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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Big time lens
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 06/13/2006 05:57:52 PM · #1
I just converted to DSLR and since I do most photography outside at the zoo, one of the major things that bothers me is how expencize it is to get a lot of zoom (my point and shoot had 12x optical about 750mm). Right now I have a sigma 70-300 (by the way i have a rebel). I bought a 2x teleconverter for this but it works like crap and it is almost impossible to get it to focus with it on. I want to increase my zoom to at least 500mm. What is the cheapest/best way to go about getting this much zoom?

Thanks in advance.
 06/13/2006 06:00:10 PM · #2
The first thing you have to do is to stop thinking cheap. You've invested in an SLR. Don't buy cheap glass. Think investment.
 06/13/2006 06:01:40 PM · #3
Originally posted by jusdino4it:
I just converted to DSLR and since I do most photography outside at the zoo, one of the major things that bothers me is how expencize it is to get a lot of zoom (my point and shoot had 12x optical about 750mm). Right now I have a sigma 70-300 (by the way i have a rebel). I bought a 2x teleconverter for this but it works like crap and it is almost impossible to get it to focus with it on. I want to increase my zoom to at least 500mm. What is the cheapest/best way to go about getting this much zoom?

Thanks in advance.


you could go woth a fixed focal length 500mm lens. There are some good mirror optics out there. The f-stop is fixed, but the size is very manageable.
 06/13/2006 06:02:31 PM · #4
You realizr you really at 480 if you consider your crop factor, maybe try a 1.4x they seem to have better results, if your looking at lenght (500) on the lens alone-- your looking at some money..

I would think the Bigma would be the cheapest option.

Bigma
 06/13/2006 06:05:36 PM · #5
Yeah I know that it is ganna cost me a lot..But I am 15 and I preatty much blew years of saving for the DSLR so...I dont have much of a choice when it comes to spending a lot. Its not that I am being cheep...I just have no source of income besides the ocasional photograph I sell. (and i know someone is ganna call me lazy for not getting a jo...but trust me...times have changed, you have to be at least 16 now. Trust me i have tried.)
 06/13/2006 06:05:52 PM · #6
The FZ4 has a 420mm zoom. You're off by a couple hundred.
 06/13/2006 06:08:05 PM · #7
O..lol...i dont know that conversion ratio. Someone told me thats what it was.
 06/13/2006 06:08:58 PM · #8
Get yourself the Canon 100-400mm. Its an fantatic lens, and yes it is L glass.
 06/13/2006 06:10:12 PM · #9
I believe tamron makes a 200-500 for reletively cheap.
 06/13/2006 06:10:54 PM · #10
How much does the 100-400 run for, and what is the general consesios on the cheepest place to buy equitment. I have always been a fan of adorama.com Is that the best place?
 06/13/2006 06:11:27 PM · #11
Originally posted by fsteddy:
Get yourself the Canon 100-400mm. Its an fantatic lens, and yes it is L glass.


He said he was 15 without any income-- the 100-400 prolly not an option, :)

If MK is right, and I don't doubt her, then your are getting more zoom right now with just your 70-300 by itself, than you had with your panny
 06/13/2006 06:16:33 PM · #12
Originally posted by buzzrock:
Originally posted by fsteddy:
Get yourself the Canon 100-400mm. Its an fantatic lens, and yes it is L glass.


He said he was 15 without any income-- the 100-400 prolly not an option, :)


Yeah...Unfourtuanetly $1500 is a little out of my range. That would be another three years of saving :/....A kid can dream though
 06/13/2006 06:18:51 PM · #13
Originally posted by jusdino4it:
Originally posted by buzzrock:
Originally posted by fsteddy:
Get yourself the Canon 100-400mm. Its an fantatic lens, and yes it is L glass.


He said he was 15 without any income-- the 100-400 prolly not an option, :)


Yeah...Unfourtuanetly $1500 is a little out of my range. That would be another three years of saving :/....A kid can dream though


Any Chance you can Produce a Post Proccessing DVD and sell it??

