I want a long Zoom Lens, help!

stick-dan

Hey guys,

I recently got a canon 400d and have been enjoying taking pictures with the kit lense that i got with it. But what i always wanted to be able to do was to take pictures of objects a good distance away in high quality. For example i want to be able to take a picture of a bird high up in a tree or a fox down the far end of a field and zoom in to get a lovely shot. I also want the quality to be high when i crop these sorts of images. I am a newbie to this so reading all about lenses is beginning to go over my head quiet a bit. Can anyone help me please. I just want to be able to take these sorts of pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'd probably be looking to spend at most 300 - 350 on this lense as it will only be my first adventure away from the kit lense. Thanks guys in advance.

daycent

You were a long zoom lens?? In a former life?? :pac:

Anyway, maybe a Sigma 70-300 would suit. Should be within your price range...

stick-dan

crap anyway damn my mis-spelling.

is a sigma compatible with canon, pardon my ignorance.

daycent

Sorry Dan, couldn't resist. I don't have one of those lenses but they are made to suit Canon and Nikon (maybe some others, just make sure you get the right version). They are supposed to be very good for the money and are very popular. Thers are different models, the IS USM (i think) is meant to be the best.

jackdaw

The Canon EF 70-300 IS f4-5.6 is an excellent lens ..

you can pick it up for around €400 on ebay ..

Cabaal

jackdaw wrote: »

The Canon EF 70-300 IS f4-5.6 is an excellent lens ..

you can pick it up for around €400 on ebay ..

Not sure about that - http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-70-300mm-70-300-F4-5-6-IS-USM-7Yr-IntWty-AASB_W0QQitemZ330279000653QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330279000653&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Sigma would be cheaper imho

Calina

Sigma 70-300mm DG APO costing 199E in Conns (I think) for the world.

I love that lens so much. On a 400D as well....nice. I use it up to around 250mm - after that, just a little touch on the soft side.

Ballyman

I have a Sigma 70-300mm for the canon and it does what it says on the tin. You should be able to pick one up for <€150 on ebay no bother. It's not too expensive so it's a good starting lens so you can see how you get on with it before shelling out big bucks on canon zooms.

Ricky91t

Calina wrote: »

Sigma 70-300mm DG APO costing 199E in Conns (I think) for the world.

I love that lens so much. On a 400D as well....nice. I use it up to around 250mm - after that, just a little touch on the soft side.

Sigma lenses are very odd though,some are super sharp allmost L sharpness and others are utterly crap imo,i'd either buy second hand off adverts or from a shop so you can test before hand!:)

whyulittle

Sorry to go slightly OT, but why do Sigmas turn the opposite way to zoom in/out?

0utpost31

I'd recommend the canon 70-300mm too. But the sigma is a good choice if you want to figure out if a zoom lens is your thing" or not.

lukeod

0utpost31 wrote: »

I'd recommend the canon 70-300mm too. But the sigma is a good choice if you want to figure out if a zoom lens is your thing" or not.

I'm with you on that one. Great price on the sigma....

5uspect

There's also the new EF 55-250 IS. Not a bad lens I hear and IS too.

murpho999

Cabaal wrote: »

Not sure about that - http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-70-300mm-70-300-F4-5-6-IS-USM-7Yr-IntWty-AASB_W0QQitemZ330279000653QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330279000653&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Sigma would be cheaper imho

Here's one I found that's a bit over €400 but might be a possibility for you.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/New-Canon-EF-70-300mm-70-300-f-4-5-6-f4-5-6-IS-Lens-UK_W0QQitemZ270219785262QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270219785262&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Here's the cheapest Hong Kong supplier I could find.

[url] http://cgi.ebay.ie/Canon-EF-70-300mm-f-4-5-6-IS-USM-70-300-for-400D-40D-UV_W0QQitemZ130263639321QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130263639321&amp;_trkparms=72:1301|39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&amp;_trksid=p3286.c0.m14[/url]




Also, here is a link to an e-bay auction for a second hand lens that might be a bargain if you keep an eye on it.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Canon-EF-70-300mm-IMAGE-STABILIZER-IS-USM-Zoom-Lens_W0QQitemZ250313005157QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250313005157&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Hope this helps.

jackdaw

Well i got the 70-300 Canon for €475 (-€50 rebate) on a high street shop in barcelona ... so i was assuming would be a little less on ebay .. but i think its definetely better then the SIGMA ..

petercox

For the money, both lenses are great. The main difference between the Canon and the Sigma is the Canon has image stabilization, which is pretty much a must these days for telephoto lenses. It increases the keeper rate much more when shooting at marginal shutter speeds.

