Looking for some advice

[KAB]

I hope I'm asking this in the correct place.  I currently have a canon point and shoot, Powershot SX1 IS, and while it is a nice camera, it's still a point and shoot and I'm ready to upgrade to a SLR.  I'm not looking to do anything real professional, I have a toddler and another baby on the way, and I'd like something nice enough that I can get some really good pictures of my little ones, since I don't ever pay for professional photo's.  My todder is very active, and all of the pictures I currently take turn out blurry, the camera takes too long to snap the photo.  I also need something that will be good with indoor low light.  My budget is $1000, I know that's not much in the camera world, but that's all I can afford right now. 

I have my eyes on the Rebel T3i or the T5i, I have no clue which one I need, if even one of those.  I don't plan on using the auto feature, I want something that I can learn and grow with, but again, nothing real professional as I will just be using it on my girls, but I still want something nice.  As far as lenses go?  I was thinking to start with the lens that comes with the camera, the 18-55mm, and I also was thinking about the 50 mm 1.8.  Would the 75-300 lens be needed as well?  And what about an external flash?  Obviously with my budget I can't get all of that right now, but I'm not sure what I should start with, and what would be worth saving for in the near future. 

I appreciate any advice, the SLR is really new to me and I want to make sure I'm investing my money wisely.  Thank you for any help you can provide. 

[KAB]

Thank you.

[ebiggs1]

"I am going to disagree with Ebiggs, but only on the 35mm vs 50mm lens part."

My reasoning for suggesting the 35mm over the 50mm is, on a Rebel the 50mm becomes a more "specialized" lens.

The 35mm remains a more normal lens.

Would you walk around with a 85mm lens on a 5D?

The benefit of the 35mm f2 it is faster and sharper. But if you get the 50mm, you may lose the faster part if you are indoors and can't back up any for instance.

All of photography is a trade of. There is no free lunch. I still recommend KAB get the 35mm f2. Personally I would even go for the 35mm f2 over the EF-S 18-135 IS STM, if I had to choose just one.

[ScottyP]

Always the contrarian, eh, ebiggs? 🙂

But she wants to shoot good portraits of her kids more than she wants good dark & gritty street shots of strangers. The zoom covers the whole range. The question is what range then does she want to duplicate with a better and more specialized lens. I shoot my kids a whole lot and I can tell you I'd be lost without a decent portrait lens for my kids. And 35 is not a portrait lens even on a crop, while the 50mm definitely is a portrait length on a crop.

[Skirball]

I loved my 50mm as a walkaround on my crop sensor.  So much so I've been saving for a 85mm for my 6D.

[ebiggs1]

"Always the contrarian, eh, ebiggs?"      Indubitably, I is. To quote a famous actor of old.

It is always going to be a trade off and everyone must choose which is the most valuable. All of are going to see value in certain things and not so much in others. That is why Canon makes so many different choices in lenses.

IMHO, the Canon 35mm f2 is a far better lens that the 50mm f1.8 is. Her kit lens is going to be slow and the 35mm will certainly take better care of low light photos, she may want. Her kit lens will serve admirably as a portrait lens, Of course the selection is not perfect and ultimate but neither would adding a more specialized 50mm to the kit lens.

I sold my last Rebel, an XTI with a 35mm f2, a few days ago and I think I am already missing it. You must admit it is a nice combo. Actually come to think of it, I would prefer it over the kit lens in the first place.

[ebiggs1]

"So much so I've been saving for a 85mm for my 6D."

This is the one you want, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM.

As you know from reading my posts I dislike third party lenses with a passion. But there are a handful of pretty nice glass right now. Mostly from Sigma so it is only right to give them their due.

There are no Tokina's I would own. There is one Tamron zoom, the 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD.

But there are several Sigma's and I already have some of them. The 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

 being one. This lens on my 5D3 is fantastic.

[Skirball]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"So much so I've been saving for a 85mm for my 6D."

This is the one you want, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM.

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That's exactly the one on my list.  I don't have anything against Sigma, and I liked the old "EF-S" zoom lens I had from them.  Most the issues I see with their primes are just back-focusing, so I probably wouldn't get one if I didn't have AFMA. 

[ebiggs1]

One big problem with third part lenses is the build quality and this also effects the Sigma 85mm f1.4. It isn't a Canon L but in this case it is close. This lens is better than my Canon 85mm f1.8 was.  Both in build and performance. I don't have the Canon f1.2 version but I suspect the Sigma is lacking in both areas compared to it. But the last time I checked the Sigma was a grand, give or take, less and that is something!

I hate to say this but Canon better look behind them and see who is clawing at their heals. There are three Sigma's in this series, a 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4 and this 85mm f1.4. I don't have the 50mm f1.4 because it is no improvement over my Canon 50mm f1.4. But these three lenses are top notch performers.