Ranger Chris,
Welcome to the forum.
Originally Posted by Ranger_Chris61
Your leaning in the right direction. Especially if you want the best low light capable zoom on the planet. There is a reason everyone has them.
Airshows are always a compromise. I see guys and gals with the push-pull 100-400, folks with huge primes. I shoot with a 70-200 f2.8L on a 40D and always seem to get very good shots. I can also use the lens indoors, handheld if need be. It's a great lens for non intrusive candid photography. IMHO. That's the second most owned lens by Canon shooters.
If money is an issue or your just not sure if you want to jump into all that there are some really good alternatives:
Prime lenses are also good in low light. In fact, better. A EF 50mm f:1.4 @ f2.0 has a one stop advantage over the 24-70 @ f2.8 with the same or better IQ. On your XT, that gives you an equivalent 85mm lens on FF. For indoor event shooting even the thrifty-fifty, the EF50mm f1.8 would probably be OK because inside the bokeh of a lens dosen't seem to matter as much. Would be an easy try for around 100 USD. Last but not least is the EF 85mm f1.8. That'd be like using a 135mm on FF. Give you some extra reach at those larger halls. Check em out if you haven't. The 50 1.4 and the 85 1.8are less than 400 USD each.
Those primes would leave you at somewhat of a deficit on the wide side, but wait!! You've got a kit lens.If you did need wide angle shots your kit lens will give youa good 20mm at f4 That's at least as handholdableas a 85 at f2.0. Maybe, we'll here the arguments shortly.
Otherwise, zooms are just so incredibly versatile!!
That's my take....have fun,
Chuck
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