Some advice please!

[joejust]

Hi All
I am about to purchase the Canon T2i body and would like some advice as to which lense to buy. I am a newby at DSLR's and would like to take photos of the kids at ballet, soccer, portraits etc I have been recommended the 18-135mm lense but the kit sets come with 18-55mm and 70-200mm.
I liked the idea of 1 lense rather that having to change lenses but then have been told that optically the lenses with less range are superior????
Any help would be much appreciated.
THANKS

[RichardTaylor]

A 18-55 kit lens is an ok general purpose (travel, scenery, some portraits etc) lens for shooting hand held in good light.

This may give you an idea.

Lenses #2 - Standard lenses

I'm not aware of a 70-200mm kit lens - usually it is a 55-250mm. Which again is an ok lens for when you want a bit of reach when hand holding in good light.

Both lenses may meet your general purpose good light shooting needs.

Both the above lenses are not suitable for hand held, shooting in low light, especially subjects indoors.

For that you need "fast lenses"

See this tute for an idea. (it is part of an introduction to lenses.

Lenses #6 - Fast lenses

The "all in one lenses" (super zooms) are ok when shooting hand held in relatively good light and can go from relatively wide angle to telephoto. They are very poor for hand held low light shooting. Optically and mechanically they are not as good as shorter focal length range lenses.

You may find this tute of interest.
Lenses #3 - Superzooms.

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There really isn't just one lens that will do all that you want.
I feel there are a couple of ways you can go (without breaking the bank).

(1) buy the twin lens kit and add a fast lens latter for the dancing.
or
(2) Buy an all in one super zoom and add a fast lens latter for the low light stuff (by then you should have a better idea of what focal length and maximum aperture you may need.

I shoot with a variety of lenses that I have purchased over the years,

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I'm not aware of a 70-200mm kit lens - usually it is a 55-250mm. Which again is an ok lens for when you want a bit of reach when hand holding in good light.

Likely not the 70-200 but it could be the older non-IS 70-300

[ik631]

I have the T1i and bought the 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses to start. I quickly found I needed something for lower light for pictures of my kids indoors during the long dark winter months but didn't have money for a flash or new lens after dumping the money on the camera so I bought the 50mm 1.8 which is surprisingly cheap (~$100) and is on my camera almost all the time. Its probably my favorite lens I have bought. With the kids indoors the 50mm is a necessity.