 50mm some, it's not one I rely on on a regular basis. I'd be handicapped w/o it, in some situations, but most of the time, I'd never miss it, since the three other lenses are AF-S (in-lens focus motor) and would work fine with the D40/D40X. The D80, btw, has the in-body focus motor, and is a fine camera, too, plus it has come down a little in price ($1120 online, with the 18-135 "superkit" lens). As others have mentioned, I'd give some consideration to the Pentax line, as well.

Let me add, too, that you should (IMO) consider the lenses available for each camera you are considering, at least as much as the camera itself...maybe more. There are differences in lens lineups between manufacturers, and you may find that one or two lenses may drive your decision as much, or more than, the camera body.

~YEKCIM

 

[Suzann]

Bumping

 

[dpuck1998]

If I can put in a request. If possible can you include any camera info about your pics? ISO/f-stop/lens/etc...

I'll post a few as soon as I grab them

 

[dpuck1998]

fireworks from the beach in South Haven. 70-300 lens. Don't have the raw so I don't know the other info. I wasn't taken in RAW at this point. Camera was only a week old.

edit: downloaded panda iexif program and can get exif info now!

Above photo is: 2", f5.6, ISO200, 55mm (I didn't even know which lens I was using apparently)

 

[dpuck1998]

Location should be obvious 1/60, f5.6, 800, 18mm

Hershey Park, Kit lens, 1/250, f11, 400, 27mm

Hershey Gardens, Kit lens, 1/500, f16, 1600, 55mm

 

[Suzann]

On the more info on your shot, it says Device model: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI
Color space: RGB
Focal Length: 55
Exposure time: 2

 

[cpbjgc]

Some very nice shots, dpuck1998. I especially like the composition in the Lincoln memorial shot and the sharp butterlfy!

Keep them coming .