Camera lens advice!

[aprilmayjune]

My parents are getting my sister a Canon Rebel XTi for Christmas but none of us have any experience with cameras other than our easy digital ones. There are several kits that come with different lens- I don't know the difference between any of them. This is her first professional camera and she will probably start off taking pictures of our family and cats for sure ha. The kits we have been looking at come with these:

1. # Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Auto Focus Lens
# Canon 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Auto Focus Lens

2. # Canon 28-105mm Auto Focus Lens
# Canon 75-300mm Auto Focus Lens

3. 28-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Auto Focus Lens

Which kit comes with the best set of lenses and which lens would you recommend over any other to start with? I can find some other camera/lens sets if none of these are good beginner kits. Thanks!

[apedroza]

If she's just starting out #1 is a good set. The 18-55 is a good general use camera for everyday shooting, while the 55-200mm makes a nice zoom lens.

[erikharrison]

I agree with Anthony, you want a good all around lens first, then get into the specialty stuff. If you want to get her some presents for Christmas, get her some filters! You can get a soft focus filter, etc. She is going to flip over that camera if she is already like the paparazzi. I finally got my girlfriend to stop taking constant pictures of me. It was driving my CRAZY!

[aprilmayjune]

Some of them did come with filters, I can't remember which ones. Thanks for the advice!

[PeeJ]

Although the overall quality of the lens may be suspect, the 28-200 would be a "one size fits all" for an amateur photographer. Nikon makes an 18-200 thats about $700. Best of both worlds in a single lens.

[TheOtherGuy]

Of the 3 choices I would go with set 1.

[tony]

Of the 3 choices I would go with set 1.

ditto

decent wide lens and then you can buy your next based on your needs

[dapettit]

Is this 1:1 ratio or 1:1.5? I think it's a 1.5 so your actual focal lenghts would be 27-82mm and 82-300mm. Not hat it is important.

I don't want to confuse you any. This is good to know if you are looking for a true wide-angle lens. I bougth my Nikon D80 with both of those lenses and I love them. You cant't go wrong purchasing #1!