Which to buy?

[stephanie lyn]

Hello!
Im looking to buy a canon rebel t2i. i was going to buy the bundle but im not sure if i would be better off just buying the body and then buying a good lens. if i am better off buying a lens which lens would be best for portraiture? Im not really familiar with the different lenses, my olympus came with the two lenses and ive been told that the lenses arent very good. I am trying to stay within my $800 budget....any advice?? also is there really any difference between the t1i and the t2i besides the mega pixels?

[dlambert]

If you don't already know what len(s) you'd buy instead of the kit lens, it might be worth getting the kit. Even though few people end up using the kit lens once they've accumulated better lenses to replace it, it's got a useful zoom range that might help you understand what you really want in a next lens. When you get a better len(s) that cover that same range, you can always unload the kit lens for $50-100.

I don't own the 18-55 kit lens, but I've played with it a bit. It'll take decent photos, and it's got IS, so it's not like it's a total lost cause. The shortcomings are lens speed (it's not a very fast lens), cheap AF motor (not as fast as a ring USM mechanism, and doesn't have full-time-manual), and the build quality is pretty dismal. Unfortunately, all those things cost money, so you're going to blow your budget big-time trying to find a lens that's good in all those areas.

Again, the big benefit of the kit lens is that it gets you started long enough to make an informed decision about your next lens purchase(s) -- just what a kit lens should do, IMO.

If you really, really know you want to stick to portraits, you might be happy with the T2i and a 50mm f/1.8 lens, which would fit in your budget. Even in this case, though, most people would rather have the 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.8, which are both around $400. I'd be careful going this route, though, unless you're pretty confident that you'll be happy shooting at that one focal length or you plan on picking up more lenses soon.

[emeraldln]

I just bought a T1i. I don't have use for the improved video in the T2i, and the megapixel difference is negligible for my uses. I previously had a 50mm f/1.4, which I LOVE, and just bought a 28-135 lens that is working well.

[Thunder_o_b]

With a limit of $800.00 you really only have one option. The T2i body sells at B+H for $670.00, that leaves only $130.00 for a lens. That lens would be the 50mm f1.8 canon 50mm f1.8

With a 1.6 sensor it translates in to a 75mm lens, this is a good size for portraits, the f1.8 will give acceptable but not great bokeh. It takes good pictures, but is not very sturdy.

[stephanie lyn]

emerald- what made you decide the t1i over the t2i? I really wont use the video, i have a camcorder, and as far as mega pixels go, my camera now has 10 so whether its 15 or 18 itll be a big improvement but i dont really blow anything up, ive tried but my pictures didnt come out so appealing lol.