Zoom Lens recommendations please
- Thread starter jambogaz
- Start date
- Messages
- 1,902
- Name
- Adam
- Edit My Images
- No
0I'd be looking at the sigma 50-500OS, the canon 100-400L and the sigma 120-300.
The sigma has the best focal length range, the 100-400 still has a good range with slightly sharper IQ, faster past ~300mm (the 50-500 is f/6.3 whereas the 100-400 is f/5.6) and it's lighter, the 120-300 f/2.8 is sharper and significantly faster than either but is the most expensive, the heaviest, largest, and lacks IS. You can put a 1.4x on the 120-300 f/2.8 and get a 170-420mm f/4 as well.
If you can do with only 300mm, the canon 70-300L is supposed to be excellent as well, lighter than any of those lenses, very sharp, very fast focussing and weather sealed.
If you can deal with the weight and having to use a mono/tripod most of the time, the 120-300 will outperform any of the other options within that focal length range, but the other lenses offer lighter weight and more flexibility.
The sigma has the best focal length range, the 100-400 still has a good range with slightly sharper IQ, faster past ~300mm (the 50-500 is f/6.3 whereas the 100-400 is f/5.6) and it's lighter, the 120-300 f/2.8 is sharper and significantly faster than either but is the most expensive, the heaviest, largest, and lacks IS. You can put a 1.4x on the 120-300 f/2.8 and get a 170-420mm f/4 as well.
If you can do with only 300mm, the canon 70-300L is supposed to be excellent as well, lighter than any of those lenses, very sharp, very fast focussing and weather sealed.
If you can deal with the weight and having to use a mono/tripod most of the time, the 120-300 will outperform any of the other options within that focal length range, but the other lenses offer lighter weight and more flexibility.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 1,902
- Name
- Adam
- Edit My Images
- No
Not sure where you should buy, I don't keep up with where has the best prices.
Ian 'Kerso' on here sells new lenses at very good prices
100-400L - £1100-1200 ish
50-500OS - £1200-1300 ish
120-300 would have to be used to fit in your budget. I've seen them go for £1200-1400ish
70-300L - £1100-1200 ish
Those are all just quick new price estimates based on what I've seen them at on a few different sites, you might be able to get them a bit cheaper or not that cheap anymore.
There's also the sigma 150-500os which is a fair bit cheaper. Not quite as sharp as the 50-500 or 100-400 (or 120-300) and heavier, but it's got a good range and very reasonable image quality for the price, worth looking into if you don't want to pay as much.
Ian 'Kerso' on here sells new lenses at very good prices
100-400L - £1100-1200 ish
50-500OS - £1200-1300 ish
120-300 would have to be used to fit in your budget. I've seen them go for £1200-1400ish
70-300L - £1100-1200 ish
Those are all just quick new price estimates based on what I've seen them at on a few different sites, you might be able to get them a bit cheaper or not that cheap anymore.
There's also the sigma 150-500os which is a fair bit cheaper. Not quite as sharp as the 50-500 or 100-400 (or 120-300) and heavier, but it's got a good range and very reasonable image quality for the price, worth looking into if you don't want to pay as much.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 30,364
- Name
- Neil
- Edit My Images
- No
best bit is that it handles the 1.4x like it isnt there (other than dropping to F4 of course
)
- Messages
- 1,902
- Name
- Adam
- Edit My Images
- No
That's the older non-OS version.
Same optical performance as the new version (read, quite close to the 100-400), but lacking OS.
That's another good option if you can do without the stabilisation (which is very useful at long focal lengths). But the 150-500 can be had for similar prices, which is just a tad softer but has OS.
Same optical performance as the new version (read, quite close to the 100-400), but lacking OS.
That's another good option if you can do without the stabilisation (which is very useful at long focal lengths). But the 150-500 can be had for similar prices, which is just a tad softer but has OS.
- Messages
- 1,902
- Name
- Adam
- Edit My Images
- No
That's the 100-400L I mentioned.
I own this lens and really like it, it's got good image quality, a nice zoom range, IS, good focus speed and it doesn't weigh to much.
See my previous post for how I think it slots in with the other lenses I mentioned.
You can find more in depth reviews on google.
I own this lens and really like it, it's got good image quality, a nice zoom range, IS, good focus speed and it doesn't weigh to much.
See my previous post for how I think it slots in with the other lenses I mentioned.
You can find more in depth reviews on google.