Looking for Lens help.

[Lasivian]

First, some background:

I just won a trip to Dominica with a few friends for 7 days.

I've decided to get a Canon Rebel XT with the basic 18-55mm lens to take along (I've been drooling over a good digital camera for a long time, this is the perfect reason to take the plunge).

I want to also get a longer lens, something around 300mm at the top end.

My budget for said lens is 200$ (Not sure how much i'll use it, or if i'll like it, I had a 300mm lens on a Rebel s (35mm) and I remember it was fun).

This is all for my own personal shooting, i'm not a professional, but I don't want to take awful pictures either, heh.

Thanks :)

[cdifoto]

My opinion - your budget is too low. With that budget you can afford a lens you'll use for a month or two and then look to replace. ;)

| Canon 70-300 4-5.6 IS USM |


Quite the optimist. :)

[Lasivian]

My opinion - your budget is too low. With that budget you can afford a lens you'll use for a month or two and then look to replace. ;)

| Canon 70-300 4-5.6 IS USM |

Which is entirely possible.

But I would rather not spend $600 on a lens like that and find out later that I don't like lugging it around.

And I was using a 300mm lens with film a decade ago without IM, *shrug*

[cdifoto]

Andy I meant you're being quite optimistic that it'd even last 2 months! :eek: :D

[Lasivian]

I think everyone here will agree that spending $200 on a tele will guarantee you purchase something you won't want to lug around.

The Sigma is in that price range but while a bargain, I'm willing to bet that after a few outings you'll want to replace it - As did I and its been over a year and I still haven't replaced it - so either way you look at it I've been with out a tele I can count on - I'm just down $200 and have a lens I don't use.

Let's see some photos out of your lens then and let me decide where my level of acceptable quality versus price is, not yours.

[cdifoto]

Let's see some photos out of your lens then and let me decide where my level of acceptable quality versus price is, not yours.

This isn't just Andy's opionion of the lens. It's a univerally accepted fact. Crap in, crap out. I don't have one of the junk tele lenses, and never did so I can't offer up samples of my own, but generally what you see in a bird shot is a blob with no feather detail.

[coldrain]

While it is true that you will not get a great lens for 200$, the Sigma 70-30 APO DG version is probably the lens to go for with your budget.

[D Thompson]

This is not a great lens, but well within your price range (<$200).

Canon EF 75-300mm F4-5.6 III and here is some sample pix http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_75300_4iii So take a look at some of the shots and see for yourself.

Not everyone here needs an expensive lens and as Lasivian said he is not a pro, just wants a decent lens for less than $200.

Just my .02.

[cdifoto]

This is not a great lens, but well within your price range (<$200).

Canon EF 75-300mm F4-5.6 III and here is some sample pix http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_75300_4iii So take a look at some of the shots and see for yourself.

Not everyone here needs an expensive lens and as Lasivian said he is not a pro, just wants a decent lens for less than $200.

Just my .02.


Note. Broad daylight, stopped down in most shots, rarely at the extreme tele end, and small web resolution. Almost everything looks sharp when it's this small. The lens would be fine if you never shoot anything with fine detail and/or print larger than say, 5x7.

Not saying it's unusable...you just wouldn't keep it long if you value image quality and/or need to shoot in less than perfect lighting.

[D Thompson]

Note. Broad daylight, stopped down in most shots, rarely at the extreme tele end, and small web resolution. Almost everything looks sharp when it's this small. The lens would be fine if you never shoot anything with fine detail and/or print larger than say, 5x7.

Not saying it's unusable...you just wouldn't keep it long if you value image quality and/or need to shoot in less than perfect lighting.

Sure it has limitations, but for <$200 and given what the OP said I'd toss it out there and let him look at some sample shots to determine. I doubt they will print larger than 5x7 given this is a trip, he's not a pro and not sure how much he'll use it anyway so why put down a bunch of cash.

My budget for said lens is 200$ (Not sure how much i'll use it, or if i'll like it, I had a 300mm lens on a Rebel s (35mm) and I remember it was fun).

This is all for my own personal shooting, i'm not a professional, but I don't want to take awful pictures either, heh.

I bought my 20D when it first came out & was my first digital, I'd still been using my trust old Canon A1. I got this lens for $170 if I remember right and while it doesn't spend much time on my 20D now, it can still manage a decent shot or 2. The reason it doesn't is it's hard not to use either my 85 f1.8, efs10-22, or 24-70 f2.8L. I don't use the long end that much, although I am looking real close at the 70-200 f2.8L, just gotta earn a few more $ off my prints & shoots. I just don't think everybody needs to spend a bunch on a lens they may or may not use much. Ultimately it is each individual decision.

100% crop 800x600 pixels with a little USM. 290mm @ f7.1

[JTL]

Remember the cardinal rule of this forum. There's no such thing as "good enough" around here...

[D Thompson]

Remember the cardinal rule of this forum. There's no such thing as "good enough" around here...
Lord, ain't it the truth! :D

[XaiLo]

Anybody want to sell him one that they're not using?;)

[cdifoto]

Remember the cardinal rule of this forum. There's no such thing as "good enough" around here...


Sure there is. "Good enough" is when it produces reasonably sharp images (notice I didn't say TACK sharp) at all apertures and focal lengths that it was designed to operate at. I don't want an f/3.5-5.6 75-300mm that sucks at f/3.5 75mm and f/5.6 300mm and is decent at f/8 and 80mm and f/8 200mm. I might as well have a fixed f/8 80-200mm ...at least then neither the lens nor the manufacturer are trying to kid me.

"Good enough" is a lens that I don't hate "except under certain circumstances."

If you wanna save some bucks and cheap out, go for it. It's your money. But WHEN you trade up, and/or come back bitchin, I WILL say "I told you so!" ;) :D

[JTL]

But WHEN you trade up, and/or come back bitchin, I WILL say "I told you so!" ;) :DSome people "trade up" as part of the normal slr/lens combo life cycle...around here, people make it sound like you're stupid if you buy what you can afford now and trade up later.

O.K....here's my essay answer for official membership in the Canon Forum Clique Club:

"Why son, you might as well not take any pictures at all than take a picture with that crappy lens! Why don't you save up for a year or two and then buy something decent. Also, unless you're planning to shoot weddings and have "L" lenses, you're not a real photographer anyway...but go ahead and buy that 30D and that L lens, because I think is a great idea...so what, if all you're gonna ever shoot is your cat and some daisies. You want those cat photos to look good, don't you? And, what's a few grand anyway?"

How's that? Do I have the spiel down or what? :D :p :D

[D Thompson]

Some people "trade up" as part of the normal slr/lens combo life cycle...around here, people make it sound like you're stupid if you buy what you can afford now and trade up later.

O.K....here's my essay answer for official membership in the Canon Forum Clique Club:

"Why son, you might as well not take any pictures at all than take a picture with that crappy lens! Why don't you save up for a year or two and then buy something decent. Also, unless you're planning to shoot weddings and have "L" lenses, you're not a real photographer anyway...but go ahead and buy that 30D and that L lens, because I think is a great idea...so what, if all you're gonna ever shoot is your cat and some daisies. You want those cat photos to look good, don't you? And, what's a few grand anyway?"

How's that? Do I have the spiel down or what? :D :p :D

Yes, I believe you have it close, but surely you wouldn't dream of putting that L lens on the 30D when a 5D is just a few grand more! Come on, I thought you were a "real" photographer. :D :D