Eep! I'm about to take the plunge -- does this kit look good?

[DemonLlama]

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNACKD42

Added to the Rebel XT body, I'm thinking this kit looks good.

It's not the 18-125 and I'd be sacrificing that 18-28 range, but I'd have up to 300 that I wouldn't have when I need it.

Anyone have any good or bad experiences with the Tamron 28-80 and 75-300?

Does the kit as a whole look like a good set for a fair price?

Sorry for all the questions, but for us this is a big investment and I won't have the extra cash to buy more lenses for awhile.

I've done the shopping cart comparison at a lot of places and, of those that carry the Sigma 18-125, the price of the two Tamron lens kit above is about equal.

Just the XT and the Sigma lens:
B&H 921.40
Sigma4Less 912.08
J&R 938.99


But the two lens and all the extras at Beach with the XT = 935.34

What would you do?

Thanks!

 

[handicap18]

What about the 18-55mm kit lens teamed with a Sigma or Tamron 70-300 or a Sigma or Tamron 28-300? You'd most likely use the 28-300 the most, but the 18-55mm lens will give you the wide angle. Especially good (I've found) for indoor pictures of family events. My personal opinion is that on a digital SLR 28mm is not wide enough. If you have smaller rooms in your house and your trying to take pics with a bunch of people in it then the 28 might not be wide enough (this is just one example).

Its said the the human eye sees at the equilivent of 50mm on a film slr. A 28mm on a dSLR with the crop factor is the equilivent of 45mm on a Canon film SLR. So there's no wide angle at all.

 

[jann1033]

just mho but when i first got a slr (film)i had a 28-80mm( kind of like a 18-55 for the small sensor rebel xt) and a 100-300mm ( what ever that would work out in small sensor i don't know) and i hated having to change lens all the time. if it were me i 'd get an all around type lens ( depending on your pocket, i really like my 28-135 IS and rarely miss the lower end but i dont' use it like handicap does,I rarely take large groups in side, or you could get the 18-125, there was a tamron ?-??mm someone recommended but don't know how much that is)any way something with a little range) then maybe get something to add on after you see how you are shooting. you might like wide angle alot or zoom or maybe macro then you can tailor your next lens to what ever you like..just remember with digital the more you change the lens the more gunk you can get on the sensor( at least that's what friendly neighborhood camera guy told me ) so you don't want to change ever pic you take.

i still find it really annoying to turn off the camera, get out the new lens, change the caps, put the new lens on , put the old lens away, turn the camera on THEN and only then take the picture so those 2 lens might drive me nuts

if you end up getting the 18-55( i did just in case i ever want it) there are tons on ebay, i got one that looks like it was never used for $60. i think lots get it with the body, then buy a bigger zoom and it never sees the light of day again i picked it up just incase i wanted the 18-28 spot i was missing and was on the edge of a cliff and couldn't back up

 

[JR6ooo4]

I can not comment on lenses other than four canon lenses.
THe kit lens can do a very good job (with much light) It needs to shoot at about f8-f11 and that will cause a long shutter speed unless there is alot of light.

I have the
canon 50mm f1.8 for $80 US
canon 28-135 IS (I use the zoom more than the wide end, but do need wider sometimes)
and the 70-300 IS
the two IS lenses are in the $400 and $600 something range


as for the kit stuff they are including. Usualy the quality is low.


2 GB Compact Flash Memory Card
the card shown is a slow speed. Look for ultra II or ultra III, about 80x speed is good for jpeg burst


21-IN-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader
$50 is way too much. $15 to $35 for a good one

check out more review sites for info on the lenses
steves digicams
www.dpreview.com


800mAh Replacement Battery for Canon NB-2L
BP-2LCL
Our Price: $39.95
I got two batts and an AC/DC charger for $50 from sterlingtek.com NO problems with the batts from many commenters here (was that english)



58mm Multicoated UV Protective Filter
58mm UV filter - Protects your lens from all dust, dirt, scratches and fingerprints. This basic clear glass filter is a must for every lens. You never take it off the lens. If you scratch or break the filter, you can easily replace it, save the lens!
Our Price: $19.99
Bleghhh!!! Cheap glass will ruin a shot, but so will scratches! It is real nice to have a filter when letting friends look at or use the cam. Again a little more research to find out how good this model is. I good clue is:
If they do not tell you who made it, it may be because they are not proud of it.


62mm Multicoated UV Protective Filter
same



Deluxe SLR Holster Case - DP400
does not look like it will hold both lenses at one time!
try lowepro, tamrac, crumpler etc... for the same prices. $15 to $60 and you can pick the size, color etc...


Digital Camera and Camcorder Screen Protectors for LCD's up to 3.8 inches
Everyone gets them for their first cam. I have never scratched an LCD and you don't use it for exposure or framing so it is not realy neccessary. The histogram tells you exposure. Use the lcd to check focus



3pc. Lens Cleaning Kit
this will probably work fine.

