Need lens recs - Beginner

[My2Loves04and06]

Can anyone recommend a few lenses for a beginner? I have a Canon Rebel XTi and I've been using the standard lens that came with my Canon Rebel K2 (EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II). Thanks!

 

[JimmyO]

I would most certainly suggest the 50mm f/1.8. Its darn cheap and will give you some amazing shots.

 

[My2Loves04and06]

Thanks. I've heard good things about the 50mm 1.8, except for the fact that the plastic seems to wear very easily.

What would you recommend for a zoom lens? My daughter has her first ballet recital at the end of June and I don't want to miss any good shots because of our seats.

 

[soylentgreen]

What sort of budget are you working with? How far are you going to be away from the subject? Since you are starting out, i will not reccommend anything too high-end because it may be more than you need. A very good tele-zoom in the $550 USD range would be the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS. Great amount of range, good image quality and has Image Stabilization for sharper pics at low shutterspeed. A bit of a small aperature for dim lighting, but anything larger will cost you twice as much.
I take it the recital is indoors and lighting will be a major concern to try and get a good shutterspeed. To get anything over 1/250 without a flash will be a feat. So tinker with your ISO setting till you get a usable shutterspeed. Probably about 800-1200. The rule of thumb is that the shutterspeed should be 1/ (the focal length). The faster the better as long as the exposure is correct. With the IS you can get good results at much slower speeds, like 1/30, but it will not stop "action" shots. Only a fast shutterspeed can do that. Hope that helps.

 

[R-V]

I have a daughter in Gymnastics and Dance I use the following two lenses for Gymnastics 50mm f1.8 and the 100mm f2. But for the dance I chose my 70-200 mm f2.8 IS. After Shooting the dancers I found I was around 100mm so the 100mm would have worked with a little cropping.

Rus