lens questions for rebel xt

[eric's reef]

alright, i've been given permission by my wife to buy a new lens.

I have a sigma 18-125 3.5/5.6 now and indoor photos appear to be a little amber. I have changed the white ballance to tungsten lighting and still off. Now if i use the on camera flash the pictures seem washed out or just blah and lifeless.

Now i am looking at getting a canon 24-70 2.8L
OR
canon 17-55 2.8 IS

My main use for these will be general walk around lens and indoor, outdoor shots of my 6yr old.

I also want something pretty fast when i go to the aquariums and zoo for indoor shots. For this i was thinking about getting
1) canon 28mm 1.8
2) canon 50mm 1.8
3) ? please give suggestions
4) If I get the 17-55, Will I need a fast, wider lens for low light close shots?
Thanks for your input eric

 

[BlueCorn]

The 24-70 is an awesome lens but it is big and heavy so you should keep that in mind.

 

[eric's reef]

will a battery grip make the 24-70 more managable on the xt?

 

[BlueCorn]

Yes - IMO it helps a great deal.

 

[zenya]

Now i am looking at getting a canon 24-70 2.8L
OR
canon 17-55 2.8 IS

Aside from the weight, like Doug had mentioned already, you should consider differences in the mount of this two lenses.
17-55 IS is an EF-S lens and is a wonderfull piece of glass, 24-70 is in a different class altogether I think. One of the lenses on my wish list...

 

[Frisco]

the 24-70 really is a massive lens and not something I'd want as my primary lens due to the size. Do you really need f/2.8 or can you settle for a f/4? If so, how about the 24-105 f/4L IS? A guy I know picked up one and it's a pretty nice lens.

 

[eric's reef]

I was thinking I needed the 2.8 due to the amber look of the pictures. It might be my ignorace with the camera though. eric

 

[ReelBigFish]

Ok, first off there is no one lens for all applications. You will need to decide what is more important to you...portraits of your 6 year old, macros of your stuff, or group shots. Here are my thoughts and reccommendations:

1. Macro and portraits: Canon EFS 60mm Macro (Remember you have a crop factor of 1.6 so...60x1.6 = 96mm...your focal length will be equivalent to 96mm on a full frame digital or film camera.)

2. Close up Macro most fun per dollar lens: Canon EF 100mm Macro. A better macro lens that will allow you to get up closer to your tank inhabitants as well as act as a medium telephoto portrait lens. Very slow focusing due to finer teeth for macro uses.

3. Canon EFS 17-55 2.8 IS: Will be good for low light hand holding situations. Only compatible with the Rebel, 20D, 30D, and XTI bodies (if you upgrade later, it will not work on larger pro bodies). Probably your best bet if you can only pick one.

For what you're going to be doing with the camera, I don't see a need (as for now) for anything other than the above three. Fixed focal length lenses offer razor sharp images but zooms offer the convenience of well...the zoom range. The 50mm 1.8 you mentioned will be too long for your if you're shooting indoors. I'd suggest you look into a 28 1.8 USM for low light action indoors when space is a concern.

 

[intenseimage]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=284399&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

 

[BlueCorn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8404843#post8404843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eric's reef
I was thinking I needed the 2.8 due to the amber look of the pictures. It might be my ignorace with the camera though. eric

The "amber" look to pictures is because your white balance isn't set right. It doesn't matter if you're at f/1.4 or 32