edeanr

I´m relatively new to serious photography (about ready to retire from college teaching) and discovered within the past year or so that the kit lens, 24-70mm, that came with my Canon EOS Rebel XTi was a ´cheapie´ which explains why I was never satisfied with my picture quality. While I realize I as the photographer have a lot to do with that, I now realize a better lens has probably more to do with quality than my camera. I´m considering buying a Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM lens. I´m also thinking of waiting for the new Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM ART lens, which is coming out soon. Any advice out there? While I´m tempted to buy a prime lens, 50mm, I´m used to the flexibility of the 24-70mm and think I continue to want that flexibility for my ´walk around´ camera lens. Thanks for any help.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

First, are you shooting in raw? And are you proficient with processing? Do you enjoy processing? Are you confident you fully understand light, exposure, depth of field, ISO, shutter speed and focus and are therefore truly getting the best you can from your current set-up?

My first paragraph may suggest I'm encouraging you to not spend money needlessly, so I'll counter with this point: your camera is quite old - in digital terms, megapixels and so forth. Have you thought about upgrading?

edeanr

Thx Linda for quick reply.

All good questions. I was originally simply going to buy a better camera but a photography friend suggested exploring the more expensive lens route first. If the camera still seems to be the issue with a new lens, then I´d buy a new camera since I already will have the better lens, which I would have wanted to purchase anyway with a new camera.

So....Yes, I do some shooting in RAW but not a lot. While I *think* I know quite a bit about exposure, lighting, depth of field, ISO etc. I always feel there is more to learn. But I also will find no satisfaction in learning if my pictures do not meet my criteria, therefore I´m willing to spend the money for a better lens.

You are correct with your question of my camera´s age. I have had pause as well with the issue of my Rebel. There are much better cameras out there, I know. I guess in the back of my mind, I´m thinking that if the lens is fine, I´ll upgrade to a better camera in a year or so.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I re-read your opening after I posted and realized it sounds as though you've already given a lot of thought, which your follow-up confirms.

It's just that we get so many topics here where people blame the camera or lens, when it's more a matter of their not knowing how to use them

I had the XT and moved to T3i a bit over 4 years ago. Two years ago I upgraded a bit on lenses to a used Canon EF-S 18-135 mm. It has huge versatility with that range. Also purchased a used Canon EF 70-300 mm. Very nice!

Sorry I don't have experience with the lens you're asking about. But one thing to consider is used or refurbished. Stores like B&H (where I've purchased both used and new gear), Adorama and KEH all get good ratings and have a good return policy.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There's not a kit lens in the 24-70 focal length that would come with any Rebel model ... so it's a bit hard to understand your post and how a 'cheap' lens can be impacting your images. Having shot an XTi for about 6 years, I can say with confidence and experience that it's a fine camera, except for needs above ISO 800 or situations requiring a multi-image 'burst'. If you're not getting good results with this camera in general purpose situations, you should start a new Q&A thread in the Gallery or Photo Critique section with an example image (or few) for detailed analysis and coaching.

A lens will add much more impact than a body. But, technique in using the equipment as well as post processing skills will add more than any new equipment. It would be better if you could articulate some specific aspects of your images that are lacking other than a vague reference to your criteria. How can any changes be the appropriate solution to an ill-defined problem?

The Sigma lens is well regarded. But, is a $900 investment the solution to your problem? When you say you shoot RAW "some", this is a telling detail indicating opportunities for growth in both image capture and post-processing. If you have issues in technique, no amount nor value of new equipment will address that issue.

edeanr

Thx. CHG CANON for thoughtful advice. You're correct in catching my lens error. My current kits lens is a CANON ZOOM EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6. I have the "24-70mm" lens on my brain these days since that's what I've narrowed my search to. As I said in the first post, I'm somewhat of a newbie to photography and so had a colleague and photography professor look at some of my photos and give me some advise. She is the one who suggested the lens upgrade since there's nothing wrong with my camera. She thought a better lens would be the first place to begin hence this trail of emails.

I'm curious. Do you still shoot with your XTi and what lens do you use?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Hi Dean - No, I now shoot a full-frame 5DIII model. If you follow this site even casually, you'll see the the most frequent advice is to buy new and more equipment with a bias toward bodies rather than lenses. I sport high-end equipment myself so I don't want to come across as a hypocrite. But, if you follow for-sale section, you'll see over and over high-end gear coming up for sale with 'used just a few times' in the comments. I try to advise looking at used equipment, sometimes available at half the price of the same equipment new. I also advise looking at the photographer's skills rather than the camera's capability. Another suggestion is giving a candidate lens a weekend / week-long rental rather than buying only on reputation.

