Canon 550D (Rebel T2i, Kiss X4)

[mom2rtk]

tough call, the xsi is a solid intro to dslr camera...but the t2i is pretty much the same thing, just with expanded features. for the money, it might be better just to save up some extra cash and get the canon 7d. either way, the T2i is a good camera, but for the money - i dont think its worth the jump from the Xsi. plus the 7d has ISO of 100-6400 which is expandable to 12,800. which is fairly awesome.

This was actually one of my concerns. I just don't know if I'd be able to get that much together any time soon. The T2i was sort of stretching it.....

There are some great deals on the T2i out tere right now. I'd do it.

I had never priced it, but looked it up on B & H and it was around $760. I just looked again and it's $725! (body only). Anyone seen anything better than this?

 

[dpmfloyd]

This was actually one of my concerns. I just don't know if I'd be able to get that much together any time soon. The T2i was sort of stretching it.....



I had never priced it, but looked it up on B & H and it was around $760. I just looked again and it's $725! (body only). Anyone seen anything better than this?

$725 is REALLY good, especially since its the newest model. If the T2i is a stretch, check out the older model the T1i. The differences are few, the main one being the FPS in HD video was upgraded. I have the T1i and i LOVE it. Good Luck!!

 

[photo_chick]

Whether or not it's worth it is really something only you can answer. You'd be getting better ISO performance, better AF system and video with the T2i. Is that worth the cost to you?

Yes, the higher ISO settings are usable. I have the 50D and I'd put it's ISO 6400 on par with ISO 1600 on my Rebel XT. And the T2i has better noise performance than my 50D, with 6400 being in the regular range and not "extended".

 

[bob100]

I've been happy with my Xsi, but it's limited to 1600 ISO. But I keep daydreaming about having a higher usable ISO. I know the T2i goes higher. How much of it is really usable? I know the T2i has video, which I might use and enjoy, but would not upgrade just for that. So is it worth it to upgrade?

I don't think it would be worth it if you didn't need the video but sometimes "upgrade fever" can strike when you least expect it!

 

[WDWFigment]

For a deal on it, search SD for "T2i." Many great discounts on packages. Might require reselling what you don't need on CL or eBay, but even after fees, body-only should be around $500, if I recall correctly.

 

[johamna]

Here's a (handheld) 1600 ISO shot from my T2i:

Tomorrow land at Night by So Much Hamilton, on Flickr

 

[Cinbride]

I'm back. I've been playing around teaching myself more and more. Someday I hope to try some of the assignments. Anyways, I have been asked by a relative to take their Christmas pictures. They have seen the photos I have taken. I always tell them I don't promise anything but me trying. So, now that I've played with the camera, I want to get another lens. Since I will be doing their pics I would like to get it before. I want to get a prime. Not sure which one for the camera body. I can spend a couple hundred right now and thats about it.

On a side note. I went from a sx10is to the t2i. WOW!! I didn't think I would see such a difference (I know it sounds crazy but hope you know what I mean) My kids eyes stand out now like nothing else. Even family asked if I got a new camera or lens bec/ of the quality of the pictures. While I'm learning things all the time and my pictures might not always turn out great, I'm having fun. IF I can take some nice pics of family/friends along the way great. They would go to the mall and I can't stand those places. Even my pics are better than the ones I've seen done there (I hope that doesn't insult anyone but all the ones I've seen and had done are pretty grainy)

thanks

 

[bob100]

I'm back. I've been playing around teaching myself more and more. Someday I hope to try some of the assignments. Anyways, I have been asked by a relative to take their Christmas pictures. They have seen the photos I have taken. I always tell them I don't promise anything but me trying. So, now that I've played with the camera, I want to get another lens. Since I will be doing their pics I would like to get it before. I want to get a prime. Not sure which one for the camera body. I can spend a couple hundred right now and thats about it.

