Recommend me a lens......

[bearintex]

I am a total neophyte when it comes to photography. F this, stop that, it's all Greek to me. We have a Canon Rebel T1i DSLR that came with the 2 kit lenses. The longer of the two (55-300) takes decent pictures, but doesn't have enough reach out there for our liking. Boy plays football. Momma wants to take decent pics from stands. That means I get to spend a pile of money that could buy another gun. Anniversary is coming up shortly. I'd like to stay under a grand if possible. Name brand isn't important to me. Help a brutha out!

[Limbwalker]

For about the past year, I used a Tamron 200-500 lens I was very happy with. I could take good pic's of my daughter in the marching band on the 50 yd-line from the big bleachers. Good enough that you could see the sweat on her brow.

That lens isn't stupid expensive either. $450 or so from KEH camera in Atlanta. I shop there a lot for used gear as it's always in good shape and they have a no questiones asked buy back policy if you don't like whatever you get.

That 200-500 doesn't have image stabilization, but for sports IS doesn't help you much as it doesn't help stop the action, just the camera shake.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd tell her to use that 55-300 and just get closer. 300mm on a crop body equals 480mm on a normal camera, and that's a lot of reach already.

The other way to go is to get her what's called a "bridge" camera - like a Canon powershot with a 50x zoom and IS. A lot of birders use those because they are light and have great reach for a reasonable price. Since she's just shooting your son's football games and not trying to publish on Sports Illustrated, that would be more than adequate IMO.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/canon-powershot-sx50-hs-12-1-megapixel-digital-camera-black/3840002.p?id=1219093648613&skuId=3840002&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=3840002&extensionType=pla:g&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!!!80451202959!g!!47685284679&kpid=3840002&k_clickid=702e30cd-0839-1b29-733e-00007f77037d&kpid=3840002

[bearintex]

How does the zoom factor work out? A 200-500mm is equal to XX magnification?

[Limbwalker]

There's a canon mount 200-500 Tamron in the classifieds now. You had better jump on it.

A 200-500 on top of the 1.6x crop factor of that Rebel body will equal 320-800mm equivalent, which is about 40X