Cause I have a camera?

[Cajungaltx]

Okay - one of the coaches at my daughters school sent me an email asking for help. I guess the fact that I shoot Nikon didn't mean much.. Lol.

His wife has a Canon EOS Rebel XSI.

He is asking for suggestions on a good lens to buy in the $300-400 range for his wife as a gift.

Their kids do all kinds of sports... And inside sports......

I realize the budget amount is low - but they are both teachers at a private school, and I know this is alot for them.

So best lens suggestion anyone?

[Kalrog]

I shoot Olympus, but a friend of mine does sports for the local paper with his Canon and his 2 favorites are the 50 and 85 mm ones for indoor stuff. I would go with the 85 for this couple as they will be farther away than the newspaper folks.

Canon | 85mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens | 2519A003 | B&H Photo

[*Mike*]

Do you know what she's already got?

[texkam]

His wife has a Canon EOS Rebel XSI.

Sounds like she needs to join TPF.

Perhaps the Canon 85 1.8.

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by texkam

Sounds like she needs to join TPF.

Perhaps the Canon 85 1.8.

Yeah, I think I would second that. That will give you a 135 1.8 (136 actually), a descent telephoto thats real fast, good for both indoor sports and nighttime sports.

Top notch suggestion.

[linque]

It's a little above the budget, but a used 70-200 F4 L will run about $500, and is on sale at B&H for $594. That's not going to cut it for indoor sports though. It's a great lens for outdoor sports, though. The 85 F1.8 would be good for indoor sports, but there's not enough reach for baseball/football games.

[d2creative]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that they would not want a single focal length lens, but would rather have a zoom.

[Cajungaltx]

I think she just has the kit lens - 18-55 or something?

I think Dennis is right - they want a zoom lens. And that was one thing I had talked with him about previously. You have to sacrifice 'something' to shoot both of those events...if your gonna do it with one lens.

I'll give him the information and let him do with it what he will...

Thanks ya'll.

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by Cajungaltx

I think she just has the kit lens - 18-55 or something?

I think Dennis is right - they want a zoom lens. And that was one thing I had talked with him about previously. You have to sacrifice 'something' to shoot both of those events...if your gonna do it with one lens.

I'll give him the information and let him do with it what he will...

Thanks ya'll.

They probably don't realize they are giving up lens speed for the zoom capability... and if they are doing indoor sports, they probably need the speed.

If you have bright indoor light, f/4, a 1/125 shutter speed, you'll be at ISO 3200, which will result in crappy images and the XSI may only go to ISO 1600. The long end of the zoom would be useless indoors anyway because you'd be at f/5.6 and you'll need a faster shutter speed.

I would also either go for the 85/1.8 or the 100/2.

His choices:
EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III -$200
EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM -$470
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM - $420
EF 100mm f/2 USM - $480

[texkam]

XSI may only go to ISO 1600

You are correct sir. And it is a noise machine at that as well.

[ldelacruz]

I would say one if the inexspensive 300mm zooms and a 50 1.8.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by chris00nj

They probably don't realize they are giving up lens speed for the zoom capability... and if they are doing indoor sports, they probably need the speed.

If you have bright indoor light, f/4, a 1/125 shutter speed, you'll be at ISO 3200, which will result in crappy images and the XSI may only go to ISO 1600. The long end of the zoom would be useless indoors anyway because you'd be at f/5.6 and you'll need a faster shutter speed.

I would also either go for the 85/1.8 or the 100/2.

His choices:
EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III -$200
EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM -$470
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM - $420
EF 100mm f/2 USM - $480

Chris - I sent them a basic 'primer' on how lenses work - his eyes will probably be glazed over with overload by the time he's done reading it...but hopefully he'll understand it a bit more. I explained the whole 'sacrifice' that they have to decide about...hopefully it'll help.

[brad]

Stay away from Tamron lenses in that price range... especially their 28-300 monster.. that is one lousy lens.

For those prices.. go off brand, though... maybe Sigma.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Kalrog

...his 2 favorites are the 50 and 85 mm ones for indoor stuff. I would go with the 85 for this couple as they will be farther away than the newspaper folks.

I was just coming here to suggest those exact same lenses. Once they realize the power of a good prime lens, they will thank you again and again. This is assuming that they already have a basic zoom, like a 24-80-ish cheap kit lens for snapping birthday parties and vacations. A soccer mom wouldn't want a prime as her ONLY lens, but it would make a GREAT addition...

And the 85mm will take amazing portraits and good sports action.

[Coogie]

Well if it was a Nikon lens (especially a zoom) in that price range I'd just laugh at them...I'd also vote for the 85mm 1.8 (unless Canon 1.4's are in that price range) ...it's the perfect focal length for portraits (much less distortion than the 50) and it does very well for indoor games.