Rebel XT with 17-85mm/ How to purchase?

[AMaloy314]

Now that I know what to buy, the question becomes how to buy it. I'd like to get a Rebel XT 350D with a 17-85mm lens.

Is it better to buy it all together for one price or should I try to get the body and lens separately? Is a Sigma or Tamron lens compatible? Is it going to be less expensive? I know there is something to be said for buying a package deal, but am I missing out by doing that?

I know that I will need to purchase a bigger memory card. Any recommendations out there on this? Is one brand better than another?

How about other extras? UV filter? Extra battery? Anything that I really shouldn't do without?

Thanks for the help!
A

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I really vote against 17-85 IS. Super Chromatic Abberation and Vignetting from 17-24 visible even on a 4x6 print. This lens is horrid. I'd take Sigma 18-200 (which is worse than my Sigma 18-125) anyday. BTW, Sigma 18-125 is about 50% the price of Canon 17-85 IS.

UV filter is needed not for protection against UV but more to protect the lens element itself. Extra battery? Unless you shoot like there is no tomorrow, one battery should last you for a full day (approx 200 shots, about 50% with fill-in flash, or 150 shots with 25% fill-in flash + 25% full-force flash).

No need to buy original Canon original rechargeable battery. Go to Sterlingtek and buy the battery from them. It's about 30% the price of original Canon.

 

[AMaloy314]

"I'd take Sigma 18-200 (which is worse than my Sigma 18-125) any day."


Worse in what way?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Sigma 18-200 has slightly more Colour Abberation and Distortion than its 18-125 counterpart, but stil far better than Canon 17-85 at 17-24 range.

 

[boBQuincy]

I'll play Devil's advocate here, I wouldn't buy the Canon 17-85 based on test reports but one of my associates has the lens and the images look a lot better than the tests would indicate.
One of the few websites I trust and believe, The Luminous Landscape, also had the same reservations but rated the lens highly after using one for awhile. It *is* expensive and not very fast and only fits the 1.6x cameras so I am still not interested in it.

As for batteries, I have one third party battery but now would only buy the official factory batteries. They are way overpriced *but* if one goes bad and destroys your camera there is no way the manufacturer will stand behind it with an aftermarket battery.
Most battery problems in cell phones and laptops are with aftermarket batteries, they are not always made to the same standards as the factory batteries and we have no way of knowing which is good and which is not so good without taking some apart.
The savings may be worth it but I don't care to take the chance.

I don't disagree with some of the other opinions, this is just another viewpoint


boB