Just bought a Canon XSi SLR Digital Camera With 18-55mm IS Lens Kit. Good Secondary lens?

Question

I'm still new to the world of SLR and was wondering what would be a good secondary lens? i enjoy portrait and macro photography specifically, but i also do enjoy taking landscape photos occasionally. i'm on a bit of a budget, and am hoping for the best performance i can get on a budget! thanks!

Answer 1

Well, you just got your camera and lens, so I recommend you get used to them first and foremost...before you even think about considering your next lens purchase.



But for portraits, have a look at the ultra cheap and plasticky, EF 50mm f/1.8 II if you're on a budget. This lens may be dirt cheap ((US$85), but it has very sharp image quality. And, it's great to use in lower light (much better than your kit lens).



Or, the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. This lens is an overall better lens (a lot better build, metal mount and USM), so accordingly, costs more (around US$330) . I bought one of these when I bought my 450D (XSi) and am VERY pleased with it's performance (bokeh is also very nice).



For Macro (and it also makes an excellent portrait lens), you can't go past the very sharp, EF100mm f/2.8 USM Macro. This lens retails for under US$450 and is definitely on my future lens buying list.



For landscape, you should just try using the wide end of your kit lens for now...and later on, when you can afford it, buy a wide angle lens like the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.



A word of advice. Lens choice is a very important factor if you want VERY good image quality. Do not be tempted to save a few dollars by buying an ultra cheap (telephoto) lens because you usually get what you pay for...



Another thing to consider is filters. Buying a UV filter to protect the end of your lens makes sense. Always leave it attached. And, maybe later you could try a CP (circular polarizer).



check out the reviews of all these lenses in the links below...



good luck

Answer 2

I also have a Canon 450D/XSi. Here are my purchase suggestions in order of importance:



1) Tripods open up a whole new world of shooting possibilities. If you don't have one, get one. Search for 'autostitch', 'star trail', 'light trail', or 'HDR' on Flickr.



2) The EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro is a great lens for both macro and portrait photography. I have even used it at small concert venues because the wide aperture makes it very useful in low-light situations where flash is not an option. Despite the fact that it is fixed at 100mm, it is a very versatile lens if you have the room and energy to just move yourself in or out from a subject when you need to frame a shot differently. You will want to use a tripod for macro shooting.



3) On the landscape and architecture end, your kit lens is a decent wide angle that you can use for landscapes. With a tripod, you can achieve wider shots using panoramic stitching with free software such as Hugin. You should use a tripod for landscape shots because you can then use smaller aperture and get crisper detail. If you do want wider shots; but do not want to do panoramic stitching, you should look at the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens. It is fantastic for landscapes and architecture. Make sure it is the one with the Canon mount as they make lenses for other systems too.



4) Lastly, for portrait photography (and landscape stitches, and low light shots) you should investigate the Canon or Sigma 50mm lenses (f/1.8 and f/1.4). They are lightweight, provide incredible image quality, extreme bokeh, and the ability to freeze fast action or get indoor shots without flash that would normally be impossible.



Others have linked reviews that are helpful in determining the technical quality of a lens in terms of durability and image quality. These are great sources of information; but ultimately the most important factor in deciding on a lens will be the kind of specialized application in photography you want to start to learn more about for the next few months.

Answer 3

Hi, Hailo,



I had faced similar situations before when I first bought my DSLR camera. It is a Canon DEOS 400D or XTi.



I was also on a tight budget, but at the same time has the urge to buy more lens. Over at local forum - http://www.clubsnap.com, I bought a 75-300mm lens and a 50mm F1.8. The reasons are of course, these are cheap and these look like the range of lens which I need. Almost 2 years had past and I hardly use these lens.



About a year ago, I bought another lens 100mm F2.8 Macro. I use this lens for more often than the first two.



I see that the reason is that, I took time, to discover what I really need before getting the other lens. And to discover what I really need, I took a lot of photos and found out which type of lens I was lacking of for my type of photography.



The kit lens is a good dynamic lens for most of the purposes you want. My suggestion is to take many, many pictures. Through the process, discover what you really lack of, before getting another lens.



I hope this was the answer you are looking for. If you need any additional information, please see my recommended resource at http://pinurl.com/ixg and http://www.clubsnap.com

Answer 4

I recommend selling the 18-55 (on Amazon or eBay) and buying a Canon 28-105 USM. It's a good all-around lens and pretty cheap.

Answer 5

I believe I would do a google search for some answers to this.

Answer 6

I GOT A SIGMA 55-200 FOR CANON ON CRAIGLIST, LOCAL. $200 VALUE NEW, PAID 60. SHARP IMAGES