I am new to the advanced photography world, and I just purchased Canon Rebel Xt because it seems to be a great entry level camera with good features. I am mostly interested in taking photos of dogs at dog park and events, etc. I want to be able to take clear photos of them running around. What are the lenses that would fit my criteria? I would like something on the cheaper side that does the job. Thanks a lot!

I’ll give you some criteria used in choosing a lens, and then suggest a few that I would use for this purpose.

1. Zoom or prime
Zoom lenses are lenses that cover multiple focal lengths. Prime lenses cover a single focal length. Zooms should NOT be confused with telephotos (lenses for shooting far away things), as telephotos can be either zoom or prime. Zooms give you greater flexibility, but primes offer superior image quality at a given price point. Primes are also available in larger apertures (see below).

2. Focal length
Remember that your DSLR is a “crop” sensor DSLR. This means that your sensor is significantly smaller than 35mm film, and only uses the center of the image circle created by a standard lens. The simplified result of this “crop effect” is that you need to multiply the focal length on the lens by 1.6 to get the effective length on your camera. (No, the lens doesn’t magically change, but the crop will make you move YOUR position, which will change the perspective rendered by the lens.)

The classic ranges for 35mm film are (give or take)
14-24mm = Ultra Wide Angle
24mm-35mm = Wide angle
40mm-70mm = Normal Perspective
70mm-135mm = Short Telephoto/Portrait
135mm-299mm = Telephoto
300mm + = Supertelephoto.

So take the lens’s focal length and multiply by 1.6 to figure out how the lens will work on YOUR camera.

Note that EF-S lenses are lenses designed for your reduced image circle. This doesn’t mean that you gain any optical benefits (quite the opposite in most cases), but some of these reduced-circle lenses represent great values, or at the wide end (EF-S 10-22) offer perspectives not available in full-frame lenses.

3. Maximum Aperture
When you see a number like f/2.8 or f/4-5.6 on the side of a lens, it tells you the maximum aperture that the lens is capable of achieving. Larger apertures give you a few capabilities. They allow you to shoot in lower light without flash (more light coming in = faster shutter speed). This is VITAL for sports photography, or any situation where the subject is apt to be moving. Larger apertures also allow you to shoot shallow depth-of-field shots, where the background and foreground are blurred to isolate the subject. A larger aperture lens can be stopped down for more depth-of-field or slower shutter, but a “slower” lens cannot be opened up. Larger apertures also offer faster auto-focus (with a few exceptions), as lenses slower than f/2.8 disable some of the AF sensors on your camera.

4. IS
Some Canon Lenses offer IS. IS is a gyroscopic device that lives in the back of the lens and tries to correct for lens movement. This is extremely useful when you are shooting hand-held, but still can be useful on a tripod or monopod (although some older lenses require that you disable IS on a tripod). IS is great for shooting STATIC subjects in low light, as it will allow you to use a slower shutter speed than you would otherwise be able to. Some IS lenses offer “pan mode” which will stabilize the lens vertically, but allow you to pan the lens horizontally (think racecars with the background blurring as they move). IS is almost useless for most sports, as the key issue is not camera movement, but getting a shutter fast enough to stop the subject’s motion.

5. Little red rings
The Canon “L” series of lenses is the “L”uxury lineup of optics, and they all have a little red ring around the front. In reality, this designation has more to do with being designed for professionals than for use as a luxury item. The L series lenses are *typically* of higher optical quality AND build quality than their consumer grade cousins. For zooms in particular, there are VERY few offering really strong quality in the consumer lineup (EF-S 10-22, EF-S 17-50IS, 70-300IS being the most notable exceptions).

6. Third party lenses
Tamron, Sigma, Tokina…. people take sides on the “are third party lenses ok” debate as vehement as their stances on major political issues. In my experience, some third party lenses offer an excellent value for the money. That said, ALL lenses have a certain variation in quality between copies of identical lenses. Test 3 copies of a Canon 50mm 1.4 in the store, and you will likely see a difference in performance. This tends to be even more pronounced in 3rd party lenses! So I recommend that you only consider purchasing a 3rd party lens from one of the three manufacturers I listed, and only if you can test it in store, or if the store has a fair return policy.

There ARE other concerns when buying a lens, but this should be more than enough to get you started.

That said… for your stated purpose:
You need a focal length where you can shoot at a bit of a distance… so telephoto is where its at here. If it were me, I’d be looking at the EF85mm f/1.8 or EF100mm f/2 primes for a value option with this purpose. If you feel you need more reach, the EF200 f.2.8L is superb and value priced at about $500. If you decide that you need a zoom, the least expensive telezooms I recommend are the EF70-200 f/4L or the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS. The non-IS 70-300 is not very well built and offers a different (and much inferior) optical design from its IS brother.

