New Camera - Now i just need a new lens..

[Xerse]

Hey all, i recently bought a Canon EOS 600D, i chose the 18-55mm kit lens, and then bought a prime 50mm 1.8f

I'm looking for either something more focused around close up shots, or a nice zoom. - Or both!

I'm very new to the world of DSLR's - my best camera before this was a Sony HX200V.

My price range is only tiny for a new lens, being around £100. I know there are some good lenses around - but i'd like some help from you guys and girls.

I've been looking at;

Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 Lens

Sigma AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro Lens

I'd love to hear back from someone with any help possible on which lens is better - or even a lens you can recommend to me.

Thanks for any help you can give All is greatly appreciated!

Kev.

 

[wyx087]

i've got the Tamron 70-300mm. not a huge fan of it. but that's compared to my other lenses which are L lenses costing much higher.

optically, at f8 the Tamron 70-300mm is sharp and great. but don't be deceived by the word Macro, it's not real 1:1 Macro, and you'll need a tripod to do any close-up work with this because lack of IS.

 

[edz]

You can pick up a 2nd hand Canon EFS 55-250 IS for around £100 in the for sale section, maybe worth considering that too.

 

[Xerse]

i've got the Tamron 70-300mm. not a huge fan of it. but that's compared to my other lenses which are L lenses costing much higher.

optically, at f8 the Tamron 70-300mm is sharp and great. but don't be deceived by the word Macro, it's not real 1:1 Macro, and you'll need a tripod to do any close-up work with this because lack of IS.

I know it's not a real 1:1 Macro, i find it rather silly how so many lenses state they're macro when they're simply not.

I only wish i could afford some of the L lenses - Why do i decide to buy a nice new camera so close to christmas when i need to spend the remainder of my wages on presents!

I need to invest in a new tripod too. What are the 300mm shots like?

 

[Xerse]

You can pick up a 2nd hand Canon EFS 55-250 IS for around £100 in the for sale section, maybe worth considering that too.

I was just looking at one of these on amazon, the quality of the shots look brillant - have you ever had any experience with one?

 

[mrodgers]

I've got one, and the quality of the shots is great. Build quality isn't the same as an L lens but is perfectly adequate (very similar to the 18-55 kit lens) and the picture quality is unbeatable for the price.

 

[Xerse]

I've got one, and the quality of the shots is great. Build quality isn't the same as an L lens but is perfectly adequate (very similar to the 18-55 kit lens) and the picture quality is unbeatable for the price.

I presume you're speaking about the tamron? This is the one I was paying more attention to out of the two.

 

[wyx087]

A few shots when I first got the Tamron lens. I don't really carry it around because I'm more wide-angle man. that's the reason I haven't invested in a good telephoto L lens.

Loop de loop by wuyanxu, on Flickr

The flying fortress by wuyanxu, on Flickr

Up and away by wuyanxu, on Flickr

and a bit of plane spotting at local airport.

Landing tyre smoke by wuyanxu, on Flickr

Easy jet vs Ryanair by wuyanxu, on Flickr

and a macro shot with the lens on a moon cake.

Moon cake by wuyanxu, on Flickr

 

[mrodgers]

No, I'm talking about the canon 55-250. Haven't tried the tamron myself, but the picture quality isn't meant to be as good.

 

[applemint]

If you can do without the extra reach the Tamron - AF 55-200mm F/4-5.6 Di II LD is a great budget buy at £89 new (£82.50 from Currys after topcashback with the current 10% cashback offer) - same price as the Tamron 75-300 and it also needs stopping down to f8 for the sharpness sweet spot - but people seem to rate it as a better lens overall than the 75-300.

Review here: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/t...-macro-di-ll-interchangeable-lens-review-4278

UK sourced Tamron lenses all come with a 5 year warranty as well.

Not sure how the Tamron 55-200 compares with the Canon EFS 55-250 IS though as I am not a Canon user. For the price however, I am happy with the Tamron 55-200 as an outdoor lens for use either handheld in good light or on a tripod for sunrise/sunset and evening shots.

 

[Xerse]

A few shots when I first got the Tamron lens. I don't really carry it around because I'm more wide-angle man. that's the reason I haven't invested in a good telephoto L lens.

Loop de loop by wuyanxu, on Flickr

The flying fortress by wuyanxu, on Flickr

Up and away by wuyanxu, on Flickr

and a bit of plane spotting at local airport.

Landing tyre smoke by wuyanxu, on Flickr

Easy jet vs Ryanair by wuyanxu, on Flickr

and a macro shot with the lens on a moon cake.

Moon cake by wuyanxu, on Flickr

They're some good shots, especially considering the price of the lens. I must admit - I'm leaning more and more towards the Tamron - But nobody has mentioned the Sigma as of yet.

No, I'm talking about the canon 55-250. Haven't tried the tamron myself, but the picture quality isn't meant to be as good.

I will have another look at the canon 55-250, the shots i've seen from it are really nice. Do you know what the minimum focal distance is?

 

[mrodgers]

I will have another look at the canon 55-250, the shots i've seen from it are really nice. Do you know what the minimum focal distance is?

Not sure exactly what it is, but I think it's just under a metre, giving about 1:3 magnification.