Affordable must-have lenses for a Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Asked 7/15/2010
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I'm a beginner using a Canon EOS Rebel T2i and want a few practical lens recommendations for everyday carry and learning. I'm especially interested in affordable options, but I'd also like to know which lenses are most useful for common subjects like portraits, landscapes, low light, and some telephoto shooting.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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The 50 1.8, for sure. It's a good lens for portraits and general usage. I even recommend people to just skip the kit lens all together and start with the 50 1.8 when buying a Rebel. It's also a good lens for shooting video because it's lightweight.
Since you're into landscapes, you'd enjoy Canon's 10-22. It's a great lens for the smaller sensor and isn't terrible expensive. Sharpness and color is good. It shows a little bit of CA, but offers good image quality overall.
As far as telephotos, you can't go wrong with Canon's 70-200 f/4L. These can be had for around $500 used. 70-200 is a "must have" focal length in my opinion. There are some other options in that focal length, like the 70-300 or 55-250, but you'll really appreciate the colors and contrast from a L-series lens.
For a little over $1,000 total, those are three great lenses that will go a long way and you'll pretty much be equipped for anything.
Originally by user50. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user50
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A strong budget-friendly starting point for the Canon T2i is the Canon 50mm f/1.8 (“nifty fifty”). It’s widely recommended because it’s inexpensive, sharp, lightweight, and great for portraits, low-light shooting, and even video. The tradeoff is that it’s a prime lens, so it doesn’t zoom.
For landscapes on the T2i’s APS-C sensor, an ultra-wide option like the Canon 10-22mm is a popular choice. It offers very good sharpness and color, with only minor chromatic aberration.
If you want one general-purpose lens to leave on the camera, the Canon 15-85mm IS USM is a strong all-around option for a crop-sensor body. Its wide end is useful for landscapes, and the overall image quality is well regarded.
For telephoto work, the Canon 70-200mm f/4L is often praised for excellent color and contrast. More budget-oriented telephoto alternatives mentioned were the 70-300mm and 55-250mm.
If you’re just building a kit, the simplest path is: start with the 50mm f/1.8 for portraits and low light, then add a wide zoom or a telephoto based on what you shoot most.
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