Lens plans...

menthel

menthel

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Right, I recently went from a canon 300d to a 40d- making me very happy. However, I am now less than happy with my lenses available. Or to be more precise my zoom telephoto (a 75-300 III USM from canon) which is slow, noisy and soft. Then again I did buy it 5 years ago on a whim!

So, what I need is a plan for buying new lenses to fulfil my telephoto urge. I like taking piccies of birdies, wildlife whilst out walking and at the zoo. I have my sigma 17-50 f2.8 for the short stuff- its a lovely copy too, nice and sharp and also a nifty fifty when I want to use human zoom or go low light.

I do have some caveats:

1) please don't rush in a suggest vastly expensive lenses (that is aimed at all of you L worshippers out there!) as I can only really spend a sensible budget, probably around £500-600 per lens as an absolute top end

2) I am brand agnostic. If its good I will buy it.

3) Its got to be relatively portable as my back isn't exactly the greatest!

4) I have no plans to go full frame, so EF-s and DC lenses are in the picture.

So, my thoughts so far have been to get a 70-200 of some make to start me off and ditch the 75-300. I would then think about something with a little more reach as sometimes even 300 isn't quite long enough, so looking at a 400-500 top end!

Please suggest away and lets see what we come up with!
 
The Canon EF-S 55-250 is a cracker for not a lot of money... well under budget, and it's small and light. I've seen good results from the Sigma 150-500 I think it was.
 
I'd suggest the Sigma 150-500 OS, in particular the OS on it is amazing. It's not the lightest or the fastest lens on the block, but it is half the price of a similar Canon lens.

I've also got a Sigma 18-200 OS which handles the other end of the spectrum.

You say your old lens is soft - is that just with Auto Focus? One option might be to swap your 40D for a 50D which has AF Micro Adjustment, with a bit of calibration your pictures should be sharp again. The 50D has a much nicer screen on the back too! :)
 
A second hand Canon 70-200 F/4 goes for £300-£400 in the classified here. That then gives you some money left over to start saving for something longer.

Or, a Canon 70-300 IS USM would be under budget brand new, cover the same range as your existing tele and be significantly better IQ wise.
 
LizardMan said:
I'd suggest the Sigma 150-500 OS, in particular the OS on it is amazing. It's not the lightest or the fastest lens on the block, but it is half the price of a similar Canon lens.

I've also got a Sigma 18-200 OS which handles the other end of the spectrum.

You say your old lens is soft - is that just with Auto Focus? One option might be to swap your 40D for a 50D which has AF Micro Adjustment, with a bit of calibration your pictures should be sharp again. The 50D has a much nicer screen on the back too! :)
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No, its the same in manual. There is also quite a bit chromatic abberation. Then again it was bloody cheap! I would also rather spend money on a better lens than on a camera body trying to make a lens that I will get annoyed with work anyway!

55-250 and 70-200 F4 noted. It looks as if the 70-200 can be had from kerso at a price only just above the second hand costs. 150-500 also noted. However its a bit of a beast and will need planning to take it out. It wouldn't fit in my bag!
 
It is quite definitely a beast at 2Kg, and it is a real problem with camera bags - it won't fit in a Lowepro slingshot, it needs the largest lens case they make! It does fit nicely (on camera) with my new Lowepro Vertex 200 AW.

But for birds, I'd say it's perfect. Well perfect would be a F1.8, but then you're looking at £20k.
 
LizardMan said:
It is quite definitely a beast at 2Kg, and it is a real problem with camera bags - it won't fit in a Lowepro slingshot, it needs the largest lens case they make! It does fit nicely (on camera) with my new Lowepro Vertex 200 AW.

But for birds, I'd say it's perfect. Well perfect would be a F1.8, but then you're looking at £20k.
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£20k is something I don't have! ;) I think the 70-200 then a big lens is the way forward.

Any more suggestions on makes/models/other plans? Also TCs, how are these with the 70-200 f4 canon?
 
