Lens for Canon T1i

[sweetwillow]

Think I've narrowed it down to getting a Canon T1i. I've heard the kit lens is not that great. Anyone have any recommendations for a low budget good prime lens that works great in low light (indoors)? Do you really need the kit lens? Also, do you have to use Canon lenses only? Thanks!

[shoturtle]

The kit lens work find in good lighting. But for indoor if you do a low cost prime the ef 50 1.8 is 90 dollars, very good for the price. And yes you will want the kit lens if you are not ready to invest in a high price lens. It is hard to just use a fix prime lens all the time. If you do not want the kit lens, a good replacement for it is the canon ef 15-85.

No you can use sigma, tamron, and tokina lenses design for canon.

[TCav]

Originally Posted by sweetwillow

... I've heard the kit lens is not that great. ...

Not so. The current 18-55 IS lens is quite good, especially for the price. It won't be good for the indoor shooting you say you want, though.

[corkpix]

Originally Posted by sweetwillow

Think I've narrowed it down to getting a Canon T1i.

Welcome to the forum.

Nice camera. I bought one last year. So far, it has been absolutely reliable.
If I was buying now, I might be tempted to pay a little more for the T2i.

I've heard the kit lens is not that great.

The 18-55mm IS lens is pretty good, especially when you
consider the low price.

Outdoors in bright sunlight:
http://pix.ie/corkpix/1658017/size/800

Indoor market without flash:
http://pix.ie/corkpix/1671266/size/800

Anyone have any recommendations for a low budget good prime lens that works great in low light (indoors)?

The 50mm f/1.8 is the obvious candidate. I have one and I find it great
for indoor portraits without flash. 50mm is considered a 'normal' focal
length on a 35mm film camera. On a crop sensor camera like the T1i,
it is about equivalent to 80mm. This gives a fairly narrow field of view.
Take a few indoor shots with the kit lens set at 50mm. If you are
happy with the result, then the 50mm f/1.8 will be the right lens for you.

Do you really need the kit lens?

That's up to you. I would say that you really do need the kit lens,
unless you are going to buy something of superior quality at the
same time you buy the camera.

Also, do you have to use Canon lenses only? Thanks!

There are many lenses for the Canon EF mount. Canon, Sigma, Tamron
Tokina as mentioned by TCav and a few less known brands. I think the
biggest advantage of the Canon is the wide range of new and used lenses
available.