Lens question for digital rebel xt

[Dub Diver]

Hello everyone,
I am getting a digital rebel xt for christmas with the kit lense. I am new to photography and have a question on which lense to purchase. I am looking for the best overall lense, I know that each lense is good for different things but I am trying to find the best blend of all. I am not going to be using it for diving yet, I need to save up for the housing and strobes etc. but hopefully plan to use it for that in the future. I will mainly be using it to shoot above water for mostly everyday kind of use, people, places, things, etc. Any suggestions on which lens (preferably not much more than $300) is the best? Thanks for the help!

 

[Warren_L]

That's a tough questions to answer, and especially within your price range. I would say probably the kit lens that comes with it would be your best bet given the constraints you've given. Problem with trying to find a lens that will do as much as possible is that you sacrifice things in other areas. For u/w you typically would want something as wide as possible. The 10-22mm is a nice zoom, affording some flexibility in the focal length to allow you to have a bit of range with what you are shooting, but out of your price range. Topside, it is probably a decent lens too, but not good for things like portrait shots, but great for landscapes, etc. The kit lens will be ok under water, but eventually you're probably going to want something a bit wider. If you go with a larger range zoom, you'll cover more ground, but you'll likely suffer a bit with smaller aperatures, which may be more of an issue underwater. It is hard to find something that will do it all in the price that you want. But I think the kit lens probably fits best.

 

[bandit_TX]

For fixed focal length, the EF-S 60 macro is hard to beat. It is a wonderful lens, very fast, very sharp. It does great portraits. It does great macro. It is always my first choice for underwater as well, as it shoots macro and fish portraits on the same dive.

 

[JackConnick]

I ended up getting the Sigma 17-70 macro lens for my Nikon D80 as a good overall lens that will also work UW with a few extra port bits. Has much more reach than the 18-50. It's $325 or so at Sigma4less.

Jack

 

[Peter Guy]

I think the 50mm f1.8 Canon lens at about $80 is a steal. It can be used for lots of things above water.

I also found that one of the "cheap" 75-300 mm zooms was very useful -- again for above water. It is not a fast lens but you'll probably find that you use the zoom quite a bit. For example the low end Canon is only $180 -- Adorama

But the really important thing is what do you plan to photograph? Answer the "what" and the "how" becomes a lot easier to answer.

 

[alcina]

Sigma 17-70 if you are also going to take it underwater.

If you are only going to use it on land, you might want to check out a zoom with a longer focal range.

The Canon 50mm 1.8 is a great lens...for the price it can't be beat and it's a great portrait lens. The 10-22 Canon (or 10-20 Sigma) is a great lens. I really like it above water - it's great fun.

If you go to the pink link in my signature you will see a rundown of several lenses that are very popular for underwater work so they might get you on the right path.

 

[beautybelow]

Where is a good source for the canon 50mm in the states. I need santa to bring one to the island.
I have used the old 18-55 kit lense with my rebel for what seems like forever. The main reason, or should I say what allows me to have the camera in the first place is diver portraits, so it seems to be flexible and wide enough for that. I have never really had an interest in macro, but lately for some reason I am eyeing the macro port and a 60mm for my housing.
I guess I need to start shopping. The problem is I dont share Alcina's logo about the it being fun part. : )

 

[alcina]

LOL The Canon 50mm 1.8 is available almost everywhere. I bought mine (actually most of my cameras and bits, too) from Allen at Allenscamera@comcast.net - I love dealing with him and his staff and I like dealing with a "smaller" retailer instead of the big boys like Adorama or B&H etc if I can.

B&H is always good, though, and I do use them for some things, too.

 

[Dom81]

I find DP Review to be about the best forum for Canon lenses

http://www.dpreview.com/

I'm still a long way off underwater SLR photography, but I've bought plenty (OK - more than plenty) of lenses for dry use...

Dom

 

[typeA]

Another vote for the 50 1.8.. Great lens for portraits and any photo where you can frame the subject by moving closer or farther (ie. the subject is still).
I'm still using the kit lens, but I'm thinking about getting the tamron 28-75 /f2.8 to use as my new walking around lens - it's a bit over $300, so not far out of your range.

my favorite forum for canon and canon lenses is
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php