Is this a good deal? I found a Canon T1i for sale. The comes with the 18-55 mm lens (came with the camera), $400 dollar after market 55-250 mm lens, $150 Canon camera bag, tripod...

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

I found a Canon T1i for sale. The comes with the 18-55 mm lens (came with the camera), $400 dollar after market 55-250 mm lens, $150 Canon camera bag, tripod charger instruction manual, remote picture, and usb plug.
The seller bought it for a trip and took approx. 250 photos with it. She said that she filled up 1 card and 1/2 of another card. She is selling to help her son.

http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/pho/4696476648.html

She said that she would be willing to go $350 for everything. I will be able to look at it tomorrow.

Can you tell if the 55-250 lens is an actual Canon lens of higher quality or could it be a kit lens from overseas?

Is this a good deal? Thanks Ken

amehta Loc: Boston

Mr. Ken wrote:

I found a Canon T1i for sale. The comes with the 1... (show quote)

The T1i is about $300 at KEH, so the whole package for $350 would be good if everything is working well. Both lenses are typical Canon "kit" lenses. This looks like it could meet your needs for now.

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

How can I tell the difference between a higher quality Canon lens verse the kit lens?

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

What about the kit bag...or the kit charger?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Mr. Ken wrote:

I found a Canon T1i for sale. The comes with the 1... (show quote)

First off, all Canon lenses come from overseas and all are of very good to excellent quality. The term "kit lens" is misleading. On full frame Canon's the kit lenses are often L's, the finest Canon makes. The only reason any of them are considered kit lenses is because they are often sold in kit form with the body, not because they are of lower quality. If the 55-250 is a Canon lens and was bought new about the time that the camera was bought then it is probably an EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. Now out of production but still available new for about $300. If it was bought later it could be the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II. About $250. Both have good customer reviews and would probably serve you well for general shooting. I had the II with my T3i and it performed very well.

amehta Loc: Boston

Mr. Ken wrote:

How can I tell the difference between a higher quality Canon lens verse the kit lens?

The best Canon lenses are labeled with an "L", like the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II, and tend to have a red ring near the front. They are very expensive, with few under $1k. The next characteristic tends to be the maximum aperture, with smaller numbers. For primes, that means f/1.4 instead of f/1.8 or f/2.8, and for zooms it means a fixed number like f/2.8 or f/4 instead of f/4-5.6. The least expensive of these is probably the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. Then there are the lenses like the Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM where the USM might be the indication (ultrasonic motor).

It is not really right to disparage the "kit" lenses any more, they are often quite good. The two offered here are slightly older and not built as well as the better lenses, but they will get the job done. The common kit lenses are the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6. The variations are the IS and STM lenses (image stabilization and stepper motors).

A more experienced Canon user may be able to explain some of the nuances better.

amehta Loc: Boston

LFingar wrote:

First off, all Canon lenses come from overseas and... (show quote)

The 55-250mm being offered does not appear to be the IS version, and I thought the T1i predates STM lenses.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

amehta wrote:

The 55-250mm being offered does not appear to be the IS version, and I thought the T1i predates STM lenses.

You're right! My mistake. The IS was introduced in '07, the IS II in '11 and the STM in '13. Sorry for the confusion. I think I'll go have my 2nd cup of coffee now! Just the same, both the IS & IS II are fine lenses that should serve him well.

act Loc: Trussville, AL

As best I remember the lens with the T1i was not IS. The first was the 18-55 then the 18-55 IS and last the 18-55 IS STM. The 50-250 IS was first then the 50-250 IS II and now the 50-250 IS STM. The original of each lens can be found very cheap and each model goes up in price. Do a search and you can find the discount prices on each. Still the price sounds like a good deal but probably the 18-50 is not IS. Don't quote me on that.

Mr. Ken wrote:

I found a Canon T1i for sale. The comes with the 1... (show quote)

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

act wrote:

As best I remember the lens with the T1i was not IS. The first was the 18-55 then the 18-55 IS and last the 18-55 IS STM. The 50-250 IS was first then the 50-250 IS II and now the 50-250 IS STM. The original of each lens can be found very cheap and each model goes up in price. Do a search and you can find the discount prices on each. Still the price sounds like a good deal but probably the 18-50 is not IS. Don't quote me on that.

Both the 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS were introduced in 2007. The T1i was introduced in 2009, so the odds are that the 2 lenses with the camera he is looking at are the IS versions.

amehta Loc: Boston

LFingar wrote:

Both the 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS were introduced in 2007. The T1i was introduced in 2009, so the odds are that the 2 lenses with the camera he is looking at are the IS versions.

The 55-250mm lens does not say IS in the front-on view. The 18-55mm might, there are 1-2 characters after the f-stop markings.

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

Bret wrote:

What about the kit bag...or the kit charger?

A canon bag and a charger is included.

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

I want to think everyone for your response and helpful information.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Mr. Ken wrote:

I found a Canon T1i for sale. The comes with the 1... (show quote)

Yes, it is not a bad deal for $350.00.

I don't understand your question about the lens. All Canon lenses are manufactured overseas. Just because it is referred to as a kit lens does not make it a bad lens! If you are asking if it is an "L" quality lens it is not. All "L" lenses are FF lenses designed for FF cameras. Canon made 3 versions of that lens and all are EF-S lenses meaning they were made for crop sensor cameras which the T1i is. For the price I don't think you could beat it.

Jim D

Mr. Ken Loc: Springfield,Louisiana

oldtool2 wrote:

Yes, it is not a bad deal for $350.00. br br I ... (show quote)

Thanks for your post. Since I am still learning, I was thinking the kit lens was a cheaper lower grade of lens and that the quality of the pictures would not be as good. I am slowly learning better.