Cheers,
Peter

Dades

Calina wrote: »

Sigma 70-300mm DG APO costing 199E in Conns (I think) for the world.

I love that lens so much. On a 400D as well....nice. I use it up to around 250mm - after that, just a little touch on the soft side.

My experience exactly. Great for the cash - up to 250mm!

I got mine for about €130 on eBay. Taking it to Lahinch this weekend surfing!

stick-dan

Hey guys another question, i went into a computer store in carlow today that does stoock dslr's and they priced a sigma 70-300mm lens for me and gave me a quote of €189. Surely there is something wrong with that price? Have they got the wrong one? I asked him was it the sigma 70-300, he said yes and rang the supplier in front of me? Does anyone else think that something is amiss there? It raised alarms with me because the lens is 300 online?? Is he quoting me for a different sigma lens of the same size?perhaps one that isn't a usm or is there a difference??please help again

lukeod

Sounds about right to me I have to say. Its €173 on Amazon at the moment.... Its not USM though.

Bargain lense...

Calina

I paid 199 for mine so you're in the right ball park.

fluffyVW

Don't mean to butt in but I have a Nikon D80 and also want to get a good zoom lens but wouldn't know where it start looking. Anyone point me the right way???

I don't think the Sigma 70-300mm fits Nikon does it??? Sounds like an awesome lens for that price!!!

I don't have the greatest knowledge on lenses!!! :P So what would you recommend???

Again sorry to change the subject to Nikon hope OP doesn't mind me asking!!!

Calina

Sigma build that lens for Nikon fit also and roughly the same money. However, the Nikon frats might have other Nikkor recommendations for you.

stick-dan

so should i get a usm one or this one or what is the difference.

fluffyVW

Calina wrote: »

Sigma build that lens for Nikon fit also and roughly the same money. However, the Nikon frats might have other Nikkor recommendations for you.

I was just looking them up on Amazon and I see ones made for Nikon alright.

I wonder what the Sigma is like on a Nikon??? I'll wait for the other recommendations like you said anyhow!!!

Thanks!!!

kgiller

stick-dan wrote: »

Hey guys another question, i went into a computer store in carlow today that does stoock dslr's and they priced a sigma 70-300mm lens for me and gave me a quote of €189. Surely there is something wrong with that price? Have they got the wrong one? I asked him was it the sigma 70-300, he said yes and rang the supplier in front of me? Does anyone else think that something is amiss there? It raised alarms with me because the lens is 300 online?? Is he quoting me for a different sigma lens of the same size?perhaps one that isn't a usm or is there a difference??please help again

There are 2 types of sigma 70-300mm as far as i know. Theres (1.) Sigma 70-300mm DG and (2.) Sigma 70-300mm DG APO. The 2nd is more expensive, and is supposed to be a much better lens, saying that you can pick one up on ebay new for around €170 delivered or buy one second hand.

I just bought one the other day for half the price of a new one and its in perfect condition (thanks whyulittle ), cant wait to take it for a spin this weekend. Have a look around for second hand ones is my advice, but if u get a new one, dont pay more that €170 ... eg HERE

Hope this helps

Morrisseeee

They are on pixmania for €220/230ish : ie. the APO version:
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/xx/47/xx/433/1/criteresn.html?s=xx&m=47&t=xx&categorieid=1&cat=433&display=0&startrow=11&orderBy=Prix&sortBy=ASC&articleId=0

Calina

I bought mine in Conns for 199.

0utpost31

I got my sigma from kea for 124euro, but sold it shortly afterwards for the canon70-300.

Hey there's a canon 70-300mm is usm going for 380e on adverts right now...

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=77294&cat=51

PixelTrawler

Whatever you get, just make sure it has some kind of stabilization...

TheNorthBank

Solyad wrote: »

Whatever you get, just make sure it has some kind of stabilization...

Just last week I ordered the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L through my job. However its the Non IS version, was this a mistake? The IS version was over double the price though!

PixelTrawler

Well the IS comes in very handy.... especially in low light where you might need longer exposure, hand holding steady is tricky.

It gives an extra couple of stops (keeps the point at which camera shake becomes an issue further away)

Not an issue at all though on a tripod however.