Best lens over 300mm for non-silly money?

Durbs

Durbs

Messages
837
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
As per the title really...

Would love something over 300mm. I know you should always try and get physically closer, but sometimes those extra mm would be really useful.

Anything prime/zoom over 300mm that's less than £1k which is particularly worth having? (UK suppliers only). Canon 100-400L is right on the money-limit, but for quite a bit less, could look at the Sigma 150-500 which seems to score well...

Current set-up (as per signature) is being upgraded to a 7D, possibly with a Sigma 70-200 APO too.

That, or just get a 2x teleconverter for the 70-200 f2.8?
 
The sigma 50-500mm OS slightly better than the 150-500mm OS but extra ££, downside is f6.3 at 500, so not a quick lens if you have poor light, there's also the sigma 120-400mm OS which is suppose to be on par with the canon 100-400mm.

You could look at a used sigma 100-300mm f4 or 120-300mm f2.8 (non OS) and add a sigma TC to give you the extra reach (the 120-300 would take both), just have to be careful about getting a good copy.

Or canon 400mm f5.6 great wildlife / bird lens, sharp, fast, downside no IS and not as flexible as a zoom, but better IQs or canon 300mm f4 IS plus a 1.4x TC
 
So the Sigma 120-400 over 150-500?
I like it's compatible with TCs - at around £650 could get that and a 1.4 TC which would be a killer range for wildlife. Especially with OS...

Hadn't really considered the Canon 400 L - assumed it would be out of budget, but it's pretty close to £1k on WEX. Lack of OS is a bit of a shame...
 
If you can afford the Sigma 50-500 OS Lens, it is superb, I picked my one up for £970 from Misfuds, Devon.
 
If you can get one in budget the Sigma 50-500 OS, but the 150-500 is probably the best bang for buck in the long lens stakes.

Img_1230.jpg
 
I'm currently looking at the Sigma 120-300 OS which used could come in just over your budget. I think its probably by far the best lens for the money, it's only 300mm but its sharp and f/2.8... The only other lenses with the extra stop are the primes which are several thousand. I'd stick a TC on it and be done (when I need the length). The only negative is it's heavy!

The other option is the 300 f/4 IS. Its stunning IMO, best lens I (didn't - I has the non IS version) have had... Again add a tc when needed for a nice 420mm. It would also come way under budget. I'm actually contemplating buying it and sticking it on my 400D and using a dual camera system as Nikon have a big hole in their lineup...
 
Argh - too many choices! ;)

Sigma:
120-300 2.8 OS - MBP have them for around £950, so top of budget and not longer than 300mm, but would take a TC and the idea of a 600mm f5.6 is pretty tempting. Wouldn't bother with the 70-200 2.8 if I got this though...
120 - 400 OS - £630 new / £500 SH. Longer than 300mm out the box, and with ££ left over for a TC.

Canon:
300 F4 - £1079 new. Again, not any longer than 300mm, but L is always tempting. Probably too much £££ really as no scope for a TC in there.
100-400 L - £920 SH. Swanky L glass, longer than 300. IS. Not sure about pump zoom mind you, Sigma seems the better value for money?
 
There's also the Canon 400mm f5.6. I had this a couple of years ago and it was the sharpest lens I'd ever had. I would say it even gave my 300mm f2.8 a good run for it's money. :thumbs:
You can get a mint one for around £700 secondhand.
 
wippers said:
There's also the Canon 400mm f5.6. I had this a couple of years ago and it was the sharpest lens I'd ever had. I would say it even gave my 300mm f2.8 a good run for it's money. :thumbs:
You can get a mint one for around £700 secondhand.
Click to expand...

If I wanted a really sharp one wide open and true 400mm (not 360-380) this is the only one under £1000
 
I'm Junction 9 (ish) - that could be ace, would need to be in 2013 sometime though - Xmas calendar already chocca :D
 
I think when you start stacking a lens like the sigma 120-300 os you'll find it makes an already heavy lens very awkward and impractical unless your gonna be sat in a hide all day!! That lens is huge!!
I had a 150-500 and it was very good but also a bit to big for me for just wandering around!
I sold it with the idea that one day I would get the 300f4!!
 
