I'm a beginner please help!

I just recently purchased the Digital Rebel XT and it came with two

lenses: sigma 28-70mm lens f/2.8-4.0 and sigma 70-300mm lens f/4.0-

5.6. I'm sure these are very basic lenses, which is fine, but I'd

like to know what these particular lenses are best for and where

should I go from here as far as lenses go. I will be taking a lot of

pictures of family as well as pictures of my kids baseball, football

and basketball(indoors) games. So, would these be good for all of

this or do I need to purchase a couple of new lenses? Any response

would help greatly. Thank you in advance.

Those are fine. Get a 50/1.8 for available light work, and if you like wide, get a zoom starting around around the 12mm range. Oh yeah..shearch the forum archives net time...

It's better to get 50/1.8ﾢò for indoor and person shotting.

I don't disagree with earlier comments that 50mm 1.8 is a good lens. However I also think it is not necessary. With 28-70 you have that range, as long as you ensure enough (not harsh though) light indoors. Your 70-300 rather provides you a great range for portraits too, especially at 105 to 135 mm you would be able to take great photos as long as you ensure the even light conditions (or for more creativity various lighting conditions like side, low, candle etc.). You may want to play a little bit. Tripod will be great for the range above 100 mm, and must for the real satisfaction.

<p>

I personaly think you are set to start!

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Thanx and regards,

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+Lalit

Well, the 50/1.8 isn't <i>necessary</i> but it sure offers many things your current lenses will not. How about the times you can't ensure enough available light. If you are depending on on camera flash - that's most of the time. And the background rendition with f4 lenses especially on 1.6 crop sensors leaves a lot to be desired. At an equivalent of about 80/1.8 the 50mm makes a killer portrait lens.

My first thoughts are don't buy any more. You've purchased a lot and need to learn what you have before you start purchasing more. A good book or three would do wonders where as opinions for one lens or another could backfire. Some people couldn't live without a 50mm prime, others can't stand it. (for fun I hide friends 50mm and see how they handle it for a while - usually whining)

 

The book I recommend is "The photographic guide to exposure" chris weston. As well as some/a photography class. Just a basic one. I'd taken a basic photo class online from better photo and it helped, but then reading that book illustrated some of the difficult concepts to a point where I started shooting full manual mode and got much better shots than I did on automatic modes. The book is no substitute for a class and the class is no substitute for the book though.

 

Regarding your gear, those are not basic lenses. There are canon branded lenses and off-brand lenses by sigma, tamron, and others. I prefer to think of lenses as professional or consumer. What you have are consumer grade lenses, they function just fine for what you want to take pictures of. Professional grade lenses cost as much as a small car in some cases but the potential for return on investment is greater too. I use a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens that cost $1650 when I bought it, thats a lot of money for one lens with opinions that are split 50/50.

 

The 28-70mm lens could be considered a general zoom lens. You'll most likely do most of your photo shooting with that. Backyard shots, shots of the family, etc. The 70-300 is specifically a telephoto zoom lens. Those outdoor sporting events will make use of that lens. However trying to use that lens indoors say at a basketball game will give you fits.

 

This is why I recommended that book or any book regarding exposure. Knowing how to expose, understanding focal length, aperture, ISO or film speed, and shutter speed and how they all inter-relate to one another is key. The f/2.8 will come in handy indoors and at indoor basketball games but will lack some reach, the f/4.0 will be fine outdoors.

 

Ultimately have fun. If something doesn't work try to understand why it didn't work. If a shot is too dark, too blurry, suffers from motion blur, understanding why helps to resolve that problem so you get good pictures the next time. Have fun, enjoy it. Eventually you will want more lenses, maybe a prime, maybe some canon L glass, its up to you. I use glass to solve a problem, not as an excuse to join the herd and do what everyone else is doing. Secondly you'll want a better flash probably before you buy another lens. The 420 or 430ex flashes are good to start off with, sigma I think also makes some nice flashes. The on camera flash just isn't enough. The 580ex from canon is nice but $400 or more for a flash is ridiculous.

check out www.the-digital-picture.com

Everybody is extremely helpful and I appreciate the time you all give/gave to help me out. I will put what you all said to very good use and hopefully become the photographer I wish to become. Take care everyone!

<p>I agree with the suggestion to not jump too quickly to buy stuff, especially since you

are a self-described "beginner." It may be better to use what you have a bit and

<i>discover</i> what else you would like to do that cannot be done with the current

lenses.</p>

 

<p>I think you will eventually (maybe even quickly... ;-) discover that 28mm is not wide

enough on the XT. A 28mm on the XT gives you about the same view as a 45mm lens on a

35mm film camera. That would be considered a (very) slightly wide normal lens. In other

words, you don't have any wide angle options with the current setup.</p>

 

<p>Lots of folks are happy with a 17mm wide end on the XT.</p>

 

<p>There are other suggestions I could make, but I'll stick to my original notion that it

would be better for you to do a bit of shooting before rushing out to buy stuff.</p>

 

Dan

---So, would these be good for all of this or do I need to purchase a couple of new lenses? ---

 

Consumer or photographer? If you're a beginner, "a couple of lenses" is usually too much. Get a manual film slr to start with and learn what aperture and shutter speed is all about before commiting yourself to automation.

Russ...just starting out in digital? Those lenses will most likely suit you just fine for now...I have owned both with my 20D and have since sold them and purchased several L series lenses that reach beyond those focal lengths. You have most focal lengths covered for what you stated your needs are. If you get into landscapes, you'll want something below 28mm...nature stuff: something bigger than 300mm. That inexpensive little 50mm f/1.8 is a nifty little thing to have (for portraits) as well though! Good luck.

if you don't have a nice tripod and head yet, i'd make that the next purchase before any other lens or other stuff.

How about a canon speedlight? 430ex maybe. Your going to be dissapointed with the on camera flash before long.

 

Mike

I think you can have a lot of fun with these lenses. Get to know them and get a feel for what you like to photograph and then decide if you want dedicated lenses. I'd say don't start buying until you feel limited by what you have now. And what you have now is good, but you can't do stuff like ultra wide angle architecture in cathedrals or extreme macro.

 

It's extremely useful to go on the net or look through magazines and see how photo's that interest you are made.

 

There are plenty of websites in all areas of photography (like, for instance: landscape, or insect photography, or, etc...) where you get lots and lots of information. Use Google. Type (Kind of photography) tutorial and learn.

 

Remember that you can spend unlimited money in photography, so it's important to buy well informed and to to clear goals. Experience is the most valuable thing, not the amount of equipment you have. Take lots & lots of shots, be very critical of yourself, and learn!

 

Bye,

 

dirk.

If you photograph a lot of indoor games, a good flash is something you might want to try. The XT's flash is too weak to get far. Your lenses are fine for photographing sports. As others have said, if you do a lot of portraits of family (as opposed to groups of people together), consider the 50/1.8-- it's a great lens. Otherwise, your lenses look fine for now.