Lens Advice

Borderfox

I have a decision to make, currently I have a Sigma 70-300 APO that has served me very well for about 4 months. The photography is getting more serious and I have decided to change to a different lens for better quality. I mostly photograph equestrian events and Polo at the mo so a long reach is needed at times but with showjumping I need something that can cope with lowish light. I was thinking of a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 with a 2x converter or 1.4x. Other lens was a Sigma 170-500mm but I dont think it will do indoors even with high ISO. I have seen a good few people with the Sigma 70-200mm and the reports are good from them. I have about a €1000 to spend and dont mind buying in Dublin. Any other thoughts very welcome

antifuse

For what camera mount? Nikon? Canon? Other? Sorry if other people would know this by knowing you, but it would be easier to help if I knew what camera it was going on.

Roen

Any other equestrian snappers at these events? Would be the best place to start. Afaik tele-converters lose you a stop or two of light so yes, it looks like you'll be looking for a 2.8 over a 4 for sure.
Why not just go for the Canon 300mm f4 L IS? should be about €1400 but the IS would be worth it indoors. MAkes as much sense to get an f4 out of the box as it does to get an f2.8 that'll give you f4 light levels with a tele-converter stuck on it.

Borderfox

It's for a Canon mount, a 350D. I would prefer the 2.8 70-200 on its own indoors as I can get most places in an indoor arena with that and only stick the extender on for outdoors. Really I am asking is the Sigma good quality and do the extenders ruin them? Thanks for the advice so far. Can't really stretch over the grand though. Whatever I get will last me a long time.....

Fajitas!

Sigma 500mm F4?

rymus

Apparently the 70-200 2.8 is 'useable' with the 1.4x TC, whereas theres a noticable loss of quality with the 2x. If you're going to regularly need 400mm, you should probably look into a different lens. Maybe a sigma 50-500, although that wouldnt be much good indoors.

As for buying in Ireland, I wouldn't. Knock €200+ off the price instantly by buying from this guy on ebay - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sigma-70-200mm-f-2-8-f2-8-EX-DG-MACRO-HSM-Lens-NEW-BZ_W0QQitemZ320001931316QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4687QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

You'll have the lens in 4 days and won't pay any import duty on top of it. I've got a Sigma macro lens on the way from him at the moment. By all means try in Dublin, buy in Hong Kong

Borderfox

Thanks for the advice, anywhere I looked on the net except Ebay was around the same price as here (suprisingly) Fajitas is that a prime? I knocked the 50-500 on the head, pity though I read good reviews on FM about it. Brian let me try his Canon f4L on Sunday and remarked it was only good in bright light, I was thinking of that one. I will probably get the Sigma try a TC and see how it goes. Thanks all

Fajitas!

Yup, it's a prime alright, but it would probably be more suitable for indoors work, it's actually an F4.5...
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3313&navigator=7

Hahahahaha...Just saw the price...nevermind!

Thats the 50-500..
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?navigator=3

I've used one, nice lens, PaddyCIRL uses one.

masteroftherealm

The BIGMA (50-500) is a lovely lens!

Borderfox

All the reviews are excellent pity it's not 2.8 but then again the price would be at least doubled...:(

311

Border I was looking through zooms and they always recommend a tri/monopod for the long zooms
The lens below is slow ,but it's suppose to be the smallest of all lenses in it's group.I'll be keeping it in mind when I decide to go for one ,looks ok.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=239&sort=7&cat=40&page=1

Borderfox

looks good only 5.6 at 400mm, still need something to cover my indoor work... Thanks for the advice though

antifuse

This review seems to give the Sigma 70-200 a bit of love. I quite like the Photozone reviews, they're really quite honest most of the time.

heffsarmy

Borderfox for the money your spending the sigma 70-200 f2.8 seems your best bet, gives you the extra stop over the canon 70-200 f4, the autofocus seems to be good and from all accounts the images it produces are almost identical to the canon lenses. The only other option is to get Secondhand primes which you should be able to get for just over 1000, canon 200mm f2.8canon 85mm f1.8, canon 50mm f1.8 and 1.4x Kenko pro 300 teleconvertor. I would buy the sigma for the versatility especailly at sports events. The 1.4x won't degrade the image quality too much but it will slow down your autofocus, I would'nt bother with a 2x unless your going to invest in a really good prime.

Borderfox

Thanks heffsarmy, I think so too. 70-200mm with a 1.4x TC. All though I like the look of this setup

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/moon_shots

Especially the 300-800 with 2 TC's