Need advice on a lense for a gift

[dantheman212]

My wife is getting into photography and is doing her first wedding this month for a family member. She has a Canon Rebel xti and only has the lenses that came with it. I want to surprise her with a good lense and have no idea what to get. I don't want to spen more than around 500 dollars or so. I want something that will be good for the wedding but that she will like for the future as well. What do you suggest?

Thank you so much!

 

[table1349]

Gift card. That way she gets what SHE wants and needs.

 

[JustAnEngineer]

This might suit her needs:
AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF); Tamron USA, Inc.

 

[TUX424]

This might suit her needs:
AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF); Tamron USA, Inc.

This or the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 but there is a pretty large thread on the debate about which is the best.
I know that a flash isn't a lens but a flash is a must have. I dont shoot canon so i don't know what would work.

 

[JustAnEngineer]

A flash is a must have. I dont shoot canon so i don't know what would work.

The $240 Speedlite 430EX II or $370 Speedlite 580EX II could be appropriate.

 

[CxThree]

Depending on what she shoots, you may want to consider one of the 18-200 or 18-250 models. Canon makes a 18-200 and I think Sigma, Tamron, Quantaray, etc will have similar models in the 18-200 focal length. I believe Sigma has the 18-250. They could provide a single lens for her to use for lots of shooting outdoors or in good lighting indoors. They are just not good for low light without a flash.

On the other hand, a lot of people use the Canon 28-135 lens as a good general use lens. It's not ad wide, or long as the others I mentioned, but its still very useful.