Kir L Bracket for a Canon 40D Body W/O the BG-E2 grip $99.00

Canon 7D THE FULL-RANGE OUTFIT,Fisheye,+2Lenses+2Batts $4,157.79

Canon 7D THE SUPERWIDE OUTFIT,EF Fisheye+EFsLens+2Batt $3,376.58

Canon WC-DC52 Wide Converter for the Canon A10, A20, A6 $74.99

Canon PowerShot BLUE Mini Glove Bag Carrying Sleeve For Slim Digital Camera and Camera Accessories: models Canon PowerShot SD1200IS, Canon PowerShot SX200IS, Canon PowerShot D10, SD890IS, SD780IS, $9.85 Prevents your camera case from getting scratches while inside your brief case or tote bag. Made from soft Neoprene material!!! Perfect case to protect your camera since it stretches to form-fit your camera!!! Live*Laugh*Love Wrist Band Looks Great and most of All Its GENUINELY UNIQUE!!! ***Digital Camera NOT Included***…

Woodstock Pachelbel Canon Chime $32.39 Recalling the soft, repeating melody of Johann Pachelbel’s celebrated Canon, this chime is the perfect gift for virtually any occasion. A unique design uses two sets of tubes; larger silver tubes offer the lower tones and the small black rods present a soprano counternote. Boxed for gift-giving. Length: 32.5 inches. Consumer warranty is 1 year for anything – lifetime on tuning. For a sound bite of…

Canon PowerShot BLACK Mini Glove Bag Carrying Sleeve For Slim Digital Camera and Camera Accessories: models Canon PowerShot SD3500IS, Canon PowerShot SD1400IS, Canon PowerShot SD1300IS, Canon PowerShot SD1200IS, Canon PowerShot SD780IS, SD890IS $8.85 Prevents your camera case from getting scratches while inside your brief case or tote bag. Made from soft Neoprene material!!! Perfect case to protect your camera since it stretches to form-fit your camera!!! Live*Laugh*Love Wrist Band Looks Great and most of All Its GENUINELY UNIQUE!!! ***Digital Camera NOT Included***…

Maximum Overdrive [VHS] $5.99 “I’m gonna scare the hell out of you,” intones Stephen King in the trailer for his sole directorial effort, the much-maligned Maximum Overdrive. While the end result doesn’t live up to that boast, this sci-fi/horror tale isn’t as awful as it’s been described. King’s script (based on his short story “Trucks”) focuses on the patrons of a North Carolina truck stop, which comes under attack by a convo…

Tom Horn [VHS] $8.71 Tom Horn is hired by Wyoming cattle ranchers to put a stop to the violence on the range. In the process, Tom finds himself accused of murder….

Gunfighters: Tom Horn [VHS] $4.99 …

Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics $2.95 For newborn and up.Features:A peaceful musical collection to soothe and calm little onesIncludes ‘Brahms Lullabye’ and other relaxing and delightful melodies…

The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe $8.15 …

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World…Ever! $9.10 You want relaxing classical music that’ll soothe your soul but won’t lull you into sleep? Here’s a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World … Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach’s “Air on the G String,” Pachelbel’s “Cannon,” Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”) and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki’s Symphony No. 3, Jocely…

Maximum Overdrive $2.60 “I’m gonna scare the hell out of you,” intones Stephen King in the trailer for his sole directorial effort, the much-maligned Maximum Overdrive. While the end result doesn’t live up to that boast, this sci-fi/horror tale isn’t as awful as it’s been described. King’s script (based on his short story “Trucks”) focuses on the patrons of a North Carolina truck stop, which comes under attack by a convo…

Technorati Tags: camera, canon, photo, photography, reference, the canon logic, the canon of medicine by avicenna, the canon of scripture, the canonization, the canonization analysis

I am seriously considering this when my lease is up in a few months. Obviously one would need a tent, a sleeping bag or some sort of sleeping roll, a mess kit, a good damp-proof lighter or damp-proof matches, and some idea of what direction to go (a compass and a map?) Also a first-aid kit would be a necessity, as would a flashlight. To prepare, I want to learn as extensively as possible about edible vs nonedible herbs and plants across the US, does anyone have a good book they copuld recommend, with color photos and descriptions, etc?

Well, first of all … Good Luck to you. I hope you have the adverature of the lifetime.

