Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Those with the Canon T3i, can you tell me what lenses you're using? I have only had my camera for 10 days, using mostly the 50 - 250mm Canon (Consumer Reports "Best Buy") and even with using faster shutter speed and the back button for focus, am having trouble with small objects at kind of far distances.

sportyman140 Loc: Juliette, GA

I have the 3Ti and I am using Sigma's 18-250, 70-300, 50-200. I love Sigma Lens, I have had great luck with them and bought all off amazon.com.... I recommend the 70-300 macro zoom. It will get you in close and it is great for speed too. My problem is I was in a bad motorcycle wreck in 09 and I have bad muscle response so I get a lot of camera shake, therefore I use a Tripod for everything I shoot. So Sigma glass is great glass for me. Now everyone has their opinions and you know the ole saying as it goes. But I do highly recommend these lenses.

PhotoGator Loc: Florida

You can go following this list as your budget will allow.

Canon or Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Canon 50mm f/1.8

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

I'm a Canon guy too, sans the lens you have, so cannot say.

But I can say that I like your Avatar. Very creative those shadow shots. Wide angle lenses easier to focus, right?

Do you use Abe's of Maine?

Reyn Loc: Orange Lake, NY

I have the 18-55 mm kit lens, also the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, Canon 50 1.8 II. I plan on purchasing the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM next.
When the day comes to move up to a full frame camera, I'll be ready with last three, but in the mean time I can also use them on my T3i..

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have not purchased anything from Abe's. The only photographic purchases I've made in 5 years was a Rebel XT from amazon 5 years ago, the Canon 55-250 IS from amazon 2 months ago, and my T3i from 42photo recently (horrible experience). Per other recommendations, I just bought a filter and an SD card from B&H. THANK YOU ALL, great info to start dreaming with!

ThePapaJohn Loc: All over the world.. Currently WA

After my camera and all my gear was stolen from my car about a year ago, I purchased the T3i with the 18-55mm kit lens. I got the 55-250 IS thrown in with a bundle purchase at a great price from B&H photo to boot! Started out on the decent side with the kit lenses (and I still actually pull them out every now and then, but not so much...)

I ended up getting the "Nifty Fifty" (Canon's 50mm prime lens) Its made of plastics, has a Cheap Feel, but I'm really surprised at the results I've gotten from it for under $100.

The primary "Walk Around Lens" that is usually found on my T3i body is the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/149629-USA/Canon_2562A002AA_EF_28_135mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS.html ). I found my "used" at a Mom & Pop camera shop outside of Philadelphia PA (Allen's Photo [allenscamera.com]) for Under $200 [and it was a shelf demo that was in mint condition]! http://allenscamera.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog[product_guids][0]=849826#.ULzy-Yb4LFI

I'm hopeful that I'll be seeing the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM under the tree this year.

After seeing that you noted a "horrible experience" with 42photo, I'm wondering if anyone has ever had a good experience with them... How did they "bait and switch" you?

PapaJohn

runsthebitterroot Loc: Western Montana

Hi Linda, I have the Canon Xt and use the kit lenses from the Xt on my canon Rebel T3i. Those lens' are the 75-300 Zoom and the EF-S 18-55. I have no asperations of becoming a pro ; It is just a hobby. I like the features in the T3i, also it's light weight. I recently added the EF-S 10-22 lens to my collection, which I am sure will be a favorite. I intend on replacing my Zoom 75-300 with an EF-S lens. I don't know if I will replace the EFS 18-55 as it is my favorite lens and it is very light.

Larry

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Please note, I am only addressing your comment about "trouble with small objects at telephoto distances."

It's really a composition issue, which is somewhat different with telephotos.

Unless standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon you should use "Sneaker Zoom" to make small objects look larger. If you expect the zoom to make smaller object show more size and detail, then the effect of the zoom should only do that if the object/subject fills the frame.

