Sigma Lenses

[NascarFool]

Are THESE any good for a beginner with a Digital Rebel XT ? If not, what do you suggest ?

 

[michaelkahl]

They are nothing special but definately won't break the bank. Really it all depends on your use for the camera and how much your into photography. If you like wide angle you will be dissatisfied with 28mm being as wide as it goes. There is a Sigma 18-50 f3.5-5.6 that won't break the bank and the wide end is much much better.
Another thing about these lenses is they will have slower and louder AF.
If you can stretch your budget I'd say look at some nicer glass but if not this should give you a good coverage area.
You could look in a good all in one lens like this one. Tamron 18-200mm, doesn't have as much reach but better wide angle and you don't have to swap lenses and collect dust.
http://www.wolfcamera.com/webapp/wc...&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=13263506
If you really want 300mm and don't mind 28mm then try the Tamron 28-300 listed here
http://www.wolfcamera.com/webapp/wc...&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=13176755

I'd rather spend money on one of these than the two you have listed in the package deal. I hear good things about these tamrons as well, good luck

 

[Clockworks]

Try out the Sigma 18-200, they are a little more expensive but from the reviews that I read, they are supposed to be better than the Tamron models (Sigma seemed sharper).

 

[[TQ]]

Are THESE any good for a beginner with a Digital Rebel XT ? If not, what do you suggest ?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Do not spend that much money on a camera and put those lenses on it. YOu would be better off buying a D30 with those lenses and even then they are doing no good for you.

Sigma does make some decent lenses, but those two are not in this catigory.

 

[HorsePunchKid]

NascarFool, as a general rule, you get what you pay for when you're buying lenses. Zoom lenses are more optically, mechanically, and electrically complex than prime lenses, so they tend to be significantly more expensive. If you pay $230 for two zoom lenses and a bag to carry them, you're going to get two rather poor lenses that won't do your camera body justice. As [TQ] indicated, these two lenses are pretty near the bottom of Sigma's line.

The same price will buy you one quite nice short prime (Sigma example) or one decent zoom (Sigma example). You'll be much happier with the quality of the photos, even though you won't have quite the flexibility.

 

[NascarFool]

I steered away from the Sigma lens kit and ordered a Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM Telephoto Lens. Next on my list is a nice macro lens from Canon.