Which lens should I buy?

[r3ngels]

My DH and I are buying a camera for Christmas... we are either getting the Canon XTI or XSI... and we are thinking of buying the body only and a lens.

A friend on mine has the Tamron 18-200 and loves it. She said she keeps it on and is so happy she doesn't have to change lenses.

My FIL said don't get the lens because it doesn't have IS... get either Canon or Stigma.

What do you guys think? Is IS a must have? Do you agree with buying body only?

Any other tips?

Thanks

 

[annnewjerz]

I don't have the Tamron 18-200, but I do have the Nikon 18-200 VR (Nikon's version of IS) and I can definitely say that if you can swing the extra cost for an IS lens, go for it. From what I hear, it makes a significant difference, especially at the longer range of the lens.

Good luck!

 

[Frantasmic]

I've found this site pretty good for reviews and such.

See the recommendations at the bottom of the site for the lens recommendations.

This site does tend to go toward high end lens, but there are several good lenses he recommends.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

 

[MICKEY88]

is IS a must have...no, photographers managed fine for years without it,

is it nice to have... depends on what type of photography you are going to do.. sports or action photography, IS doesn't help..

it's basically to eliminate camera shake while shooting stationary objects,


there is also the option of Sony or Pentax, they build the IS into the camera rather than the lens..

 

[jfinke]

The easy way to think about IS is to think of it as a mobile tripod. It basically helps get sharper images by extending the amount of time you can handhold a shot.

As a previous poster mentioned, it won't help when you are concerned about capturing faster subjects. For that, you need a lens with a wider aperture.

 

[DizzyV6P]

Catch all lenses like the 18-200 are never great lenses in my opinion. They almost always tend to be soft at the upper end. If you really want some sort of image stabilization and really want a lense you never want to take off, then look at the Sigma 18-200 OS

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/485226-REG/Sigma_888_101_18_200mm_f_3_5_6_3_DC_OS.html

It's gotten decent reviews and does give you that image stabilization at a not so outrageous price.

You'll have to think about what exactly you are taking pictures of. The XSi kits come w/ the newer 18-55 IS lens that has decent IQ (image quality) and is a good starter lense. You can also find packages (Costco) for around $850 that also include the 50-250 IS lens. Those two lenses will cover most regular consumer needs. As your skill increases, you can then start thinking about getting other lenses. A regular lens to get is the Canon 50 f/1.8. At around $80, its a great value and also gives you decent low-light ability.

 

[KCmike]

The XTI at my local Office Depot was $399 and it included the 15-55IS lens.

 

[dpic]

If you're just starting out there's nothing wrong with a good basic lens. The 18-55 is a decent "kit" lens (means you can buy it with the body as a package). I like that it is much wider than the 55-250mm. With a 1.6x crop camera (meaning you'll need to multiply the actual lens focal length by 1.6 to get the working focal length), 55 really isn't wide enough. You'll find you won't be able to take group shots in small rooms because you won't be able to move back far enough. At some point, you'll probably want a longer telephoto, and there are reasonable options for that.

What I would get is a couple more memory cards and an extra batter. Buy the batteries off Ebay--plenty of good deals there. I spend about $6-9 for an extra batter, and they work fine.

Edit: All my lenses--save for my Sigma 10-20mm--have IS. Yes, IS is very handy. It helps a lot, but it isn't a substitute for good technique. IS is becoming nearly standard anymore. There's no reason not to have it, so go for it. Just remember, it will only give you a chance at a better photo--it's not a miracle worker.

 

[michellem1118]

I got an XSi as a (very early) Christmas gift from my parents, purchased from B&H online, with the 18-55mm IS kit lens *and* the 55-250mm IS lens. So far, both lenses have been excellent for the types of things I've been taking pictures of, but I've really just been trying to learn the camera. I'll definitely be adding the 50mm f1.8 lens soon.

As for buying body only... with the XTi & XSi, you're likely going to find that it's a bit cheaper to get a kit (the kit I got, with both lenses, was under $800 - all purchased separately would run nearly $1000 if purchased from the same place), and then to invest in some better lenses once you figure out exactly how the camera works and what you're most likely to take pictures of. As an aside, the 55-250mm IS lens was one of the top-rated lenses by a Canon-specific photography magazine published in the UK.