what is the best lens to use with a canon slr camera to shoot civil war reenactments, app. 200-300 yards away.
Well this depends on a few things. How close do you want to be able to get? Do you want wide angle shots of the whole battlefield? How much you are willing to spend?
In order to get real close you will need a long lens. 400-600mm. These lenses will cost a fortune though. If you are not willing or able to spend thousands on a lens I would look at a 70-300mm lens. There are several to choose from ranging from $200-$1,000. If this wont give you the reach you want you can add a teleconverter for a couple hundred.
For a wide angle shot of the whole battlefield I would suggest the 10-22mm wide angle lens. You can also use the low end of the 18-55mm lens that came with your camera. It may not be wide enough but you can test it out.