Take a look here, both my 50-500OS and 150-500OS lens are listed here along with the galleries, also if you dig in a bit I've my old Canon 100-400 listed too.

Short answer though 50-500OS if you're okay with the extra cost or the 150-500 if not, both within budget if you shop around.
 
Last edited:
I've got a Sigma 150-500 OS and also access to a Sigma 120-400 OS (that's the wifes but I use it if I need it) and they are both top quality lenses. I had a Canon 100-400 L and took a lot of comparison shots to the 150-500 OS. IQ was so similar as to not be noticeable, AF speed is very similar and I found it focussed for longer in failing light than the Canon did too. Probably the biggest difference is the IS/OS system which the Sigma won hands down.

If you buy from Panamoz you can get the 150-500 for about £565 and the 120-400 for about £545 if you pay by bank transfer. I highly recommend them and they are very good with warranty claims too.

This is a shot from my 150-500 OS on my 5D3, SOOC and only cropped. 1/250sec @ f8, ISO 200 and 500mm.
8291523336_9fbabeefe6_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

Another with the 150-500 OS and 5D3, SOOC and a heavy crop. 1/800sec @ f6.3 (wide open), ISO 1000 and 500mm.
7132819465_b1cfa8db91_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

And this is from the Sigma 120-400 OS on my 5D3 as well, again SOOC and only cropped. 1/800sec @ f6.3, ISO 160 and 400mm.
7141412493_98cbd0a02c_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]
 
Last edited:
Another option if you're really trying to keep the costs down is to try to find a second hand copy of the (now discontinued) Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO HSM prime. The problem is that most of them will only work wide open on modern Canon cameras (but that's not a big problem as they're sharp wide open). There's a review on photozone.

It's not as versatile as the other options, but would be a whole lot cheaper.

OK, time to declare my interests - I have one of these that I was intending to sell, so do some research and don't just take my word for it :)
 
An interesting read as I'm pondering the same dilemma at present. What worries me is the max aperture at the long end on these cheaper options. I simply cannot afford a big f2.8 prime though, so I guess it's a case of beggars can't be choosers! Good to hear some positive feedback here.

My use willl be a combination of wildlife (birds mainly) and occasional aviation. Some would probably suggest two different lenses for these, but I can only afford one and want it to be the best of both worlds as much as possible.
 
modchild said:
I've got a Sigma 150-500 OS and also access to a Sigma 120-400 OS (that's the wifes but I use it if I need it) and they are both top quality lenses. I had a Canon 100-400 L and took a lot of comparison shots to the 150-500 OS. IQ was so similar as to not be noticeable, AF speed is very similar and I found it focussed for longer in failing light than the Canon did too. Probably the biggest difference is the IS/OS system which the Sigma won hands down.

If you buy from Panamoz you can get the 150-500 for about £565 and the 120-400 for about £545 if you pay by bank transfer. I highly recommend them and they are very good with warranty claims too.

This is a shot from my 150-500 OS on my 5D3, SOOC and only cropped. 1/250sec @ f8, ISO 200 and 500mm.
[/URL][/IMG]

Another with the 150-500 OS and 5D3, SOOC and a heavy crop. 1/800sec @ f6.3 (wide open), ISO 1000 and 500mm.
[/URL][/IMG]

And this is from the Sigma 120-400 OS on my 5D3 as well, again SOOC and only cropped. 1/800sec @ f6.3, ISO 160 and 400mm.
[/URL][/IMG]
Click to expand...

If I had a canon I'd call first refusal should you decide to sell! ...heck, I'd even switch for this quality in the 150-500mm!

There are so many variations to opinions between the lens being on par with their pro line and it being very soft at the long end.

