Must Haves / Shopping list

[Mickee]

Hello all.

Awhile back I came to you for advice on a camera.
Uncle Sam took my new camera away on April 15th, but since have saved for
a new camera.

I was leaning toward the XT at that time and am now leaning more to the 30D.

Please put a shopping list together for me on what I would need to start out.

As far as lens, I want to to put in the bag an 85mm f1.8 for some indoor kid sports. Still have not decided on an all around lens, but feel I want to stay in the Canon family with the lenses.
As far as picture taking, we are going on a cruise in a few months....
your basic pics of family..etc..etc.
Suggestions would be helpful.
For an all around lens I was thinking of $500.00 as a budget +
the accessories.

Thank you.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

All-around lens: Sigma 18-125, about $350 -- Canon doesn't have an all-around lens... yet. When it's released, it's going to be around $800 but with IS. If you HAVE to have it NOW, I strongly recommend Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS. It's $1,200 but to me it's worth every penny.

Sports lens: I've never had any problem with my 70-200 f/2.8L IS. Not only it gives you flexibility that a fixed lens can't do, with ISO 1600 I can easily get 1/800 to 1/1000 shutter speed anyway.

 

[Mickee]

Thx Kelly on the idea for lenses,
How about must haves for the bag outside of the lenses?????

 

[mhutchinson]

My favorite walk around is the Canon 28-135 IS USM (yes Canon makes dozens of lenses ), although I prefer the slightly better build of my Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS, I find that I prefer the added range over the wide for a walk around. I keep a 24mm prime for those moments, or just take a couple steps back. My light weight zoom I use most is the Canon 70-200 f/4 L, seems to work well for most everything I need (except birds). And the kit lens is a bargain with really good results for the price.

Before buying the Sigma, see if you can try it out. I found the two copies I had a little slower to focus than the Canon, slightly noisier, and had to open them up a couple stops below 26mm to get shaper pictures. You might also want to define what you are hoping to gain with the lens. A general purpose at Disney vs a lens for bird watching vs a lens for landscapes will all yield a different range.

When I use either the 24-105 or 28-135, I can the camera (20D) with lens attached into a LowePro AW Nova 1 (Nova 2 would have been a better choice). If I grab a couple of wide zooms I will use my LowePro AW Nova 3. I like the built in weather cover and they have held up well for me as well. Best bet with a bag is to find some place you play around with the different ones that are stocked (same as tripods...but that is a different topic).

Mike

 

[spoon2003]

Since I'm new with DSLR, can't give you any lens help. But I would suggest extra battery, extra memory, a good strap, and depends on how you carry your camera, a op/tech soft pouch or zing pouch. Now for the cruise, I don't know if there is a waterproof case for the 30D, but that would be a great add on. I was tired of getting murky underwater shots and I bought a waterproof case of my digital elph, worth the cost.

Sue from Boston

 

[Wiggle]

Definitely get a filter for each lens to protect the glass.