need help with lense choice for rebel xt

[Dave954]

I mentioned what I would be photographing in my original post, which would basically be around the house, wife, daughter, pets,etc.along with using it at family functions and vacations. I had considered the 17-85 but it is more than I want to spend, I want to keep the lense at $400 or less. I have done some more research and there is basically only two other choices in my price range, the 18-55 kit lense, which I dont want because from what I've read its not very good, and looking at the specs converted to 35mm, 29-88mm vs. what I have already on my p&s 36-100mm I would be gaining nothing. The other choice being the 24-85mm which is much cheaper, but I would lose the double rebate so in total I would only be saving $38. I realize it is has alot to do with personal preference, but having never shot with an SLR, digital or film, I unfortunatly have no point of reference other than my p&s. I am happy with the pictures it takes, I sure that will change once I've used a good camera, I'm just not happy with its performance, doesnt shoot fast enough, shutter speed not adjustable for taking pics at night,pics are blurry if there is any motion.

[LensCrazy]

Dave,

I have the XT 350 and love it. I have several lenses and one is the 28-135IS and I feel it is a good all around lens, I also have the 100-300 which is good tele. I have the standard 18-55 that helps for indoor tight shots. I also have the 65mm 1-5x macro lens for the extreme close shots. I want to get rid of both the 28-135 and the 100-300. For what I will be shooting I will need the 28-300 L IS USM, to afford it I need to sell these and take out a mortgage on my house!

[mjs1973]

I have the 18-55mm kit lens on my DRebel, and it's not a bad lens at all. Sure, when you compare it to a top of the line L series lens, it's not the greatest, but the kit lens still gives you pretty good results. The kit lens is a pretty good all around lens and would work for what you plan on shooting. The only problems I see with it is the max. aperture may be too slow for low light, indoor shots and you are loosing some focal length range over your P&S. The 28-135mm that you're looking at has the same max aperture as the kit lens, but the IS should give you an extra stop or so to help out in low light. From what you have said in your previous posts, I think the 28-135mm IS USM lens meets your needs. If the 28-135mm isn't wide enuf for you, I would go with the kit lens and save up for a longer lens in the future.

[Dave954]

Thanks for everyones help. I am going to go with the 28-135, but I think I am just going to go with the kit, since after figuring it out, the difference is only $80. That way if I need it for tighter indoor shots I have it.

[another view]

I mentioned what I would be photographing in my original post, which would basically be around the house, wife, daughter, pets,etc. ... looking at the specs converted to 35mm, 29-88mm vs. what I have already on my p&s 36-100mm I would be gaining nothing. ... shutter speed not adjustable for taking pics at night,pics are blurry if there is any motion.

Couple of things here:

There are a lot of different ways to photograph any subject. I've seen great environmental portraits shot with the equivalent of a 20mm, and others at 200mm for example. So it's not just what you photograph but also how you photograph it. That's one thing about an SLR - you'll have a lot more options on what you do and how you do it.

The two other quotes kinda go together. You will be gaining a lot, but not necessarily in focal length in that case. Night shots will have a lot less noise and manual control can give you a ton of creativity options. "Pics are blurry if there is any motion" - this is not due to the camera, but the camera's settings. Slow shutter speeds that you probably would have to use at night will show motion, but a faster lens will give you wider apertures so you might be able to use a faster shutter speed.

[Dave954]

I know it's not just the what, but the how you take photos, except that is the only way I know of to describe what I want, I couldn't give you a technical explanation, except maybe if you asked a specific question. Right now I'm just p&s just like my camera.

As far as the blurry pictures go, I think maybe you thought because of the way I worded it I was making a statement about capturing motion at night, but really that was two seperate issues. I guess, now that you mention it, it does have to do with available light though, because with outdoor daytime shots its usually not a problem, but indoors when the flash is needed that shots tend to blur. But your saying its not the camera but its settings, wouldnt that be the same thing? There is no manual adjustment of shutter speed, the only thing you can do is set it for night, and the fastest shutter speed is 1/1,000 of a sec compared to the xt at 1/4,000.