On a side note. I went from a sx10is to the t2i. WOW!! I didn't think I would see such a difference (I know it sounds crazy but hope you know what I mean) My kids eyes stand out now like nothing else. Even family asked if I got a new camera or lens bec/ of the quality of the pictures. While I'm learning things all the time and my pictures might not always turn out great, I'm having fun. IF I can take some nice pics of family/friends along the way great. They would go to the mall and I can't stand those places. Even my pics are better than the ones I've seen done there (I hope that doesn't insult anyone but all the ones I've seen and had done are pretty grainy)

thanks

what lens do you own now? an external flash and the 18-55IS kit lens can produce great indoor pics. But if you want a prime then the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and Canon 50mm 1.8 are good inexpensive choices

 

[Cinbride]

yes, I have the kit. Those are the two I was mostly debating. I was wondering if they would work well esp on a cropped camera. I have a studio but hate messing with the lighting. I would prefer to do an outside shoot. Maybe we an old sled/ice skates/big snowflakes hanging from the tree? I would like to do it at the park or somewhere. Will anyone mind if I brought stuff and setup at a public park? Ideas anyone? A dog also will be in the pics. The guy is really tall so I'm think if I can find a pine tree have her on his shoulders putting a 'star' in the tree? IDK? Then I would like to get a close up w/ all 3 faces.

 

[photo_chick]

I like the 50mm f/1.8 but a lot of people find that it's not wide enough on a crop camera. Personally I've only encountered that problem once, and it was in a cave.

If you're setting up an organized shoot in a public place you might want to check and see if your city requires a permit. Some do, some don't.

 

[mabas9395]

If you will be outdoors the 50mm will be good bang for the buck but as noted it is not wide enough for indoor. The 30mm will be better for indoor (its next on my prime list). If you are doing single person head shots, the 85mm f/1.8 produces amazing photos.

 

[Cinbride]

Most always I will have a group of a couple people; couples/kids. There may be times I get just my one child in a shot. I love outdoor scenes woods/fields w/ vintage props. I do use a studio for some things, I'm not quite comfortable doing anyones pictures but my kids there yet. still trying to get the lighting right.

I may eventually get a different zoom lens that I will use most of the time. So the prime would just be for shoots. I'm thinking the 50mm. I know I've read alot of good things about that lens but does it really produce really good quality shots? While I won't be shooting near those I look up to, I definately would like to surpass the 'mall' shots. Nice quality pictures for people that would just go to the mall and get done. Does that make sense? I know it's not all about the lens and also about ability. Just asking I guess if you have a decent ability does the lens hold its own well. haha hope that you understand that

thanks

 

[photo_chick]

The 50mm f/1.8 is good above about f/2.8, and is very sharp when you're around f/8. It is softer wide open, as many lenses are. It is entry level glass though, with all the things that class implies.

In my experience it can be finicky to get the focus spot on. Most of the people I know who have picked it up have had some adjustment period before they were proficient with it.

 

[ukcatfan]

On a lens with a wide aperture like f/1.8, be careful to watch your DOF. It gets really small at those wide apertures.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Cinbride - I picked up the CanonT2i in April. I got both the 18 -55 and the 55 - 250 kit lens. I class myself as a beginner photographer and purchased the camera because DH used to have a SLR, our P&S, whilst good, was getting old and it really was time to upgrade and jump into the dSLR field. The camera was originally supposed to be predominantly for DH; but it's become mine now.

I recently (as in the last 10 days) purchased the 50 mm/f1.8 prime lens. I got out in my garden to try it out. These shots may provide you with a comparison as to whether it is a lens worth considering.

This shot was taken on the 18 - 55 kit lens for comparison purposes. Camera was set in AV mode.

55mm, ISO100, f/5.6, 1/160

Here are my first 4 shots on the prime 50 mm lens. I wish I could say that I was clever enough to set the camera up on a tripod to take these shots for a better comparison....but I'm too impatient for that. I know that I did play with one step back/forward for some of this.

