Suggestions for Canon telephoto lens?

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

03/24/2009 04:52:49 PM · #1

So today's my birthday and I'm thinking about giving myself a present. :) I've been really wanting a good telephoto zoom (as of now the only two lenses in my arsenal are the 100mm f/2.8 macro and the 18-55 IS kit), but being a poor and lowly student (and an already high credit card bill) I can't really afford the one I really truly want (which would be the 70-200 f/2.8 L -- about $1600 -- coupled preferably with the 24-70 f/2.8 L as well...which is about $1100). Anyway, I've been looking around at some various sigmas (like the 70-300) and some EF-S lenses (but I'd rather not spend lots of money on those, as someday when I'm eventually making money I'd like to upgrade to a FF camera), but I can't seem to make a decision.... I'm thinking for a telephoto zoom I'd like IS, but at the same time a large aperture is also much coveted..... Oh, I go 'round and 'round!! Some kind soul please help!!! :)

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

03/24/2009 04:58:08 PM · #2

If you don't need zoom, the 200 f/2.8 L is pretty sweet. And they'll never pry my 70-200 f/4 L away from me. Both can be had in the $500-600 range.

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

03/24/2009 04:59:58 PM · #3

Originally posted by tryals15:

If you don't need zoom, the 200 f/2.8 L is pretty sweet. And they'll never pry my 70-200 f/4 L away from me. Both can be had in the $500-600 range.

Does the 70-200 f/4 have IS with it? I think I seem to recall in my research there being one with (around $1100, I think?) and one without (around $500 or $600, I think). Is that right? And if the one you have doesn't have the IS, how does it do in indoor lighting for you?

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

03/24/2009 05:03:16 PM · #4

Yeah, no IS on the zoom. F/4 is definitely limiting indoors, but at half the price, I'm ok with that... For indoor stuff I have a 550ex that solves the problem 9/10 times.

Message edited by author 2009-03-24 17:03:57.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

03/24/2009 05:10:48 PM · #5

There are both IS and non-IS version of the 70-200 f/4 L. The non-IS is around $570, the IS goes for $1100.
Remember that IS won't help for moving subjects (that is, people) whereas larger aperture will. At the 200mm end, however, you'll be challenged to be steady at 1/50s or so (the minimum in general for shooting people indoors). So if it comes down to a choice between IS and aperture, you've got a tough choice.
Personally I'd take IS and the smaller aperture, since you also get much lower weight.
In any case, no matter your choice, the Canon L lenses will hold value very well, so if you eventually want to upgrade, you're not faced with taking a bath on resale.

PBJ

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

03/24/2009 05:24:17 PM · #6

Dont know if this will help or not, but I was at this point 2 weeks ago.. Took my camera to the local camera shop and did some test shots using the lenses I was thinking of getting. Tried out the Tameron 18-270mm (with VC for $600) and the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 (no IS- $1200). Looking at the pics at home on the computer, the Tameron was pretty close to the Canon in quality.. And may I add that I was taking pics at 1/6th of a sec (no tripod) and getting some niiiice shots. The V.C. worked real good. Got the Canon cause of better quality pics, first L glass, and taxes came in. =)

freakin_hilarious

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/24/2009 05:49:40 PM · #7

I guess I'm officially old. My recommendation is to take the money you would have spent on a lens and pay your credit card bill down. With an already high credit card bill, you can't afford not to pay it down. I speak from the experience of having racked up (and paid off) around $30,000 in credit card debt. It's something you want to avoid at all costs.

Happy Birthday!

Feel free to ignore my advice, have a great birthday, and sorry if I read too much into that little statement of yours. As far as lenses go, I highly recommend the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon. It's on the short end, of course, but a fantastic lens to have instead of the Canon 24-70L.

Anti-Martyr

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

03/24/2009 11:35:01 PM · #8

We have the same birthday!

03/26/2009 12:02:02 AM · #9

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

haha, no you're right of course! I really ought to just pay it off instead.... ::sigh:: Thank you for the birthday wishes, though!

03/26/2009 12:02:16 AM · #10

Originally posted by Anti-Martyr:

We have the same birthday!

Happy (belated) Birthday to you! :D

03/26/2009 12:05:48 AM · #11

Originally posted by PBJ:

Wow, 18-270mm! That's quite the range to have on one lens! :) So how are you liking the 70-200 now that you own it?

03/26/2009 12:09:54 AM · #12

Originally posted by kirbic:

Thanks for the advice! :) I see that you own quite a few of my dream lenses (the 15mm fisheye, the 50mm f/1.4, the 24-70 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/2.8.... ::sigh::)!! Someday, someday.....! Since the IS version of the 70-200 f/4 is already $1100, though, maybe I will just wait until I'm making some money (I do graduate in May, after all) to get the 70-200 f/2.8 for about $500 more.