I've used the Sigma 24-105 DG OS HSM that competes against the Canon L lens of the same focal length. The Sigma is an excellent lens and a "bargain" when compared to the Canon version at nearly 30% higher in price. The lenses you've identified will make it seem like you have a new camera. I caution that a high-end lens will now put the burden squarely on your skills and not the equipment ...

I've shot both Nikon and Canon at the entry-level, intermediate and professional levels using their lenses and camera bodies at all three tiers. The more advanced the camera, the faster frame rate you have available as well the noise handling at higher ISOs. The 22MP sensor in my current camera affords opportunities to crop into an image that are not available from your 10MP XTi. But, if I took the same high-end lens and swapped between your body and mine, shot images in RAW between 100 and 800 ISO, I could produce results that would be difficult to see any difference until we sent a print to 20x30. And, I have wonderful prints on my walls from the XTi sized to 20x30 ...

I'd suggest too looking at a flash rather than a f/2.8 lens unless you're shooting in low light situations where a flash is not appropriate. You mention a 'walkaround' lens where f/2.8 is really not a walkaround / general purpose aperture. You 'pay' for that wider aperture, both in the cost of the glass and the physical weight of the glass. And 24mm on the wide end isn't particularly 'wide' on a Rebel body where the crop factor is closer to using a 35mm lens on a full-frame.

A few food for thought ideas. The 24-105 f/4 Sigma is roughly the same cost as the 24-70 f/2.8. So, I pose the question of added length vs the wider aperture.

/paul

edeanr

All great advice Paul. I appreciate your comments. Thanks. You've obviously been at this business much longer than I have!

You're not the first one that's suggested purchasing used lenses / bodies over new. I've been hesitant to consider that approach but maybe should not be. Any suggested sites that you're familiar and comfortable with?

Dean

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Dean - I like KEH. The majority of my equipment is used, some from here at UHH, but mostly KEH. Consider anything rated EX or EX+. Their LN rating includes a box where the EX items seem just as like new but without the box.

edeanr

Thx. I'll check it out.

dr

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

I started with an XTi, eventually upgraded to a T1i and then replaced that with a 60D. I also have a 6D. I use a Tamron 18-270 on my 60D as a "walk around" lens. I had a 24x16 print made from that combo which graces my daughter's dining room wall. A friend is using the Tamron 16-300 on his Canon T3i and has made some great prints. So, you might want to consider the Tamron. I also have a Tamron 70-300 which I used on all four of the cameras. It is a well regarded telephoto.
Bud

LaoXiang

I also suggest looking at used and refurb (especially, when you can find it) at B&H Photo and Video, and Adorama. Most of my gear is refurb, some used--I only buy the very best condition used gear, and generally it really is "as new" or with maybe a few tiny rub marks on a button or something. The refurb stuff from B&H comes with a long warranty, and I just send it back to be re-refurbed every year or two.

CHG_CANON is spot on with the Xti---it is where I started, and for anything in the daytime when the subject is not running a round, it is a fine camera---compare its features to one of Canon's pro models from a few years earlier, they are about the same. Only (I think) 3 fps and ISO only to 1600 (and usable, much less) and only 10 mpixels means you had better shoot in good light and fill the frame .... but pros used to make their livings with cameras with those same specs not all that long ago.

The best lens for you is decided by the intersection of budget and subject ... what do you mostly shoot? Can you shoot close enough with the 28-80? Would you like more reach? The EF F-4 24-105 is pricey but will do everything your current lens does, and more, and Much better.

Please keep in mind, though---all the lens can really do is make you pictures a little sharper and more colorful, and not a whole lot. I had been using Canon's (somewhat maligned) 28-135 and USM 70-300 to good effect for years before I finally broke down and got a 2.8 70-200----and that lens is Amazing. It makes good pictures into Good Pictures. It makes bad pictures into Expensive bad pictures.

Any of Canon's EF lenses are of amazing quality, in build and optics. They can deliver sharper pictures---even if, like me, you have shaky hands and bad eyes. They can also create crappy pictures, if that is what you order them to do, by using bad technique, or just being extra-shaky at that moment.

I would recommend the Canon 24-105 ... and since i respect CHG-CANON a lot , I would follow his suggestion about getting the similar Sigma model, used or refurbished.

edeanr

Vry much appreciated. Thanks!

Mark1948

For a crop sensor walk around upgrade take a look at Canon's efs 18-85mm. Although I also have a T6s, I have & still use my xti w/this lens w/great results.

edeanr

Thanks Mark. Will look into the 18-85mm lens. This may be what I was looking for.