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06/06/2006 07:25:12 AM · #1 |
Guys,
I need your expertize..... I have a chance to get almost any lens I want. I have Almost $3,000 to spend on a lens and have a canon 20d. I was thinking of buying a 70-210.. f2.8 L series, but I wanted something with a bigger zoom. I notice that the canon zoom lens for 300mm (I think 100-300) is f3.5 to f5.6. I was wondering what you all think would be the better direction. I love to shoot wildlife and lanscape and already have a 28-75 f2.8 to cover the wider angle shots and need a lens to give me better tele-photo shots.
Stupid question, why would you want a fixed length 300mm or 400mm shot.
Thanks
Rich |
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06/06/2006 07:48:48 AM · #2 |
short and precise:
- if you like to shoot wildlife and landscape you have to go for 400mm.
- you've not covered the wide angle with 28-75 lens
- you have to buy 10-20 or 10-22
- you have a gap, so maybe the 100-400mm would suit you best here
peace,
goran
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06/06/2006 07:54:55 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by thndrdrag:
Stupid question, why would you want a fixed length 300mm or 400mm shot?
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Two words: Image Quality |
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06/06/2006 08:03:51 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by thndrdrag:
Stupid question, why would you want a fixed length 300mm or 400mm shot?
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Two words: Image Quality |
And chics generally like guys with big lenses...
(sigh) Okay... bad one...
:P |
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06/06/2006 08:12:47 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Guyver:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by thndrdrag:
Stupid question, why would you want a fixed length 300mm or 400mm shot?
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Two words: Image Quality |
And chics generally like guys with big lenses...
(sigh) Okay... bad one...
:P |
Well, if it's size that matters, zooms are usually bigger than primes.
Besides, "Hey baby! You wanna check out my zoom lens?" will get the ladies goin'. |
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06/06/2006 08:16:16 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by Guyver:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by thndrdrag:
Stupid question, why would you want a fixed length 300mm or 400mm shot?
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Two words: Image Quality |
And chics generally like guys with big lenses...
(sigh) Okay... bad one...
:P |
Well, if it's size that matters, zooms are usually bigger than primes.
Besides, "Hey baby! You wanna check out my zoom lens?" will get the ladies goin'. |
They'll insist on a UV Filter though... ;) |
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06/06/2006 08:56:00 AM · #7 |
What kind of tele do you want? A f/2.8 tele-zoom (70/80-200/210 area) is great for casual shooting and indoor sports.. Especially if you go with the IS version.
If you insist on a zoom, you could always look at the Canon 100-400L IS. It's quite affordable and has IS.
The alternative choices would be the Sigma 120-300/2.8EX or the 100-300/4EX. The f/4 is about $900 and the f/2.8 is about a grand more.
Then there are the big-ass (super)teles from Canon. With the 300/2.8L IS being a grand out of your range, you could take a look at the more affordable ones like the baby-L 400/5.6L IS at around $1,100
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06/06/2006 09:05:25 AM · #8 |
| Within your budget, you could go with the 70-200/2.8 L IS and the 400/5.6 L. The 400/5.6 is a famously sharp lens, and the 70-200L IS is a tremendously versatile zoom. When yoiu want to be longer than 200mm, having a zoom is not as important as at shorter focal lengths. Yoiu usually select the reach you need for a particular situation and just shoot. |
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06/06/2006 09:20:30 AM · #9 |
There's wisdom in them there words by kirbic...
I don't know if you have handled any push/pull style lenses, but I've wrapped my fingers around the 100-400 and the 35-350. Both lenses were second hand, and it's possible that this was a contributing factor, but I found the lenses difficult to use precisely because they were quite stiff and had become a little 'gummy' if you will.
I've not encountered this with any other lenses I've fiddled with, and knowing a little bit (not a lot, admittedly) about lens design, I'm guessing that the push/pull design (which is notorious for it's air exchange through it's zoom travel) has, over time, allowed dust and debris into the mechanism, which has caused the gunk buildup.
I've heard a few others comment on this failing in the design.
Additionally, while f/5.6 isn't all that slow for a 400mm lens, you are likely to get better sharpness with the prime.
Comparing the two lenses, the 100-400 will get you IS though, so that's something to consider... Sure, it's less useful with a tripod, but don't forget, not all tripods are perfectly still... I don't think it's a terribly recent version of IS though, so I wouldn't ascribe any magical abilities to it... Further, that push/pull design itself makes the lens a pain in the buttocks to use for anything much outside of wildlife type photography where, as mentioned before, you are usually not on the move, with a set up location. The 70-200 has less reach, but is MUCH nicer in the hand.
Ultimately, you will probably be happier with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS plus a long, very sharp, prime lens. Not having any experience with the big primes, I'm afraid I can't make any real recommendations there. 400mm almost seems a bit short to me though...
Oh yeah and you are one lucky guy to have three grand to blow on 'I really enjoy shooting wildlife photography'. :) |
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06/06/2006 10:18:38 AM · #10 |
Some friends locally have the canon 300 2.8 IS and another has the 500 4.5 and both are very nice lenses - and both are huge and a bit pricey (both shoot with 1D Mk2n bodies).
Both are great lenses. The gent with the 500 had the bigma 50-500 before and says there is NO comparison on sharpness - the canon wins. He also had the tamron 200-500 and thinks it's better than the bigma colorwise.
Yeah, both lenses are a tad beyond your budget though...
I love a 70-200 lens, even with a 1.4TC on there. I think the 2.0 tc hurts the sharpness too much. this combo on a 20D works out to be a 35mm equivalent of 450mm F4. It works, but is no where near as nice as as eitehr of the above two lenses.
Both thos big guns use monopods with tilt/swivel heads and never ever handhold. Here is the 500 4.5 and tripod setup up -
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