50 mm, ISO100, f/5.6, 1/125

50 mm, ISO100, f/2.8, 1/500

50 mm, ISO100, f/1.8, 1/1250

50 mm, ISO100, f/1.8, 1/1000

Hope this helps.

 

[Cinbride]

On a lens with a wide aperture like f/1.8, be careful to watch your DOF. It gets really small at those wide apertures.

ukcatfan thanks I didn't even think about that. HMM. I wonder if I will be able to get my subjects and scene in the picture nicely? I take some close ups but take tons of shots w/ props and location in focus for the most part.


thanks for the pics. great shots. I looked on Amazon at the reviews and pictures and really do like what I saw. So, I guess my only concern would be the above. Should I be considering something else?

thanks, I love this place.

 

[ukcatfan]

ukcatfan thanks I didn't even think about that. HMM. I wonder if I will be able to get my subjects and scene in the picture nicely? I take some close ups but take tons of shots w/ props and location in focus for the most part.


thanks for the pics. great shots. I looked on Amazon at the reviews and pictures and really do like what I saw. So, I guess my only concern would be the above. Should I be considering something else?

thanks, I love this place.

If you want the subject and scene in focus, I don't think the 50mm is going to do much better than the kit. It might be a little bit sharper, but you are going to be at f/8 or smaller to do that, so the benefits of the prime start to diminish at that point.

Unless you are needing the extreme low light capabilities of the prime, you might be better suited to save up for a fast standard zoom (i.e. ~28-80mm f/2.8). I love my 50mm f/1.4, but I typically only use it in really low light situations.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Cinbride - I got the f/1.8 because a friend of mine asked me to take some shots at his wedding. I knew I would be able to get sufficient shots from the kit lenses but wanted something that could take shots in lower light conditions.

I do not want to post the shots of his wedding because I don't have his permission.

I can only provide my limited viewpoint of taking shots of people using this lens. As a beginner, I was taking a LOT more shots (playing with different f-stops and ISO settings) during the wedding with this lens so that I could get to know the lens and in order to get at least 2 or 3 decent shots per 'setting/pose'.

For me, I found that the best use of the lens was when I was focussing on about 2 or 3 people in a group and used them as the subject for composing the picture. If the background was then a little bit "fuzzy", it didn't matter.

I did take a couple of shots during the dinner of the general area/people. I think I was only happy with about 20% of these shots as there were times when the picture seemed completely out of focus. On reflection, I know this was because I didn't choose my subject properly and will try to do this differently next time.

As I've only had the lens for 2 weeks, I know I haven't yet mastered the use of this lens. But I do know that I love the pictures that have the subject properly centered.
For the rest of the shots, I'm trying to use them to see what I should do differently next time.

 

[bob100]

If you want the subject and scene in focus, I don't think the 50mm is going to do much better than the kit. It might be a little bit sharper, but you are going to be at f/8 or smaller to do that, so the benefits of the prime start to diminish at that point.

Unless you are needing the extreme low light capabilities of the prime, you might be better suited to save up for a fast standard zoom (i.e. ~28-80mm f/2.8). I love my 50mm f/1.4, but I typically only use it in really low light situations.

I'll agree, for a group pic the 17/18-50 zooms are more appropriate (with suitable lighting) but if you insist on a large aperture prime then the Sigma 30mm 1.4 is good

 

[DizzyV6P]

Why just a prime? There are plenty of good mid-zoom choices such as the following:

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 VC
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS

The 50 f/1.8 is not going to net you much better pics than your kit lens. If you are taking portrait type shots, you'll might want a flash such as a 430EX2 or 580EX2 for fill-in. If you want simple natural lighting, the kit lens will do fine. If you want great bang for the buck close portraits, the 85 f/1.8 is a good choice. Otherwise, the mid-zooms I mentioned first will give you the most versitility in replacing your kit lens.

You'll also want to make sure your focus point is in the center or the top depending on how you orient your camera. Taking portraits using all the focus points is a receipe for disaster.

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non-VC

Close-up

Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

Canon 50 f/1.8