Need suggestions!!!

[bbbpemberton]

I invested in a Rebel XTi in hopes to start a photography buisness one day. I have the standard lens and have been researching other lens. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what to get. Obvioulsy I would love to be able to use just one lens but I am sure something of that nature would cost a fortune...any advice would be appreciated!

[kenmyers70]

It all depends on what you want to do. Shoot with the kit lens until you feel limited and address those limitations within your budget constraints and business plans.

[venchka]

Use the SEARCH feature here. Find what has been said recently. This is the most asked and answered question on the Forum. Usually several time a week.

[Craig]

Photography is such a wide open field that I don't know of one lens that does it all at any price. Shooting different things takes different lenses. For some things it takes multiple lenses (sports comes to mind). If you're more specific about what type of photography you're looking to do, that would help in suggesting what lens would be best.

[toverman]

Wayne's right. I haven't been on the forum that long and I think I've tried to "help" answer this question a few times already.

It does depend on what kinds of shots you want to take. If you're thinking about portraits, and have limited funds, a zoom can be the best way to start for its flexibility. My next lens is going to be an 85 mm f/1.8 because I've found that in using my old 28-105 zoom I find the 85 mm range the most comfortable. Primes can offer sharper shots over zooms. This is all stuff you'll find out later.

[bbbpemberton]

I am looking to shoot portraits, weather it is children or couples....As of now I am not that interested in wedding photography.

[bob0925]

If you want to shoot portraits, the standard kit lens is good for everything except close-ups of one person and candid portraits when you're kind of far away. If you get the next higher zoom, that would cover them. I'm not familar with the Canon lenses but if the kit lens is something like 18-50, they should also have a zoom that's about 50-200. Use the wider one for group portraits and full body shots and the telephoto zoom for candids when you're not close to the subject and tight close-ups of one person.

[toverman]

The Canon 28-105 is pretty good and I've used it for portrait-type stuff and journalism for more than a decade. You can pick one up for probably $200 or so, but I bought mine a long time ago.

For location portraits, one thing that sets them apart is being able to blur the background and focus sharply on your subject(s). A longer zoom can help do that, as well as having a lens that can open its aperture up wider (f/1.8, f/2.8). Of course, some of those "fast" lenses can be expensive. The 85 f/1.8 I'd like is around $300, but being a fixed focal length, it might not be as versatile for you.

[Supasam83]

What is your budget looking like?

[venchka]

If you agree to accept money from people you need a foolproof, redundant system. 2 bodies, 2 lenses, 2 flashes, extra batteries, extra cards, foolproof computer backup of your images, the list goes on.

In the meantime, you can't point a camera at folks and expect great portraits. Good lighting is essential. God sometimes gives you perfect lighting. The other times you need to provide your own. So, start budgeting for lighting equipment. Along with all the other stuff I mentioned above.