Need help

[Remie]

I'm thinking of buying a canon xsi and need help with lens, the pictures I'm taking are of pigeon flying at some speed and very high. I don't know much about digital cameras. My last camera was a canon a-1. This is a hobby but will go with your advice.

[DonSchap]

You need something light ... fast and with reach ...

Okay ... TAMRON SP AF 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD ... 43.2 oz ... and can respond to your needs with autofocus and variable zoom.

An alternative is the Tokina AT-X 840D 80-400mm f/4-5.6 ... 34 oz ... not quite the reach, definitely caseable. Decent focus speed ... it's no 70-200, but still gets out there.

35386

You will find the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM easily double the price and heavier to use (49 oz).

[Remie]

Don the canon xsi will do the job? thanks

[DonSchap]

Sure ... these are simply lens selections you might consider.

[Remie]

Don, Is there a big difference between tamron and sigma?quality wise

[DonSchap]

SIGMA, of late, has had some QC issues with their lenses. I find it annoying that I have to spend an additional $30 returning a lens for adjustment to them. Perhaps others do not mind, but it really is starting to tick me off.

TAMRON lenses have a six-year manufacturer's warranty ... and yes, occasionally a few issues slip through, but it is not even close to what has been the track record with SIGMA. Personally, if the lenses are close ... focal length, aperture, and weight ... TAMRON gets my vote. I have yet to regret a TAMRON purchase ... I've had three SIGMAs that have either gone back or had to be "adjusted" by their depot repair.

TAMRON's warranty even turned a film lens into a digital lens for me. That was really nice. Saved me at least $100 in upgrade costs.

[Remie]

Don, one more think where will i found the best prices for the camera and the tamron len also thank you very much for you responds

[DonSchap]

One of the best ideas that I have experienced, is to buy locally, if possible. It may cost a little more, but you get a person you can get details and information from. That can be worth substantially more than you paid for your camera. As you become more educated in what you want (either by reading or investigating) buying online will often be the better option.

A lot of people say B&H Video and Adorama are good stores ... but, they are still relatively "out of touch" if you encounter issues (unless you live in New York or Los Angeles). They make their money in volume sales, not spending lots of time on the phone with customers.

Sure, you could ask for advice. right here, (like we're doing) from the Canon DSLR forums, but there is nothing like having a knowledgeable local retailer (not a Best Buy ... I'm talking about a flesh & blood, brick & mortar camera shop, like Calumet Photographic or Alpine Camera, where you can walk in and ask your questions and equipment advice).

"Remie", you never stated where you are, geographically, so I am at a loss to advise you where you should even start to look.

Also, you can go to the top of this page ... all the way up and click on "Camera Prices." Just to get an idea.

[TheWengler]

I'm thinking of buying a canon xsi and need help with lens, the pictures I'm taking are of pigeon flying at some speed and very high. I don't know much about digital cameras. My last camera was a canon a-1. This is a hobby but will go with your advice.

Do you have a budget?

[Rooz]

as always theres a flipside to don's take on tamron gear. imo sigma lens' are better built than tamrons. as much as i loved the performance of the legendary tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro, it was a terribly built lens. as for quality conrol, there has been 3 x 17-50mm f2.8 lens failures on this forum in the last few months so make of that what you will. i would not be listening to broad sweeping statements made on internet forums about quality control issues. its generally just BS speculation based on limited personal experience and in this case, not a small degree of fanboy-ism.

besides which the bigma, (sigma 50-500mm), is a more highly regarded lens, (especially for birding), as an alternative to canon/ nikon lens' that may be too expensive. i would suggest you do a little more research on this. personally i'd be saving your pennies and getting the 100-400 canon. if that is too much of a stretch, the bigma.

be clear about your budget and specific requirements so you can minimise the chances of an expensive mistake.

[Remie]

Rooz, I have $2000.00 to spend on the camera and len, thanks

[Rooz]

canon xsi w/ 18-55 kit lens is $900, so you have about $1100 to play with for your telephoto lens which is what the bigma costs. i'd be asking the canon guys in the canon dslr forums what is the best tele option for your needs. otherwise, maybe do a search for birding photography forums and ask there.

coincidentally this topic just came up in the nikon forums and one of the guys has a Bigma. this shot here should indicate why the bigma is so highly regarded and widely used.

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=300590&postcount=22

here is a flickr group for bigma shots.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bigma/

remember: no IS on the bigma, so you should also be considering a sony alpha a700 which also has the bigma mount and then the whole lot has IS. at a 500mm focal length, IS is a massive advantage unless you always shoot in very bright light.

[Remie]

Rooz the xsi also has IS

[Rooz]

no, the xsi, like all other canon/ nikon cameras relies on IS from the lens', so if the lens doesn;t have IS, then the lens is not stablisied. the sony has IS built into the body itself so all lens' you put onto it are stabilised.

nikon/ canon use a lens based IS system. Olympus, Pentax and Sony use in-body IS. food for thought.

[Remie]

rooz sorry my computer was having problems. What about A700 with 16-105 and sal500f80, I dont know if this len will work for what I want it $2148.00

[Rooz]

the a700 is a great cam thats for sure. sorry, i dont know enough about sony lens' to be able to comment cos i've never seen one let alone used one. hopefully our resident Sony Marketing Manager Don Schap can help with sony lens questions. :)

[Remie]

Thank you Rooz, I hope Don see this post

[Rooz]

Thank you Rooz, I hope Don see this post

you can PM Don using this link if he doesnt see your thread.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/member.php?find=lastposter&f=47

[DonSchap]

The SONY SAL-16105 DT 16-105mm 3.5-5.6 has a soft center focus ... and that's not great.
Here's a review on it for you (http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sony_16-105_3p5-5p6_m15/page4.asp) (<- Click on link).


I would recommend abandoning that idea of the 16-105 and concentrating on a better expenditure on either TAMRON SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) or the SONY SAL-1680Z - Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 (currently a little tough to get). Your photography will have a great jump start to it, with either lens ... and I'm pretty sure you won't be cursing your shots anytime soon.

The SONY SAL-500F80 is novel lens ... in that it is the only "Reflex" (or Mirror) lens (f/8) that has autofocus. Unless you are used to using a 500mm lens on a regular basis, your money might be better spent on a SAL-70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. It is a new and very superior lens in its class (70-300), matching its quality focus and improved focus speed right up to the Carl Zeiss® 16-80mm.

That's my two cents on spending.

[raven15]

While we're at it, the Sigma 50-500 is available for Olympus mount too. Now, the E-510/520 isn't as nice a camera body as the XSi or A700 (well, it it well made and feels good), but it has IS and would make the Bigma equivalent to 100-1000mm, freakin' enormous reach.

If that's the lens you want, you might consider that option.

Though, that Sony lens is pretty convincing. I wish more manufacturers would take their 70-300mm lenses seriously.

[Remie]

Thank you all