You can debate this till the cows come home but I bet you'll end up with a Canon 70-300 IS. The older 75-300 is not Canon's finest work. The new one most certainly is.

If that's not long enough for you, there's a big jump in cost over 300mm whatever you do, not to mention weight. Then you'll be looking at the Canon 100-400L.

I think you'll find 70-200L 4 too short and will miss the IS on the version that is within budget.
 
HoppyUK said:
You can debate this till the cows come home but I bet you'll end up with a Canon 70-300 IS. The older 75-300 is not Canon's finest work. The new one most certainly is.

If that's not long enough for you, there's a big jump in cost over 300mm whatever you do, not to mention weight. Then you'll be looking at the Canon 100-400L.

I think you'll find 70-200L 4 too short and will miss the IS on the version that is within budget.
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Thanks. It does look like a good lens but I am not sure that the 300mm at the long end will be enough. Then again if the quality is good cropping becomes possible- its just not possible with my current lens.
 
menthel said:
Thanks. It does look like a good lens but I am not sure that the 300mm at the long end will be enough. Then again if the quality is good cropping becomes possible- its just not possible with my current lens.
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TBH, it probably won't be for birding. But looking at your budget and desire for manageable weight, 300mm is about as much as you'll get.

You can use cropping to top up your lens's reach, when you've absolutely run out of optical options, but it's not a good way of working. Use it when you have to, not as matter of course.

If you can save up for a used 100-400L (I sold one recently for £850, and now regret it) that is probably your next best step all things considered. But it's not a small or light lens.

How about check the For Sale section for a used 70-300 IS, or buy one from Kerso, see how you get on. You could sell that lens within minutes on here for £300 anytime, so maybe fairly low risk?
 
I also have the Canon 70-300mm IS and it is a very good lens. Very light and easy to handle. However I needed something a little longer for birding and opted for the Sigma 120-400mm IS. I am very pleased with the results, but of course it is bigger and heavier than the Canon.
 
It's a very mid-range lens in terms of focal length though, so if you ever do any landscapes you'd need yet another lens at the wide end.

Canon make nice lenses, but considering they are twice as expensive, I don't think they are twice as good. Especially L glass, I think you're paying for the grey paint.
 
Three ideas I'd be looking at: 300mm f/4 non-IS plus a TC, 150-500mm and 120-400mm

There all good lenses for any hobby use. The 300mm being the sharpest, the other two having OS and zoom on their side.
 
For a 70-200 I'd suggest a sigma 70-200 F2.8 , it's a lot lighter and compact than the canon f2.8, comes in budget, and for a bit longer reach, it works well with a sigma 1.4 TC
 
Right, now totally confused! Do I get one lens to do all jobs or 2, one to keep in my camera bag and another in it's own bag when I know I am going birding. My head hurts!
 
Have you used TCs before? I've got a x2 and it's ok, but you do often end up having to use manual focus, and you do lose a lot of light. Quality can be an issue too...you might be better off shooting with a lower ISO and cropping.

Oh and there is of course the new Sigma 50-500mm OS, which will set you back about £1400. Or you can get the old non-OS version for £800...that'll cover the range, but it sure is a beast.
 
LizardMan said:
Have you used TCs before? I've got a x2 and it's ok, but you do often end up having to use manual focus, and you do lose a lot of light. Quality can be an issue too...you might be better off shooting with a lower ISO and cropping.

Oh and there is of course the new Sigma 50-500mm OS, which will set you back about £1400. Or you can get the old non-OS version for £800...that'll cover the range, but it sure is a beast.
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I have not used TCs before but am rather worried about the manual focusing element, I just find it too hard on the 40D, although being abole to get a focusing eyepiece may help. The 50-500, like the 150-500 may be just too big for every day use.

I think, therefore, my best plan may be for a 70-300 to replace the 75-300 and then save up for a specific longer telephoto, be it a prime or zoom.

Thanks all for your help!
 
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