Hope that helps some. IF you would like more help finding lens reviews or anything else let me know.
Mikeeee

 

[jk120]

Tamron 28-80 and 75-300

Both of these lenses are designed for the 35mm film cameras, they can be used on the rebel xt

The 28-80 equates on the xt as a 44.8-128mm
The 75-300 equates on the xt as a 120-480mm

They are considered comsumer grade lenses with variable apertures, for the general users this would be fine, but if you are interested in wide angles or low light photography, I would not recommend these lenses

I hope this helps

Jeff

 

[carolina_yankee]

The kit looks good at first glance, but once I poured through all the items, there's very little I would have willingly bought. I don't like the lenses at all - they're inexpensive - but that's it. I'd just get the XT with the 18-55 kit lens, and then see what to add based on my needs.

First, I added the 50/1.8, then the EF 70-300 IS (great lens!).
I've now replaced my 18-55 with the Tamron 28-75/2.8. This is a great lens with constant 2.8 aperture. The only deficit is the wide end, but I plan on getting a 10-20, 12-24, or 10-22 to supplement that. I don't mind changing lenses, that's why I got the SLR to begin with, but I do think my goals through more carefully now so I'm not hauling everything around for every shoot!!

In my reading and listening, I've learned that you get what you pay for. Few lenses are perfect, but many are really frustrating. These two websites have good lens reviews to help you at least avoid the frustrating lenses:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

Dirk

 

[JR6ooo4]

I don't mind changing lenses, that's why I got the SLR to begin with, but I do think my goals through more carefully now so I'm not hauling everything around for every shoot!!

Dirk

My overlap seems to help

28-135 IS
70-300 IS

The shorty has a little reach and the tele has a little wide. Using my feet (when available) helps to keep from changing lenses some.

MIkeeee

 

[carolina_yankee]

My overlap seems to help

28-135 IS
70-300 IS

The shorty has a little reach and the tele has a little wide. Using my feet (when available) helps to keep from changing lenses some.

MIkeeee

that is nice overlap. How do you like the 18-135? I've heard conflicting reports of it - though I guess it's the photographer that makes the lens. Ultimately, I went for the Tamron 28-75 because of the constant 2.8 - couldn't give that up.

Feet are good at zooming and closeups, too - but I love that pics I can take across the lagoon in Epcot using the 70-300 IS. I get views I never would have gotten otherwise, since I can't walk on water!!

Dirk

 

[JR6ooo4]

that is nice overlap. How do you like the 18-135? I've heard conflicting reports of it - though I guess it's the photographer that makes the lens. Ultimately, I went for the Tamron 28-75 because of the constant 2.8 - couldn't give that up.

Feet are good at zooming and closeups, too - but I love that pics I can take across the lagoon in Epcot using the 70-300 IS. I get views I never would have gotten otherwise, since I can't walk on water!!

Dirk

'tell me about it. I was shooting across the long length of a soccer field with the 70-300 and sometimes did not need a crop!

Mikeeee

Oh, I have the old 28-135 IS, single IS mode only... not the newer 18-?

 

[DemonLlama]

Thank you thank you thank you.

Basically, I've got a $900 budget. So you can see I've already gone over by $20-$30 with just the body and sigma lens before it hits me, thanks to all your suggestions, that I don't have a memory card, case, or anything else included.

Oy.

This morning I'm wondering if I should just get the 18-55 kit and shop around for a good memory card and bag for now.

Let's face it, I've been using a 3 yr old Kodak EasyShare 5Mp, so ANY lens is going to be a monster step up.

Questions:
If I end up wanting to zoom beyond the 55mm, how distorted will a crop that pulls it in to 100mm be?

 

[jann1033]

this is a reject since i must have had the focus towards her mouth instead of eys but for illustration purposes...
the full one was shot at 50mm, not sure what the top would be cropped but i've taken a tiny part of a pic and not had a problem

the 18-55 is not a bad lens...some have posted some really good photos from it...it certainly is better than my old sigma 28-80 that came with the film eos ... really though check out ebay for it if money is an issue and you can buy a card or 2 for the money you saved

 

[carolina_yankee]

DemonLama (great avatatar!): For your budget, try this combination from B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=457233&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Total cost for camera, 18-55 lens, and 1gb ultra III Card, $806.95. I think that's a very good price, and B&H generally can't be beat for customer service and quality. (You can't order until after sundown tonight, though - they even shut down the ordering system for the sabbath!).

With shipping, you should still be able to add a decent camera bag or buy a second battery. Personally, I wouldn't buy a bag until I had looked it over, so that's probably better to buy locally anyway.

Given that this is a step up for you, this will keep you happy for quite awhile. Just shoot in RAW or large jpeg mode if you want to do crops, and be careful of where you focus, as alluded to in the previous post.

You can then research what lens you want to add to your system, and then get the Christmas list going!!

Dirk

 

[jann1033]

not that you have asked but with the money you save ( )the canon backpack is really nice and between $30-45 depending where you get it... i can't believe it holds all it does, is sturdy and really nice...i wish i had bought it 4 bags ago and saved myself some $$$. husband, my official pack mule, says it 's comfy as can be.( he can carry it even with my 2 ton tripod attached, when i really can't even lift it, he says easily)

 

[DemonLlama]

I think with a single lens on the camera, I'm leaning toward one of the top loading holster types I can belt on. I've been looking at a few on eBay by Lowepro, Tamrac, and M-Rock.

But I have to stop myself, since I don't yet have the camera, why am I bag shopping??

I've lost my mind!!!