Pentax K10D or Canon IS lenses? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/22/2007 09:23:50 PM · #1

I'm looking for some opinions-

I'd like to take a safari sometime soon and want to make sure I have the appropriate equipment. I also am getting into bird photography. I already have a Canon Digital Rebel along with a Tokina 12-24mm f/4, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8. I don't think the 200mm is long enough for me, though I really like the speed and quality of the shots with that lens.

Should I (1) get a canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS, (2) sell all of my canon stuff and get a Pentax K10D and the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3, or (3) just be happy with what I have? Do you prefer image stabilization in the body or in the lens? I shoot with a tripod when I can, but most of my bird photography is hand held.

Thanks!
-Ryan

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

06/22/2007 09:27:47 PM · #2

The Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS is waaaaay better than the Bigma quality-wise.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/22/2007 09:27:48 PM · #3

Well put it this way, The 7 point o the 300D, isnt gonna be great for bird photography, but then again the 9 on the K10D, isnt a huge improvement.

Depending on what lenses your after the K10D redeems itself with the IS (Shake reduction for pentax) on the body.

Option does alot of snowboard shots with his K10D, haven't seen any bad shots of course but the good ones he has nailed are awesome.

I think youll like it, but if your gonna stick with Canon id atleast trade up to something else.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

06/22/2007 09:31:26 PM · #4

I used my 300D as a backup Camera on last year's Kenya Safari coupled with my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, worked great except that I wished it had a bigger buffer and higher frame rate. But The shots came out great.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/22/2007 09:34:46 PM · #5

Is there any lens for Pentax with similar quality to the Canon L?

option

Nikon D200

06/22/2007 09:34:57 PM · #6

I'm about as big a Pentax fan as there is, and I'd say get the 100-400. It's 100mm shorter, but it smokes the bigma in just about every other way.

option

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/22/2007 09:37:10 PM · #7

Originally posted by sailracer_98:

Is there any lens for Pentax with similar quality to the Canon L?

Anything with a * (star) in the name. The only line is the FA*, the new are the DA* lenses and have yet to hit store shelves. There should be 5 by december...

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

06/22/2007 09:38:03 PM · #8

I'm a Nikon guy and even I'd say stay with Canon. They have the largest selection of long IS glass out there. Most bird photographers I know shoot canon for that reason. You will eventually upgrade to a better (faster) body and will have lots of glass to choose from.

As for the 100-400 it is a nice lens and would work well for travel as it is light. In the end you will want a Prime 500mm F4 though.

Good luck.

06/22/2007 09:38:33 PM · #9

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Well put it this way, The 7 point o the 300D, isnt gonna be great for bird photography, but then again the 9 on the K10D, isnt a huge improvement.

I think youll like it, but if your gonna stick with Canon id atleast trade up to something else.

I'm usually locked on the center focus point only and lock focus with it. At times I have to manual focus when it can't pick out the appropriate point. One thing I like about the K10D is the viewfinder which should be much easier to manual focus with.

I would consider trading up to a used 20D or maybe a 5D if I could find a good deal.

sir_bazz

Pentax K-5

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

06/22/2007 09:43:59 PM · #10

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Well put it this way, The 7 point o the 300D, isnt gonna be great for bird photography, but then again the 9 on the K10D, isnt a huge improvement.

11 AF points on the K10D with 9 being cross type sensors. You need to spend a lot of money to get more than one cross type sensor from other systems.

Originally posted by sailracer_98:

Is there any lens for Pentax with similar quality to the Canon L?

Depends what you mean by quality. In terms of optical performance the Pentax lenses are generally better, (well the primes anyway).

bazz.

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

06/22/2007 09:44:41 PM · #11

My Pentax K1000 35mm is the only camera ive used and successfully got a bird in flight shot. Due to the fact that i was manual focusing.

and sirbazz thanks im gonna go shoot myself. Its okay my canon has a single cross type sensor, thats it no other focus points lol.