The only thing from your list that doesn’t jump out is….

SHOES!

You’ll need several different shoes to get around like a couple of good walking shoes, rainboots. I don’t thinks you wants to take sandels because if there are anything bugs or snakes that’ll strike unless you are planning just walking on a major highway or roads. Then you might be able to wear them.

DON’T FORGET MONEY AND I.D.!!!! lol…
(cellphone might be handy too) .. lol..
Again Good Luck!

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR Camera Body+Kit NEW USA $606.95

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR Camera Body+Kit NEW USA $639.95

Casio Exilim EX-H10 Black Digital Camera + Kit NEW USA $182.95

NEW PENTAX X90 SUPER ZOOM CAMERA + 4GB SDHC X90 USA KIT $349.00

Canon EOS 7D DIGITAL SLR Camera Body +16GB KIT NEW USA $1,547.00

Canon PowerShot S90 10MP IS Digital Camera +Kit NEW USA $369.95

NEW Nikon D5000 USA W/ NIKON 18-200mm VR II 20 PC KIT $1,449.99

Nikon D90 USA W/ NIKON 18-200mm 18-200 VR II 20PC KIT $1,829.99

Nikon D5000 USA W/ NIKON 18-55mm & 70-300mm 30PC KIT $1,099.99

Nikon Coolpix S70 Red & Red Digital Camera +8GB Kit USA $199.95

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body +4 Lens Kit NEW USA $1,098.90

Canon PowerShot A1100 IS Digital Camera+4GB Kit NEW USA $197.00

Nikon D5000 DX Digital SLR Kit w/18-55 VR Lens (USA) $679.00

Pentax X90 12MP 26x Zoom Digital Camera + 8GB KIT USA $379.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body + 2 Lens+16GB Kit USA $939.95

Pentax X90 12MP 26x Zoom Digital Camera + 16GB KIT USA $399.00

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR Camera Body+Kit NEW USA $645.95

NEW Canon Digital Rebel XS + 4 Lens & 16GB 24PC Kit USA $799.99

NEW Canon Digital Rebel XS + 4 Lens & 16GB 24PC Kit USA $799.99

Nikon Coolpix S4000 VR Digital Camera Red + Kit NEW USA $209.95

FURminator deShedding Tool $29.99 FURminator Small deShedding Tool Reduces shedding up to 90 percent by removing the loose, dead undercoat without damaging the topcoat.  It is by far the absolute best deShedding Tool on the market, throw away all your other tools, you’ll never need anything except the FURminator again!Watch the video to see the furminator for dogs in action, then scroll down and see the actual amount of fur r…

Drawing and Sketching Pencil Set In Zippered Carrying Case $5.92 ROYAL LANGNICKEL-Keep N Carry Artist Set. Use these convenient artists’ kits anywhere you go; at home; the park; camping; in the car; on the train; plane or even the boat. All of these kits come in a black canvas case with a zippered closure: 10-3/4×6x1in. This Sketching kit contains twelve graphite pencils; a 7×5in sketch pad; an artists drawing eraser and a pencil sharpener. Contents conform…

Cricut 29-0004 7-Piece Tool Kit for Cricut Cutting Machines $10.99 Kit includes: knife, hook, scoop, bone folder, ruler, scraper, and scissors….

Quiet Nights $7.61 Quiet Nights is the twelfth album by Canadian jazz singer-songwriter and pianist Diana Krall, released on March 31, 2009 by Verve Records….

Emotionalism (Dig) $10.44 Though the banjo might seem to relegate this decidedly non-bluegrass trio to the alt-country fringes, the buoyant melodies and heart-tugging harmonies on the album-opening “Die Die Die” and “Will You Return?” owe more to the early Beatles. Despite the stripped-down, largely acoustic arrangements, the 14 cuts here cover an impressively expansive musical terrain, with “Pretty Girl from Chile” and “…

Pretty. Odd. $2.00 Pretty. Odd. Panic At the Disco Label: Fueled By Ramen Release Date: 3/25/2008 1 We’re So Starving – 1:21 2 Nine in the Afternoon – 3:11 3 She’s a Handsome Woman – 3:12 4 Do You Know What I’m Seeing? – 4:14 5 That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed) – 3:15 6 I Have Friends in Holy Spaces – 1:56 7 Northern Downpour – 4:07 8 When the Day Met the Night – 4:53 9 Pas de Chev…

Technorati Tags: car kit usa, chopper kit usa, cricket kit usa, disaster, diy, grant kit usa, kit usa internet, reference, shopping, survival