1st lens to buy?

Well, I can tell you how I learned about photography and also about portraits:

I started with an EOS 300V and some crappy 28-135mm Sigma zoom. I did learn exactly nothing. For about a year or more I took a sh!tload of very very very bad pictures. Then someday I was given the advice to stick to one focal length, the 50mm and try to get the stuff like composing, the effects of light etc. right. Luckily I followed that advice and some few weeks later I was able to produce some very nice portraits. If you take some time and read the various guides here on photo.net, Philip recommends the same thing, and it has worked for decades of new photographers.

So, get the Canon 35mm/f2 or the Sigma 30mm/f1.4 (equivalent to the 50mm focal length on APS-C camera, like your rebel) and start learning about photography. The 50mm equiv. will allow you to take photos of everything, including people. It is certainly not the optimal focal length for portraits, but it works *very* well.

And don't forget the most important thing: Shoot shoot shoot! :)

Have fun,

Manuel

For a little more than the price of the 50/1.4 you can have 50/1.8 (indoor portraits) + 85/1.8 (outdoor portraits). I am an avid portrait shooter, had them all and am advising you on the latter.

Happy shooting,

Yakim.

<cite>My understanding is that the only Canon lenses that support FT-M *are* the USM models.</cite>

<p>Yes, and not all USM lenses, at that. All current ring USM lenses do, and I think most if not all older ring USM lenses do as well. Most of these lenses do it mechanically; even with the power turned off or the lens dismounted, turning the focusing ring adjusts focus, because there's a direct mechanical link. A few do it electronically; there is a sensor to detect the focusing ring being turned, and the motor is driven accordingly. The electronic ones can't have their focus adjusted with the power off or with the lens dismounted, and in some situations can't even be adjusted manually while connected to a powered-up body; some bodies have a custom function to adjust how electronic FT-M works.</p>

<p>Almost all micro USM lenses (typically, cheaper zooms, many of which are available in USM and non-USM versions which are virtually identical apart from the motor) do <em>not</em> offer FT-M. The 50/1.4 is an exception. I've seen conflicting information about whether or not the cheapie 28-105/4-5.6 (<em>not</em> to be confused with the ring USM-powered 28-105/3.5-4.5 lenses, which are much better in every way that affects your photo) offers this. All other micro USM lenses lack FT-M.</p>

<p>All lenses which use any non-USM motor lack FT-M, period. If you want to adjust focus manually on such a lens, switch the lens from AF to MF.</p>

If you have the money for an L Series lens you can't go past the 24-105 F/4L IS USM. I just got mine a few days ago (got it for portraits) and it is brilliant. I used to suffer from camera shake but can now hand hold a shot at 1/10 of a second and still have sharp results. The clarity of the resulting photos leave my other lenses for dead.

They aren't cheap - recommended retail in Australia is about $1,999.00 but I got mine for $1389 online. I can't stop raving about this lens, it is a good all rounder for me.

Craig