I have a ESO Rebel T3i camera I was wondering what is the best lens for zooming far.

[kim225]

What is the best lens for zooming far when trying to capture your child in a play or on stage performing?

[kim225]

What is AF on this lens Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III AF Zoom Telephoto Lens?

[kvbarkley]

AFAIK, all the 7X-300 lenses just use the old fashioned USM motor, not STM or the newer USM like on the EF-S 55-250.

[RobertTheFat]

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@kim225 wrote:

What about this one EF 70-200mm f/4L USM? I am loking to take graduations pictures and plays.

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The 70-200mm f/4L is a fine lens for outdoor daytime use. But indoors where you can't use flash (or where you're so far away that flash wouldn't help much), you'd need a camera with excellent low-light performance. e.g. a 6D or a 5D Mark III.

[ScottyP]

Save money with 2 lenses. 

For indoor shots of a dim play get a bright 85mm f/1.8 prime instead of the expensive 70-200 f/2.8.  Or get a 50mm f/1.4. Or get a 100mm f/2. These are all about $350.00 and all of them are even better in low light than the $2,000.00 70-200 f/2.8.  Between 2x and 4x as good. Pick the length that works. Sit close or far enough where you get the right framing for slightly wider shots, and just crop a little where needed.  On a Rebel body these should give plenty of range for a school play. More than enough really. 

For the telephoto for daytime sports get the inexpensive 55-250 or 70-300 lenses. You don't need the expensive big aperture lenses for a bright daylight use. 

[ebiggs1]

Kim,

The ef 70-200mm f4L would be a killer graduation lens.  It would do a fair job in an auditorium shooting musicals and such.

The 75-300 or the 55-250 would not be on my list of choices at all.

I like Scotts idea of the 85mm f1.8 prime lens.  He just forgot to say, you need a good post editor.  That is where you will make your shots work. The 85mil would do a great job on Senior and grad shots.  It is fast and would hole its own in the auditorium.

The main most feature of these two choices is they are constant aperture lenses.  They don't loose aperture as you zoom. (Of course the 85mil doesn't zoom.)

Check out the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens. If these are your kids remember it only happens once.  What's that worth?

I shoot this stuff all the time and I can say the 70-200mm f2.8L is my goto lens for it.

Another outstanding choice is the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Zoom Lens for Canon (make sue of its name).

I can't emphasize enough how important a post editor is for this work.  That is where your shots will be made.  Not in the camera.

[jrhoffman75]

Hi Kim. 

1. What lens(es) do you currently have?

2. Based on your current shooting, what percentage of total photography will the "new" interest be?

The 70-200mm f/4L and the 85mm f/1.8 are excellent lenses, capable of professional quality 13x19 (and larger) prints. But, you stated that your intended use is Facebook and some digital images (which I'm assuming would be emailed files). Depending on the answers to the above those lenses might be more than you need. 

[kim225]

I had my camera for 2 yrs now I am still learning it  some pictures come out blurry. The lens that came with my camera is EFS 18-55MM Image Stabilizer Macro 0.25m/0.8ft. I am looking for something to capture of my children. My son will be graduating in 2018 then my daugther 3 yrs later and son who is only 7 now. I want something with a good quality to capture their pictures but at the same time a good lens to invest in.

[Waddizzle]

The 18-55mm lens that comes with most T3i kits is most useful for introducing you to a DSLR, not so useful for taking great pictures.  The only good pictures that I ever shot with mine were taken in bright sunlight.

DSLRs have a variety of lenses available because no one lens is ideal for any purpose.  I would definitely look to replace that 18-55mm kit lens with something better before too long.  Having a good wide angle zoom is invaluable.  The single best thing about the 18-55mm kit lens is that it is small enough not to cast a shadow when you use the built-in flash.

Your camera works with either EF or EF-S lenses.  With the exception of a wide angle lens, I would recommend only buying EF lenses.  There are some pretty good EF-S lenses, out there to be had, though.  Canon's best cameras cannot use EF-S lenses, just EF lenses.  Deciding on what lens series you want to invest in is something to consider, if a camera upgrade could be in your future.  I also think most EF lenses are generally better made than most EF-S lenses.

For your immediate question, I still think the EF 70-200mm f/4L lens will do a great job.  But, it could be a little long [too much focal length] for many general shooting scenarios.  The EF 85mm f/1.8 is a good lens for a full frame, but I think the EF 50mm f/1.4 may work better on your T3i, if paired with the 70-200mm f/4L.  Even the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM would work with it.  [A really good wide angle for a Rebel is the EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens.]

But,, this still leaves the you with no replacement for the 18-55mm lens for now.  Remember, most of the zoom lenses being suggested will not work with the built-in flash.  They're too big.  The flash doesn't raise up high enough to clear most lenses, just the shortest ones out there that have fairly narrow barrels.