Message edited by author 2007-06-22 21:45:35.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

06/22/2007 09:47:43 PM · #12

How about getting a 2X teleconverter? Then your 70-200 2.8 would be equivalent to a 140-400 5.6...which is the same as the 100-400 your looking at (at the long end).

06/22/2007 09:52:37 PM · #13

Originally posted by MrEd:

How about getting a 2X teleconverter? Then your 70-200 2.8 would be equivalent to a 140-400 5.6...which is the same as the 100-400 your looking at (at the long end).

I've seen the side by side comparison between the 100-400 and the 70-200mm with the 2x converter and there is no comparison. The converter significantly reduces sharpness and contrast. I would only want to use one as a last resort when I otherwise wouldn't get the shot at all. I also like the idea of optical image stabilization :)

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/22/2007 09:57:41 PM · #14

I heard from people comparing some IS L versus non IS L that the non IS versions are not as sharp on normal shots. Someone said the preferred not having the IS because the glass inside is psychically smaller.

Not sure what truth to that there was. But i imagine they have to cut down on the components to fit the IS hardware.

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/22/2007 10:29:27 PM · #15

Originally posted by sailracer_98:

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Well put it this way, The 7 point o the 300D, isnt gonna be great for bird photography, but then again the 9 on the K10D, isnt a huge improvement.

I think youll like it, but if your gonna stick with Canon id atleast trade up to something else.

I'm usually locked on the center focus point only and lock focus with it. At times I have to manual focus when it can't pick out the appropriate point. One thing I like about the K10D is the viewfinder which should be much easier to manual focus with.

I would consider trading up to a used 20D or maybe a 5D if I could find a good deal.

if you want to do mroe landscape and portrait stuff the 5d is nice but if you want to shoot animals and especially birds i would go with the 30d since it will give you more reach and 5fps.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/22/2007 11:03:16 PM · #16

not sure if i would agree with that... Depends on what you are shooting drive mode for...

if you are shooting drive mode to get sequence shots of birds that are moving quickly, 5FPS isn't really fast enough IMHO.

if you shoot 5FPS because you want to bracket or just like to shoot bursts for more selection, then the 30D is the way to go.

Honestly, there's a lot to be said for just plain taking one gooooood picture. if that's your game, Go 5D all the way... Play with the 300D until you are ready for it... The 300D has some other points in its favor, it does a very nice job on per pixel sharpess due to a larger CoC, coupled with a less intense anti-aliasing filter, so if you have the light, but you are shooting far enough out that sharpness is difficult to maintain, the 300D will do you quite nicely. You will still get excellent 8x10's. If you want to go any bigger and the 300D isn't enough to satisfy your needs, I would not suggest the 30D as the next step up.

Regarding AF, I wouldn't worry too much about that. By the sounds of it, you are going to be fine with any of them.

if you want to manual focus, the 5D is even more a better choice.

the reduced reach on the 5D could be an issue though... i guess if you really felt the need, you could always grab a 1D Mk III... might not be able to get your hands on one before the trip though...

I asked a similar question a while back and was also recommended the 100-400 if i wanted the IS. i'm personally a fan of IS as I believe it can make a big difference on really long shots if you are being careful with your hands.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/22/2007 11:05:46 PM · #17

3 FPS on a film camera every other shot came out decently clear.

I even got one with its wings back and feet straight down in mid air. 10 FPS would be nicer!

sir_bazz

Pentax K-5

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

06/22/2007 11:24:00 PM · #18

Originally posted by eschelar:

you could always grab a 1D Mk III... might not be able to get your hands on one before the trip though...

I wouldn't if AF is important to you....

Canon AF woes

bazz.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

06/23/2007 01:28:46 AM · #19

thanks for the link bazz! good one.

06/23/2007 08:15:38 AM · #20

Great stuff guys! Thanks for the input.

I have found that the 3fps of the 300D has been enough for just about everything I want to shoot. My only complaints about the 300D are it is s-l-o-w writing to the CF when shooting RAW and manual focusing is difficult with its small viewfinder and lack of split focus screen.

How do I justify to myself upgrading to an expensive body? The lenses I can manage because I tell myself it's an investment that will hold its value! : )

violinist123