I am a proud new owner of Rebel XTi. I have the kit lens. But I am looking to expand on my lenses stock. I am a mom of a toddler and a baby and my camera will revolve around the two mainly.

For portraits etc, which is better - 50mm/1.4 normal lens or 50mm/2.5 compact-macro lens. I just got the second one and it looks pretty good for both close-up and far away shots. Any suggestions?

I have also ordered canon 28-135/3.5-5.6 IS lens and canon 70-300/4-5.6 IS lens.
I intend to keep a maximum of 2 lenses excluding the kit lens. Please help me decide which ones to keep and which ones to return.

Any suggestions are most welcome.

Anjali

It all depends on how much money you would like to spend.. and what you intended purpose for using the lenses are. The 50 1.4 or 2.5 will both be great. If you want to try your hand at macro shots.. then keep the macro lens. At 50mm.. you won't be able to take macros without get very close and personal to the subject.. so you will be hard pressed to take insects, etc. If you want to get into macro.. you might want to save up for a dedicated macro lens say at 90mm or higher.

For the zooms.. again.. it depends on what you want to take. Both those lenses are very entry level. At F5.6 at 300, you will be hard pressed to take pictures in soft/low light and will notice some major grain (ISO push). the 28-135 has the same issues at 135.. and 135 will not get you too close to anything so.. the 28 isn't all that wide since it will become a 45mm with the crop factor. I would save you $$$ and try to find a used 80-200 2.8 zoom. You'll find that the 2.8 is a lifesaver... and you can use a teleconverter to bump it up to a 340 or 400mm f4 or f5.6 respectively.. add the crop factor and you have a 600mm zoom lens at f5.6.

Anyway.. good luck.