the 18-55mm is a garbage lens.
It would be great if Massdrop could put together a bundle of a Canon T series and one of it's decent cheap primes like the 50mm f1.8 or 40mm f2.8.
Novice photogs think that they want a zoom. Because it's fun to crank the zoom ring and go woowoawoo. Unless you are getting a Sigma Art, or Canon L, pretty much all the zooms are crap. Primes (fixed focal length lenses as opposed to zooms which have a range like the 18-55) give you more solid looking images with better contrast and color. They also force you to move your ass around to compose the shot instead of zooming in and out until it fits. Once you get in the habit of using primes, it's hard to go back to zooms. Also, primes are generally 'faster'. Notice Canon's cheapest prime, the 50mm 1.8 is 4 or 5 stops faster than the 18-55. This allows you to get better indoor and night time shots.
NotThatCool35mm and 50mm are standard for a natural look that is similar to human field of view. They don't look 'wide' or 'squished'. If you are using a crop sensor camera like this Canon T7i, you won't be seeing the normal perspective for such a lens. Instead it's going to have it's apparent focal length increased by about 60%. (multiply the focal length by 1.6). So you might want to try a 24mm to get something that looks like a 35mm. Or a 35 to get something akin to 50mm.
Be aware that if your lens is too wide up close shots of your face will look kind of unnatural. The chin and nose will be exaggerated and generally people look a bit fatter.
btw, I'd look into how to do 3 point lighting if you are going to do vlogs. Lots of youtube vids that I have watched suffer from really crap lighting.
CoffeeWitchIt is an average deal. You can get it for a little more at B&H Photo, with full warranty, excellent customer service and whatever free add ons they are doing this week.
Me I'd rather pay an extra $50-75 for that.
If I was pinching pennies I'd go for this. Warranty is nice and all, but I have never had to avail myself of a warranty for Canon stuff. I understand some folks have tho.
CalaverasgrandeYeah, I have never used warranty for any of my cameras. I was just wondering if this is in fact a good deal..haven't seen it this price anywhere else and bf wants to upgrade from the t5i to this one. The lens would just be an extra accessory since he already has one. Adorama seems to have the same price as B&H right now. But they are both offering this same lens as well. and it's above the 700 mark.
Thanks for your reply!
CoffeeWitchI just bought this camera refurbished from Canon directly. Good way to get it with a warranty if you are concerned about price and unconcerned about the bundled lens. I love the t7i... I'm still sort of a beginner and its screen by default shows you a really intuitive explanation about the settings you're playing with and what effect they'll have.
CalaverasgrandeI don't agree with your assessment of this lens as garbage, but I certainly agree with your assessment of fixed vs zoom. I am not too sure that many people who want a good camera pay much attention to this concept. Thank you for pointing this out. I really don't do much photography now. (I wouldn't do any if I didn't have my cell phone.) But when I was doing it regularly, It was several years before I picked up a zoom. They are handy, but they certainly lack the quality produced by a fixed.