Michael is looking for a new lens setup for his Canon Digital Rebel XSi Wants lenses that are fast and a decent zoom too. Also asked about flash, filters and lens hoods

Michael currently has the Kit lens – on the early models, Rebel and Rebel Xt, the Kit lens was pretty atrocious, slow and quality was just nothing to get excited about. More recently the new version that includes IS, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens, is fine and suits 90% of the rebel users out there. I feel strongly that it is not worth replacing unless you frequently find yourself in low-light situations where a faster lens would help. If I was going to replace I would take a look at the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Lens Highlights: fixed f/2.8 Allows great bokeh throughout the entire zoom | Sharp – many photographers compare this lens to the “L” series canon’s professional lens that easily cost 2x-3x as much. | Comes with petal style lens hood.

You lose the IS but gain 2 stops which can help with both focusing and capturing w/o having to switch to a higher ISO. Higher ISO equals noisier images.
BUT! I think a much better next purchase would be an external flash like the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Adjustable and comes with a built in diffuser although you may want to buy Sto-Fen OMEW Omni-Bounce Diffuser This is going to give your indoor and even your outdoor pictures a whole new dimension and flexibility. My favorite technique with an external flash is too point it at the ceiling and let it fill the room with light. You subject will be well lit but not suffer from that flash blowout that happens when objects & people are directly lit by the flash.

To add a zoom I suggest the excellent Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras This is a nice lens at a great price.

About lens hoods and filters. Lens hoods should come with every lens and if they don’t it is well worth the ~$30 to buy. I have heard multiple stories of lens hoods taking the brunt of damage in a fall and protecting the expensive lens. UV Filters are a toss-up, if you have small kids it may be worth it to slap one on as little fingers like to touch and smudge your glass but otherwise it is just another piece of glass between your lens and the beautiful photo you want to capture. Now specific filters like a B + W 58mm Circular Polarizer is well worth the money for reducing reflections and increasing the color saturation in your photos. 58mm will fit on the kit lens and the zoom listed above.

Please let me know if you have any questions about these lenses, flash, filters or anything else you come across while shopping.

If you are not Michael and you want your own personalized recommendation