If it makes more sense to say it another way, get closer (let your sneakers decrease the distance) to the subject so the subject is the primary object in the viewing frame. Long lenses do not effectively make subjects bigger, relative to filling the viewfinder, unless the combination of moving closer, and still filling the viewfinder with the subject pull in that detail. So, it's your job to carry the zoom close enough so that when it is racked out to 250, you also have positioned it close enough for the subject to be the primary object filling the viewfinder.

Get closer... unless the edge of the North Rim is your obstacle.

In fact, a 250mm lens is really not that much of a zoom. For people who do "birding" and other nature photography, and want a bird about 100-200 feet away to fill the frame, those people want to start at about 500mm of zoom, and idealize 1000mm lenses.

They could do better with 300 to 500mm if they could sit in a camo blind and stop breathing for about a half hour until the subject settles down.

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

I have the T3i, and use Canon lenses 50mm, 85mm, 75-300, and 28-135. I use the last one most often. And I can get some pretty good close-up shots from a distance with the 75-300.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have been very happy with the shots of flowers, leaves, animals, etc. that fill the frame at 250mm, so I understand now that I was expecting too much as far as clarity of (cropped) distant wildlife. Thanks so much; this was very helpful!

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

I've seen various references to the 28-135...
It's a great lens and has one very nice advantage. It was built originally for film cameras, and was kitted with Canon Digital Midrange bodies... above rebels. The nice thing is that it is full frame coming from the film era and therefore works nicely on a digital FF body.

Considering the glass lenses are bigger than needed for a crop sensor (Rebel and mid range Canons), your camera would be shooting using the sweetest part of the lens glass. You would also have a good lens if you step up to Full Frame. (not my recommendation)

On the down side, after you apply the crop factor for a rebel, or midrange Canon, it equates to about 38mm on the short end, not very wide angle.

I've used the 28-135 on full frame and film and it is a very good lens. They sell between $200 to $300 used.

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Interesting that you should mention cropping. You lose the megapixels you crop away from an image.

Your Canon is an 18 Megapixel camera. Filling the frame with a subject and not cropping allows you to keep all 18,000,000 pixels to post process, or print the image.

However, if the subject is actually only occupying 20% of the full view finder and you crop the 80% you don't want to keep, you are only keeping 3,600,000 or 3.6Megapixels of your original capture. That is very severe and a reduction of 80% of your resolution. The new file will now not provide as much resolution as your camera is capable of, nor will the image print up to the same size with the same clarity as the original image.

Cropping is a good tool for small to moderate improvements in aspect ratio and composition, but it's an image killer used in the extreme I offered. I know I will tweak a digital file a bit with cropping, but I prefer to keep it to a minimum.

Sorry to beat on this, but yet another argument for getting closer to the subject, filling the viewfinder, and avoiding large crops or throwing away significant portions of your megapixels.

So, some may say,,,, "why are we paying such huge prices for these telephoto lenses, when we could get by with a $20 pair of Keds?" Unfortunately wildlife and baby/infant/child photography (from the time they walk, until they quit running) is about getting as close as possible and using the Telephoto to close that last little bit of distance.

Or buying that $8000 telephoto at 800mm.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Thanks for all your tips and reminders (I sent you a couple of PM replies too). Just this week I had resolved to not attempt birds in far distance with my 250mm and yet I did it again today! Guess self-discipline is next topic. I remember being much more selective with my subjects when I first got a digital camera (as if I were paying for film). Might have gotten lazy and possibly the art has suffered for it.

Oxygen Loc: Houston, Texas

The t3i is a wonderful camera and will produce some wonderful shots with the proper lens. I use the L lens with the t3i, 135L, 24-70L, 17-40L and the 80-200L in addition the 10-22,which is an excellent wide lens far exceeding the 17-40L. I use the 80-200L which is a discontinued lens which was replaced by the 70-200L lens. Many photographers says the 80-200L is still by far the better of the two.
Once you get into the higher caliber lens you'll see a tremendous difference in the quality of your photos.