:) :)


06/13/2006 06:19:27 PM · #14
I just checked out tamron.com and i didnt see anything with a bigger zoom than 300mm...Is there somthing I am not seeing?
 06/13/2006 06:20:38 PM · #15


Any Chance you can Produce a Post Proccessing DVD and sell it??

:) :) [/quote]

I dont even know what that is...LOL...yeah i feel stupid.
 06/13/2006 06:22:20 PM · #16
N/m...I found the tamron lens.
 06/13/2006 06:23:32 PM · #17
Originally posted by jusdino4it:
Any Chance you can Produce a Post Proccessing DVD and sell it??

:) :)


I dont even know what that is...LOL...yeah i feel stupid. [/quote]

a reference to another young person on the site that is good at photoshop, that made a dvd showing how to do some of his stuff. he sold that dvd here and used the money to buy a movie camera.
 06/13/2006 06:24:44 PM · #18
There are no cheap options for serious zoom. The 100-400L runs about $1400, and that's probably the best really long zoom you'll find at the price. The Sigma 50-500 is around $999 and gives you even more range, but the quality is a notch down. Below that, your best bet is probably the Canon 70-300 IS (better quality than the Sigma and image-stabilized for $534).

I've had pretty good results with a Canon 70-200 f/4L and 1.4x Teleconverter, but have since moved up to the 100-400. I usually don't go all the way to 400mm, though. The biggest consideration for me is a large aperture (at least f/5.6) to blur away fences between me and the animals. If I were in your sneakers, I'd sell the Sigma and upgrade to Canon's 70-300 IS. Forget the teleconverter.
 06/13/2006 06:25:20 PM · #19
Yeah...im not that talented...I guess i better start stirring up some lemonade.
 06/13/2006 06:28:05 PM · #20
Originally posted by scalvert:
There are no cheap options for serious zoom. The 100-400L runs about $1400, and that's probably the best really long zoom you'll find at the price. The Sigma 50-500 is around $999 and gives you even more range, but the quality is a notch down. Below that, your best bet is probably the Canon 70-300 IS (better quality than the Sigma and image-stabilized for $534).

I've had pretty good results with a Canon 70-200 f/4L and 1.4x Teleconverter, but have since moved up to the 100-400. I usually don't go all the way to 400mm, though. The biggest consideration for me is a large aperture (at least f/5.6) to blur away fences between me and the animals. If I were in your sneakers, I'd sell the Sigma and upgrade to Canon's 70-300 IS. Forget the teleconverter.


Thanks for the advice. When I first bought my lens (2 months ago) i really knew nothing about quaility, i just went with quanity. It would hurt to take the money lose after 2 months of use if i were to sell it, but that does sound like a good idea. My birthday is on friday so we will see the kind of money i get.
 06/13/2006 06:29:46 PM · #21
Originally posted by jusdino4it:
Yeah...im not that talented...I guess i better start stirring up some lemonade.


if you live in america it is summertime which means lawns to mow. I know it sucks to be in the heat all day but you can earn pretty good money from it. I pay my lawn guy $50 bucks every two weeks for about 3 hours work.
 06/13/2006 06:34:37 PM · #22
Yeah..I have thought about that but there are three problems 1. People dont pay kids as much. 2. We have a push lawn mower. 3. I am ganna be out of town most of the summer. I got most of the money for my camera shoveling snow...suprissingly enough that is much better money.
 06/13/2006 06:39:02 PM · #23
Originally posted by jusdino4it:
Yeah..I have thought about that but there are three problems 1. People dont pay kids as much. 2. We have a push lawn mower. 3. I am ganna be out of town most of the summer. I got most of the money for my camera shoveling snow...suprissingly enough that is much better money.


1) Market yourself as "environmentally friendly"
2) Use push mower.
3) Charge 200%.
 06/13/2006 06:43:18 PM · #24
Not a bad idea...LOL. I'll give it a try. Now I just need to figure out how to get off of this website long enough to do so.
 06/13/2006 07:00:09 PM · #25
Talk about coincidnce...I have been an intern at the Pittsburgh Zoo for 3 years, and out of nowhere I just got a call offering me a paid posistion this summer that i didnt even apply for. NEW LENS HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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