Need Some Glass

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taylordtriplett

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Taylor
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Hey guys this is my first post on the forums.

I recently purchased a Canon 550d/T2i with the 18-55 kit lens

I love to do outdoor photography of wildlife(birds, deer, etc.) so I really need to get a telephoto lens. I've looked at tons of them but can't make up my mind. I really want the Canon 70-200 f2.8 but the price is out of my budget. Should I get the Canon 70-200 f4 or get the Sigma 70-200 f2.8? The Sigma might have a better f stop but the Canon's build quality is amazing and probably would take some great images. Or is there a better one out there? I want a good lens that will zoom as far as possibly for under $700. $500 would be the best bet right now but I might could stretch it.

Thanks guys!
 
Hi Taylor - welcome to the forum.

For wildlife you will probably find 200mm a bit short. Unfortunately, anything longer will probably break your budget unless you go second hand.

Sorry I could not be more helpful.
 
For birds you are better off looking at a sigma 150-500 or 120-400.

They won't be as sharp as the 70-200's, but you need the extra length for birds.
 
well I currently live in Amman Jordan so I wont be doing any bird photography. But sports and I like going down to the dead sea and taking pictures of camels and such. So I want something really sharp but also a good zoom. Maybe when I move back to the states next year I'll pick up a 500mm or something, and I'll have a higher budget.

So for now, doing sports and larger wildlife, what do you guys think?
 
I'd go for the 70-200 f/4.

The sigma is a stop faster, but if you get good light, f/4 is plenty fast enough and it's smaller, lighter and probably sharper than the sigma at comparable apertures.

The sigma is probably a better option if you plan to do anything in lower light. It might not be as sharp as the canon, but an extra stop can get you shots in lower light that the canon can't.
 
squishy said:
I'd go for the 70-200 f/4.

The sigma is a stop faster, but if you get good light, f/4 is plenty fast enough and it's smaller, lighter and probably sharper than the sigma at comparable apertures.

The sigma is probably a better option if you plan to do anything in lower light. It might not be as sharp as the canon, but an extra stop can get you shots in lower light that the canon can't.
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Thanks alot man, I probably wont be doing much low light but when I go hunting in the states(when I move back) I deffently want to get some good shots of that, which will be low light. But also I want something quite.

So is the Canon 70-200 f4 quite, is the is good, is the af good, and is it decent in low light?
 
I don't think either of the 70-200's you are looking at in your budget have IS.
You might just get a used 70-200 f/4L IS in your budget, but it seems unlikely to me.
Do you mean quiet? Both lenses have USM/HSM (ultrasonic AF motors) that function silently.

I can vouch for the AF on the 70-200 f/4 being lightening quick. I've used my friends, and it is very, very fast. I've heard that the AF on the sigma is very fast as well, but can't talk about that personally.

When you say 'is it decent in low light' that's a hard question to answer. Just how little light would you be hoping to get shots in? Because neither f/4 or f/2.8 are going to be fast enough for REALLY low light (without flash), but the f/2.8 will give a shutter speed twice as fast.

e.g, if you are shooting at 1/160 at f/4, the shutter speed for the same exposure at f/2.8 would be 1/320, or you could lower the ISO by one stop and still get 1/160.

The sigma is bigger, heavier and not quite as sharp, but you get that larger aperture. The canon is smaller, lighter and slightly sharper, but a stop slower.
 
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I have a 70-200 f4 Im always suprised just how good it is for the money. if you can get one second hand and find f4 isnt fast enough your not likely to loose money on it if you decide to upgrade next year when funds allow an upgrade
 
I'll probably get the 70-200 f4, but who knows. This is such a tough choice. Should I also invest in a 2x extender??
 
manualfocus-g said:
A 2 x extender will give you an effective 400/8 at the long end, which is not guaranteed to AF on a 550D. It will also be dark through that viewfinder!! A 1.4x converter would be a better idea.
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I second that, from what I have read the 2x extenders are best used with the f2.8 primes, I have a kenko dg pro 1.4x extender I have some reasonable results with that but wasnt satisfied with the reach or IQ of that combination, so now have a 100-400 its great but I still long for more reach :lol:
 
How about going for a second hand 70-200 f2.8 non IS. I recently got one within your budget from a good shop in London.

The the converters would not be a problem.
 
Where can you get a used 70-200 f/2.8L for under $700?

Maybe an old 80-200 f/2.8 L. But then, this doesn't have USM. Still a very nice lens though. Often forgotten about.
 
my advice break the bank and go for a canon ef 70-200 f2.8 is L usm mark 11 and get a 2x extender for it quality from this lens on an extender still awesome :D
 
alsos said:
good piont salacalvet, was that a Canon 2.8 non is for less than £450? good price!
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It sure was. I always keep a eye on second hand photo shops and one came up so snapped it up the morning it became available. It even came with 6 month warranty:)

However I have seen another since. So they do appear if your patient

squishy said:
Where can you get a used 70-200 f/2.8L for under $700?
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It sure was and not the only one that has come up, however they do sell in a matter of hours.
 
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Wow! that's quite a price. What condition was it in?
 
salacalvet said:
It sure was. I always keep a eye on second hand photo shops and one came up so snapped it up the morning it became available. It even came with 6 month warranty:)

However I have seen another since. So they do appear if your patient



It sure was and not the only one that has come up, however they do sell in a matter of hours.
Click to expand...

right im jumping in the car first thing.... off to Wiltshire for some new glass lol
 
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