What lenses should I purchase for my Canon XTI?
I have owned my Canon XTI for about 6 months. Mine came with the typical efs 18-55mm kit lens and while it takes decent photos, it is not great in low light. I also have the Canon 50mm 1.8. It is great in low light, but is not wide enough for many shots.
I use my camera for an extremely wide variety of occasions and activities (hiking, weddings, cycling, sporting events, and just everyday events. I would like good walk-around lens and a telephoto.
I have been looking at:
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5. If I were to purchase that lens, I would probably get the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 to go with it.
Or I could just get the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS to go along with my 18-55 kit lens, but I am not happy with my 18-55mm in low light… especially during times when I don't want to use a flash.
Great suggestions, but I am not really happy with having just the 18-55 kit lens as my walk-around lens. Maybe I should just get something like the Canon 28-135? I could always get a proper telephoto lens later. I am doing Ragbrai (bike ride across Iowa) in a few weeks, and would like one main lens to use for the week long event. The 18-55 is just not versatile enough.
Of all the ones that you mentioned, I would go with the Canon lens that you mentioned last, though it is a high zoom lens, and not a very fast one.
You buy a real Canon DSLR to get the good Canon glass; don't skimp out by buying cheap third-party lenses.
If you're really set on getting a telephoto, I would get the Canon 70-200mm f/4L USM. They're having a sale on it right now at http://www.adorama.com and you could get one for $560, and that is a fantastic lens. It will still stay fast at 200mm, too.
Unfortunately, there just simply is not a do-it-all lens. Yeah, there are 18-200mm lenses, but they have serious distortion and are slow, and they will not yield good images in low light.
I would keep that kit lens for it's width and versatility, and that 50mm f/1.8 is invaluable in low light. Get the nice 70-200 or the 55-250 and you'll be happy. Just carry two of those lenses with you wherever you go. Take the 18-55mm and 50mm to family functions and weddings, and take the 18-55mm and the telephoto you get to sporting events, etc.
Both of those Sigma lenses will not improve your low light photos if you're not using flash. Their apertures go down to f 4.5 & f 5.6, which is basically what your kit lens does.
The 17-55 f 2.8 IS ( http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=303&sort=7&cat=27&page=3 ) is fast enough and it has image stablizer, too.
The option for wide photos for your camera is the 10-22 mm zoom.
The telephoto that have recently became my favorite is Canon 135 mm f 2. It will work as a 216 mm lens on your due to cropped sensor, but it is very sharp. See some photos here http://www.flickr.com/little_pooky
You can also see the photos taken with Canon 24-70 mm f 2.8 zoom. Keep in mind that your photos will not be as wide as mine since these were taken with a full frame camera.