Sigma lens Rebel XT question

[Sirius]

I'm new to this. Can you tell? I think this lens:

Sigma 70-300 mm F4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens - EF mount

will work with a Rebel XT.

Am I right? And is this a good a multipurpose lens?

Thanks!

 

[DemonLlama]

I'm sure the real photogs will have a better answer for you, but from what little I've learned, an all around should have a range closer to 18 or 28 mm so you can fit things and people into shots without having to move back 20 feet to do so (presuming you could).


The other end, the 300mm zoom is going to be a problem without IS or a tripod. Great reach, but very hard not to end up with blurs.

 

[Anewman]

I agree with DemonLlama, it is not exactly a multi purpose lens. It is a TELEPHOTO ZOOM, good for distant subjects on a bright day. Anything else and it is not the first choice.


And yes since 300mm gives you the equiv. 480mm on the XT, you would need to keep the shutter speed faster than 1/500 to help avoid blur. Obviously you need a good amount of light to keep the shutter speed that fast.

 

[Master Mason]

Drop back to the 18-125 sigma and you have a great walk around lens... IMO

 

[carolina_yankee]

If you want the reach of a 70-300, I strongly recommend the Canon 70-300 with Image Stabilization. It's a great lens that gets good reviews from serious amateur photographers. However, it will cost in the $500 range.

I use the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 as my walk-around lens. It is sharp, takes great shots in low-light settings, and covers a reasonbly good range for a very reasonable price. Occasionally, i want something a little bit wider, so I step back a little. No big deal.

For a digital - normal range is roughly 18-70, which is covered in a variety of ways. The XT kits lens cover 18-55, so if you have that, I'd look at adding in other areas, first. The 17-85 with Imagine Stabilization from Canon is also very popular, but it is also pricey.

There are always trade-offs between price and quality, but the only wrong lens is the one that doesn't do what you want it do! In this case, I think the question is how much reach do you want and do you ahve other lenses to cover the wider angle. However, it won't be a good walk-around lens.

Dirk