Looking for some lens advice

[tmccumber]

I am looking to enter the DSLR realm and am in the process of deciding on a camera and lens set. Based on price and my needs I am most likely going to choose the Canon Digital Rebel XT. The question I have is it worth getting the lens that comes with the camera or should I just get the body and buy a separate lens?

If I should just get the body only is there one lens that I should get if it would be the only lens I have for a while? I am also on a very limited budget at this time so what would you suggest as the lowest cost/most versitile lens?

Thank you very much for your advice.

Tim McCumber
Mount Olive NJ

[Saralonde]

The kit lens is generally panned by a lot of people, but it is really a decent lens to start out with, particularly since it is less than $100.00 US. It is still the only wide angle lens I own. If you are on a strict budget, it will work fine as a starter lens.
Here (http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1400) is a thread on budget lenses.

[jdepould]

Being on a limited budget, I would say just get the kit, have fun, and learn the camera.

[Tiberius]

Canon makes the 50mm f1.8 mkII lens. A very popular lens. Not a zoom, but nice and fast and great for portraits. A very nice lens, delivers nice sharp pics.

[prrs4me]

I agree with jdepould and Saralonde. I bought with the lens kit. It gave me a chance to learn the camera and when I was ready to buy more lenses I had the time to do a lot of research. These forums help a lot.
Enjoy your purchase whatever choice you make.

[tmccumber]

Thank you very much for the advice on both the camera with lens kit and also the budget lens kit. You have made this process much less confusing than it had been before. I had a chance to use the Rebel XT yesterday and I liked the feel of it and in my limited time with it I liked the results I had using it. As a follow up question would it make sence to go with the XTi or is the XT pleanty for a beginner?

Thanks again for your advice and I plan on visiting the fourms and the web site in general as I learn more about DSLR photography.

Tim McCumber
Mount Olive NJ

[jdepould]

Get the best you can afford, either one is going to be fine. The XTi has some nice extra features like ultrasonic dust management thingy, but the differences are pretty subtle and not really critical.

[Saralonde]

I've had both and there is not a substantial difference between the two, at least not any that make a huge difference in your picture taking.

[matthewchj]

Yeah, the XTi and XT are very similar. I have the XT, and I've borrowed the XTi, and they are almost identical to use. Personally, however, I prefer to use the XT, as I find it easier to use the smaller LCD panel to view shooting information rather than the main LCD scren.

Here's the main advantages of the XTi:
10MP (v/s 8MP on XT)
Self-cleaning sensor
Dust removal software
Larger LCD screen (2 inch vs 1.5 on XT?)
Colour profiles? (eg. natural, vivid, faithful, etc. I don't think the XT has this)

Either way, both cameras are easy to use, and the best camera to start with when starting DSLR photography (in my opinion).

[inkista]

You forgot one major feature difference: the XTi has the better nine-point Auto-Focus system. For a full list of the differences, I'd suggest the dpreview "what's new?" page (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/page3.asp) for the XTi.

And as everyone else is saying, the kit lens (and the possible addition of the $70 50mm f/1.8 II) is a great beginner's kit. Typically, if you don't know what lens you want, you're better off waiting until you do. The kit can bridge that timespan and teach you a lot about what you and your shooting style require in a lens.

[mattdm]

If you're comparing two bodies that are roughly in the same ballpark (like the XT and XTi), it generally makes sense to get the cheaper one and buy lenses with the money or just stash it away towards the inevitable replacement. Either way, you'll probably be buying a new body in three or four years, but the lenses will last ten times that.