If I were being I would probably want to try a few different copies in the shop and buy there for the lens I like.

Great images.
 
modchild did get an excellent copy - certainly my 150-500 wasn't as good as that, or his post processing is very good - no doubt both.

This was one of my better ones when I had it.

 
Last edited:
I'd certainly recommend the Canon 300 F4 IS with a 1.4 TC - gives you best of both worlds, a 300mm and 420mm lens.

You should be able to pick up both for around your budget 2nd hand

I've one and love it, the only reason I'd upgrade it is to a 2.8, but I can't see that happening in a long while ....
 
I'm having a similar dilemma, but for motorsport. Overall image quality isn't that crucial as I'm usually messing around doing silly things with shutter speeds. AF accuracy and speed is my main concern.

One of the Sigmas would be fine but I was stung with a 120-300 2.8 that went wrong more than it worked (stunning when it did work though) and I've lost confidence in them. The Canon 300mm f4 is top of my list at the moment.
 
ukaskew said:
One of the Sigmas would be fine but I was stung with a 120-300 2.8 that went wrong more than it worked (stunning when it did work though) and I've lost confidence in them. The Canon 300mm f4 is top of my list at the moment.
Click to expand...

Canon 300mm f4 with 1.4x TC
IMG_4393copy2.jpg


IMG_4143copy1.jpg


IMG_4367copy2.jpg


300mm f4 was my 1st motorsports lens, was so please with it I bought its brother (f2.8)
 
gcogger said:
Another option if you're really trying to keep the costs down is to try to find a second hand copy of the (now discontinued) Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO HSM prime.
Click to expand...

I've got one too... It's OK. It's what you expect for ~£100, although I must say the HSM focusing is better than expected! IQ is OK, and the 'macro' is quite good also, 400mm @ 1.6m. Which is 640mm on a crop. But they're quite hard to come across.

I've had a good play with a 50-500 non-OS and I do like it, fantastic versatility but it is quite slow. Also had a go with a 300 F4L IS and I loved it, shame I have no money! IQ is good from both of them as you'd expect.

Harry.
 
Frankly if you can get the Sigma 120-300 OS from MPB at under £1000 (ie within budget), it's a complete no brainer.

Following that save up for a Canon x1.4 and you'll have an incredibly versatile 120/2.8-420/4 lens. The 1.4 multiplier on it hardly touches the IQ.

As for the comment about weight earlier, you get used to it and an extender makes no difference.
 
Durbs said:
As per the title really...

Would love something over 300mm. I know you should always try and get physically closer, but sometimes those extra mm would be really useful.

Anything prime/zoom over 300mm that's less than £1k which is particularly worth having? (UK suppliers only). Canon 100-400L is right on the money-limit, but for quite a bit less, could look at the Sigma 150-500 which seems to score well...

Current set-up (as per signature) is being upgraded to a 7D, possibly with a Sigma 70-200 APO too.

That, or just get a 2x teleconverter for the 70-200 f2.8?
Click to expand...

The canon 400mm f5.6, pin sharp wide open, exceptionally fast focus & light enough to carry around all day, most of the shots on my 500px account are taken with a 7D + the 400mm :thumbs:
 
JohnN said:
lol, you totally threw me for a sec, I thought you were talking about lighting - yes, I just reread and there it is SOOC - damn thats a good copy!
Click to expand...


I've had 2 very good copies of the 150-500 OS as the sparrow shot was with my first copy which unfortunately developed a AF motor fault after nearly a year. I sent it back through warranty and was sent a brand new copy which I used for the starling shot last weekend.

Both have come from Panamoz and were untried until I received them so I was happy with both. Panamoz only took 11 days from me first contacting them about the problem to receiving the new lens so their service is excellent. For the price it's a fantastic lens and one that I highly recommend.
 
Ooo, you've known about Pamamoz for a while then, I only heard of them a couple of months ago.

I have to say you did well as you've got some wonderful shots form them :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top