Canon 70-300mm L Series Lens and NYC!!!

captures.in.time

captures.in.time

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Hi all

I'm off to NYC in two months time... at the moment im between telephoto lenses and face the prospect of going to NYC without anything longer than my 24-105mm.

I want to buy a 70-300mmL but dont really have the cash just now. I have some debts which im determind to pay off first. But I'm not sure I will be happy if I go to NYC and miss shots through lack of reach!

I've looked at hiring one... but as im away for 2 weeks it becomes a reasonable cost! I'm kinda a bit not willing to pay a tenth of the lens money just to hire it for two weeks.

So I guess my question is this... Is the lens as good as I think it will be??? Do I need more than 105mm in NYC... I am seriously thinking YES! Street shots of people especially! Do I just go for it before I go! Or do I remain sensible and pay for it when I can afford it! Do I need the 70-300mm at all?

HELP PLEASE!!!! Im scared to travel without anything longer than 105mm!

Mark
 
I rarely went beyond 20mm on my D300s in New York. I took a 70-300 but very rarely felt like using it TBH. I would think about going wider than 24mm rather than longer than 105 if it was me going again (I wish!).
 
jpw said:
I rarely went beyond 20mm on my D300s in New York. I took a 70-300 but very rarely felt like using it TBH. I would think about going wider than 24mm rather than longer than 105 if it was me going again (I wish!).
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Ah... I'm ok wider I have a canon 20mm Prime... I'm on full frame also so my focal length is my focal length!
 
I've never needed a focal length like 300mm in NYC.
Most of the time my Canon 10-22 was used there otherwise a mide range telephoto was fine for me.
I also wouldn't pay the current price of the 70-300L and in fact, I don't see the point of this lens with two other 70-300mm lenses in the Canon range.
Granted they are not L lenses but something like 70-200L IS f/4 with a 1.4Xx TC would be cheaper and this is a very sharp lens with a small amount of sharpeness drop with the TC fitted.
 
markelliot said:
Ah... I'm ok wider I have a canon 20mm Prime... I'm on full frame also so my focal length is my focal length!
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Yes I realise that, but 24mm isn't all that wide in NYC, or 20mm for that matter. My DX 10-20mm corresponds to 15-30 on FF, were I to go again with my D700 I'd want to take the 16-35mm zoom at the least.
 
hashcake said:
I've never needed a focal length like 300mm in NYC.
Most of the time my Canon 10-22 was used there otherwise a mide range telephoto was fine for me.
I also wouldn't pay the current price of the 70-300L and in fact, I don't see the point of this lens with two other 70-300mm lenses in the Canon range.
Granted they are not L lenses but something like 70-200L IS f/4 with a 1.4Xx TC would be cheaper and this is a very sharp lens with a small amount of sharpeness drop with the TC fitted.
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I've thought a lot about the 70-300L vs the 70-200L +tc and I def think the 70-300 is probably for me if im being honest.... In many ways its a smaller more compact lens... Having the 70-300 range in one lens suits too... but you do have me thinking and ill maybe go onto the digital picture again and look at the weight size etc comparisons... I do a lot of travel togging... must admit from that respect the DO version apeals but I think the drop in IQ is more of a problem to me than the extra weight i'd carry... I think! Maybe hiring might be the best option! Argh... all so frustrating!

jpw said:
Yes I realise that, but 24mm isn't all that wide in NYC, or 20mm for that matter. My DX 10-20mm corresponds to 15-30 on FF, were I to go again with my D700 I'd want to take the 16-35mm zoom at the least.
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I had a sigma 15-30mm lens in the past and found I never liked my images any wider than 20mm... so sold it and went for the 20mm prime in addition to my 24-105mmL. I found my images hugely distorted... foreground was always too big and background often lost... tryed archetectural stuff and the lines looked just weird!
 
Hi Mark,

you can hire a 2x converter for your 24-105 for about £5 a week or so. Alternatively, buy one and sell it if your not happy, you shouldn't loose too much, but may wish to stick with it ???
 
alexam said:
Hi Mark,

you can hire a 2x converter for your 24-105 for about £5 a week or so. Alternatively, buy one and sell it if your not happy, you shouldn't loose too much, but may wish to stick with it ???
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Canon TC's won't work and why would you want to spoil the IQ by using a cheap third party TC?
 
markelliot said:
I've thought a lot about the 70-300L vs the 70-200L +tc and I def think the 70-300 is probably for me if im being honest.... In many ways its a smaller more compact lens... Having the 70-300 range in one lens suits too... but you do have me thinking and ill maybe go onto the digital picture again and look at the weight size etc comparisons... I do a lot of travel togging... must admit from that respect the DO version apeals but I think the drop in IQ is more of a problem to me than the extra weight i'd carry... I think! Maybe hiring might be the best option! Argh... all so frustrating!



I had a sigma 15-30mm lens in the past and found I never liked my images any wider than 20mm... so sold it and went for the 20mm prime in addition to my 24-105mmL. I found my images hugely distorted... foreground was always too big and background often lost... tryed archetectural stuff and the lines looked just weird!
Click to expand...


I can't speak for the IQ with the Canon 70-300L but we all know how well regarded the 70-200L IS f/4 is when it comes to IQ.
As for the DO 70-300, I honestly don't see the point of that lens and I've read comparisons between it and the EF-S 70-300 saying the IQ difference is not significant enough to justify the cost.
I've travelled a fair bit as well and a decent photographic backpack should be more than comfortable.
I tend to also pack a shoulder bag in a suitcase as well (you'll be surprised how many pairs of socks and undies you can shove in one).
You then have the option of going out for the day carry a small amount of kit if need be.

I'm not really fit but last year I did a 6 mile walk with my dog, all my kit including tripod, flask and sarnies using a Lowpro backpack and I didn't feel any discomfort.
However, I don't still believe you won't find much use for a longer zoom in NYC.
Although I do remember using one when I saw some kids skateboarding down the steps of the NYC Federal court.
It's not really the place for Wildlife and the squirrels are so use to people that you can get very close to them to take a shot.
Perhaps it would be worth going to a shop and asking them if you can take some shots with a 70-300L and a 70-200L IS f/4 with and without the 1.4x TC (you will lose AF with the 2x converter).
You could then at least compare the IQ.
 
^ LOL your answer made me laugh! I kind of know that I need to be more confident and do that more! I really am going to try in NYC... taking my 50mm f1.4mm for that purpose!

I'd never thought of puting a TC on my 24-105mm... and not sure I would if i'd loose that much IQ and if the canon is not compatable then like hashcake said... what's the point!

Maybe you are all right and I wont miss it... my wife will take a tamron 28-300mm with her so I could always borrow that... but I just dont rate it as a lens... It's a real old model I used to use on my film camera and it just produces poor IQ... but its perfect for her needs( just a year into photography)... and Yeh im probably being a lens snob too as im sure the 70-300 IS USM f4 would also do me fine... but I really fancy the 70-300mm L!

It's dropped down to £1140 now on camera price buster! I'm sorta thinking its worth about that and wont drop much more!
 
Maybe it's just me but I rarely go beyond 55mm on APS-C. I don't shoot motor sport or wildlife & 55mm f2.8 is plenty good enough for portraits!
 
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