complete novice zoom lens help

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Flippy

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Hello everyone, Im a complete novice when it comes to camera's etc so please be gentle:)

I have a canon 20d and am interested in taking Motorcycle racing pictures. I have a Tamron AF 70-300 1:4-5.6 ld tele-macro 1:2 which someone gave me (I have no idea what all that means by the way) I have taken a few shots of some bike racing some turned ot well others not so good but I'm learning.
I was thinking of getting a Canon EF 70-300 F/4-5.6 IS USM
1. is this a good lens
2. is it vastly better than the Tamron
3.can anyone suggest a better lens for around the same Money

Many thanks in advance
 
The lens has the same specifications, so should give the same results. It is a better lens, but same specifications, so don't expect amazingly better pictures.

I would post your images to see what people think and how you can improve it, it might be a setting issue rather than a lens issue.
 
Many thanks...I thought the Image stabiliser would make a difference I will read how to up load the pics
 
Image stabiliser will help with lower shutter speeds, but has less effect with faster shutter speeds as vibration has less effect.

To upload pics - create a Flickr account and upload pics to there, then just link to them from here.
 
you need to grab the bb code, it took me ages to work that out!
 
Without looking at any pictures....

IS is not going to help with moving subjects. It enables still objects to be captured at slower shutter speeds without being blurred by small movements you make when handholding. The rule of thumb is for a non IS lens on an APS-C body (which is what you have) you need 1/(shutter speed x 1.6) speed. So at 300mm, you'll need something like a shutter speed of 1/500 to handhold effectively.

You'll also need a high shutter speed to freeze any action. I've got photos where I have a slightly blurred foot as someone is walking at 1/640th shutter speed.

There are only 2 ways to increase shutter speed and maintain correct exposure.
- Open the aperture
- Increase the ISO

For the first, you want to be looking at lenses that have the focal length you are using and either f2.8 or f4. f4 is a full stop larger than f5.6 will halve your shutter speed at 300mm (take 1/250th->1/500th) whereas moving to f2.8 (two stops larger than 5.6) will quarter it (1/250th->1/500->1/1000).

For the second, you'll need a more modern body as the ISO performance of the 20D isn't brilliant.

All of the above cost money unfortunately.....
 
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I have had bot lenses and the earlier comment that both lenses are the same spec so will have the same outputs is utter codswallop. The Canon lens is vastly superior tithe Tamron which is know to be a poor lens.

The Canon 70-300 is quicker to focus which will help with motor sport and the colours are a lot better.
 
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