Lens recomendation please

J

jwphotos

Messages
37
Name
Jessica
Edit My Images
No
I have have a canon eos 400d and looking to get a second hand lens. i mainly focus on equestrian photography with a lot of jumping shots. looking for a lens that will give me a sharp an image as possible. preferably as cheap as possible as it is only a hobby of mine.
 
What have you got now and what does it do well and what does it do badly? I'm not too up on equestrian photography :) I've just bought a second hand EF 28-105mm II 1:3.5-4.5 USM (I paid £120 with hood and filter, I've seen them go for £75 if that is within budget). I'm pleased with the piccies, the lens can certainly do sharper than my ability most of the time ;) and its feels a much better built lens than my 50mm f1.8. If it does the range you need and is within budget I would give it a look.
 
jwphotos said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230494415866&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

what does everyone think of this?

i have canon zoom lens 75-300
i get slighty blurry images when taking jumping photos from quite far away and they are never sharp
Click to expand...

I don't think that lens will improve on what you've already got. It's not the best lens in the world for sure, but it's quite capable of taking good sharp pictures.

I'm thinking more focus and camera-shake issues than problems with the lens ;) Can you post a pic, with the Exif information (technical details)? It should be easy enough to see what the problem is from that.
 
I meant as a post in this particular thread as it keeps things tidier, no worries though :)
 
What's the light like at these events? Indoor, or outdoor?

If you're on a budget, the Canon EF-S 55-250 IS comes in very high regard, sharp, light, and complements the kit lens. If you're doing indoor stuff though, you might need to spend more, as it's not a very fast lens (the aperture is relatively small), so you may not be able to freeze the action.

Chris
 
chris321 said:
What's the light like at these events? Indoor, or outdoor?

If you're on a budget, the Canon EF-S 55-250 IS comes in very high regard, sharp, light, and complements the kit lens. If you're doing indoor stuff though, you might need to spend more, as it's not a very fast lens (the aperture is relatively small), so you may not be able to freeze the action.

Chris
Click to expand...

Outdoors. I will look it up thanks!
 
jwphotos said:
ke92cz.jpg


Here is an example.

I take equestrian (mainly jumping) photos. My flatwork (dressage) photos are quite crisp but the jumping ones are never sharp and don't seem very clear.

This photo is taken at f/4.5, 1/1600sec, iso 400, +1 step.

Please feel free to ask any questions.
I use canon eos 400d with canon zoom 70-300mm lens
Click to expand...

I've taken the liberty of reposting your photo here for reference. I hope you don't mind.

What are you seeing as the problem? It doesn't look great, but it's hard to tell much from an image on the monitor. It doesn't look like camera shake or a mis-focusing problem, and the shutter speed should be high enough to freeze the horse :thinking:

What focal length was this taken at? Do you have anything shot at f/8 or higher? Are they the same for sharpness? Has the lens been damaged in any way?
 
HoppyUK said:
What focal length was this taken at? Do you have anything shot at f/8 or higher? Are they the same for sharpness? Has the lens been damaged in any way?
Click to expand...

According to the exif, that one was taken using the non-IS kit lens, which wasn't known for being hugely sharp (if I remember correctly).... Taken at 35mm apparently too, so probably wide open?

Chris
 
Thanks for your reply.

It hasn't been damaged at all. 35mm focal length.

Here is one taken at f/7.1. Can't find any higher sorry. 1/1000sec. 90mm focal length.
334re5y.jpg
 
That one looks back-focused - sharpest point is behind the rider. Is that what you're seeing?

If so, it's focus technique issue, not a lens problem. How do you focus? I would suggest centre-point AF and pre-focus on the jump. I'm not sure how good servo tracking AF is on that particular camera/lens combo so pre-focusing would be most reliable, given that you know exactly where the horse is going to be.
 
Yup, you've focussed on the barn in the background not the rider, easily done TBH.

Also do you have a 75-300 or a 70-300 IS? You seem to suggest both in two seperate posts. Either way both should be fine with this sort of shot and angle. Either prefocus as Hoppy suggests or stick the camera on to continuous shooting and the AF on Servo and do a burst as she goes over the jump (with centre AF). The AF should easily be able to keep up side on (I've used almost identical kit in an identical situation). :)
 
Amp34- Thanks! It's the 75-300 sorry. Do you have any examples of your shots with a similar kit? Thanks again

HoppyUK- I focus the middle point on the horses body/shoulder, then pressing the button half down I track the horse in and then shoot.
 
Man I'm so stupid. It's the 90-300 canon zoom. I just thought it was 70..
 
jwphotos said:
Man I'm so stupid. It's the 90-300 canon zoom. I just thought it was 70..
Click to expand...

Haha! No worries, the lens doesn't matter here. I think we've established both on this thread and your other one that the problem is not the lens, but where it has focused. Basically, that's down to you.

Lots of good advice on the other thread. You don't need a new lens :)
 
Very slight disagreement - the 18-55mm that came with the 400D isn't anywhere near as good as the 18-55mm IS that is now the standard. Before I started chuffing around with expensive stuff, I made that upgrade myself and the IS version is better in every single way. As people quickly upgrade from it to more expensive options, it's dead easy to find for a good price - I managed to get the IS version for £65, including about twenty quids worth of filters included. Excluding perhaps the cheapy 50mm, I don't think there is a more efficient upgrade for such little money.

Whilst having a better lens wouldn't have solved the problem in this photograph, I do think it would be worth the investment.
 
I will try and take more shots over the weekend. It is definately on AI servo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top