canon user....
I've got the cash to go $2500 bucks. My question best lens 300+ mm? For you all Canon users lemme know the lens you cannot live without. :o) I'm looking for a telephoto.... {nature, sports shots etc....}
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Ang on -
Most of the photographer like this len canon EF 70-200 IS f2.8. It comes with a heavy price tag because it is a very fast len for sport, nature and protrait. It is pretty heavy so it is not suitable for a travel len. You will need a monopod or tripod unless you have very strong hand.
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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on -
It depends on what you want to take. I prefer zoom lenses over primes.
On my 30D I usually have a Sigma 18-200 and on my 1Ds I usually have a Canon 28-300 which reduces the need to change lenses and keeps out dust. If I know for certain that I will want a longer lens, I switch to the Canon 100 - 400 USM IS L which can also work with a 2X telextender (mine is Kenko but you can use Canon's as well)
This was taken with the 100-400 on a 30D:
This was taken with the 100-400, mounted on a 1Ds Mk III. It was taken at the after dinner waterskiing show at Deerhurst in Muskoka, on August 2 at 7:30 p.m.:
On the 50D it would be cropped anyway but I cropped it down to this:
This is pretty extreme but here are some test shots from when I wanted to demonstrate the difference in focal length. These were taken with the 30D
At 18 mm through the Sigma lens:
At 800 mm through the 100-400 and 2X converter:
This is a 100% crop out of the above:
The 70 - 200 Alan mentions is a nice lens, it takes the same space in the bag as the 100-400 but is half the focal length. Most of the time f/5.6 is quite adequate but you need to decide for yourself based on what you think you will be shooting, what lighting will be available and how close you can get to your subject.
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Permalink Reply by Lori Aull on -
Okay you've completely sold me! I was leaning towards the canon 100-400 and the 2X extender. Somewhere I read they didn't work well together but your shots prove that a lie!
In general I take shots in daylight {I like the gleam in wildlife's eyes... hard to catch on a dark day...} so I play most in the sun - I mosly love those rare sunny winter days. Like you I'd like to drop a lens on that I don't have to take off to minimize on dust issues.
I cannot tell you how really greatful I am that you took the time to post this for me. {pictures thousand words and etc....} That is just awesome! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! btw; really amazing shots!
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Permalink Reply by Staale Sannerud on -
Oik. At 400mm the 100-400 is at f/5.6. Throw in a 2x converter, you are at 800mm f/11. Then stop down a full stop to f/16 to get back some of the contrast and sharpness that the converter cost you.
Do you have _that_ much light? IS helps with handholdability, but even so...
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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on
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The 2X extender gets you from 400 mm to 800 mm. Or, at least longer than 400 since you don't need it for anything less than 400 mm. Anything longer than 400 mm gets cost prohibitive in one way or another. If you want a nice clear photo of something a city block or more away, or of something closer, but smaller, and you are using a focal length over 400 mm, you are probably going to be using a tripod or some other bracing mechanism, possibly locking the mirror up and using a remote shutter release
That said, this was taken across Humber Bay with a full frame camera, hand held with IS on, 1/2500, f/11, ISO 800, and 800 mm. See the yellow arrow on the map for general line of view. I was sitting on the rocks at the edge of the park and had an unobstructed view. The shutter speed was too fast and stopped the propellers. The same weekend I shot from the viewing area -- red semicircle using just the 100-400 mm lens and frequently not zoomed all the way out. 1/400 is about right for propellers.
Red circle is the "stage", blue shape is more or less where the coast guard was, red semicircle is the official viewing area, yellow arrow shows my line of sight (15,000 ft or a little over 2 3/4 miles).
I think the answer to the question is that depending on what you are shooting, you have more than enough light, and if not, use a tripod.
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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on
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I think this is kind of cool, too. This is a 1/2 inch wood screw lying on a black surface with an orange ruler graduated in 1/16 ths of an inch. It was taken with a 150 mm Sigma macro lens with the 2X teleconverter behind it, on a 30D, so 1.6 X crop factor. This is what the camera took. 10 seconds at f/10. Lens was on a tripod, the mirror was locked up and a remote shutter release was used. This kind of shot absolutely needs a tripod. If you are doing a lot of this sort of thing, a focusing rail is handy, too.
I don't find the teleconverter causes either sharpness or contrast problems. It just reduces the aperture by a couple of stops.
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Permalink Reply by Lori Aull on
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Once again Cameraclicker -
Those shots sincerely are just awesome. I love the screw - amazing shot. I'm not super concerned about using a tripod either I'm a hard and fast lover of mine. My true obession is always to get closer either to prey too far away {and eagle hunting for example} to macro shots. Again I realize at the end of the day we have to purchase equipment based upon our own style. I did think long and hard about the hand-held aspect of it usually when I do that I wear a hand-brace - it works amazingly well for the weight of a heavy lens. Nevertheless; due for delievery on the 14th can't look back now! p.s. I got the hand brace at my local pharmacy and I cannot stress really how effective it is for me.
Really that is exactly what I'm looking for... my macro lens won't fit the converter but that's cool - later down the road {after learning the new lens} I'll snag one like your sigma. {No big stress there I'm mad about my macro lens - which is also fussy about light as well}
I cannot tell you how excited I am for the package to arrive!!
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Permalink Reply by Staale Sannerud on
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Small tip: The Kenko/Tamron/Soligor line of teleconverters will fit any EF-mount lens, because they lack the forward protrusion that Canon and Sigma teleconverters have which in effect limit them to be used only on the higher-end tele lenses. I have used a Kenko 1.4x a bit on my 100mm macro, which is a handy option to have.
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