135mm + converter for wild life?

[Jorge]

I’m planning to go to Borneo next month and will be stopping over in Kuala Lumpur. As prices are ridiculously high in Denmark I thought I’d buy a 135mm/f2.0 I Malaysia, and perhaps a 1.4 converter as well.

Anyone knows the approximate price in KL? Any shop recommendations, thoughts on warranty issues?

Oh... I´ll be needing an x-drive too. Here one with 40 mb is close to 400 us$ - must be cheeper down there?!

[Jorge]

If anyone would like some info on the rather specific topic above see:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=5290322

I’m planning to do some wild life shooting in Borneo and thought that the 135mm/f.2 with a converter (either 1.4 or 2.0) would be a good choice. Obviously there are more dedicated choices but I would also like a sharp low light lens for candid shots e.g. on the street and so on.

Anyone had experience with wild life shots like monkeys in trees, crocs from a boat, and the like. I’m not planning to sit around in shelters for days with a big gun on a tripod. Rather I want a lens that I can carry around and still be able to get reasonably close. What lens do you use?

[Jeppe]

Acually, you might want to consider the EF 200/2.8L, its only a stop away, but you will need the focallength.

[Jorge]

You’re probably right. I just fear that 200 mm will be too much for candid shots and I’ve read much praise about the sharpness of the 135mm. With a 2 x converter and the multiplying factor the 135mm will still give me 135x1,6x2 = 432 mm compared to full size equivalent.

Being a total ignorant about converters the 2 x will give me max aperture 4.0 (on 2.0 without converter) and the 1,4 x will give me 2,8 – right?? (or is it 2,8 and 2,5 respectively???)

[robertwgross]

Canon does not offer any wildlife lens at all like what I needed, so I purchased the Sigma 170-500mm zoom. This monster lens is a real handful to manipulate, so I've found it best to mount it on a small/lightweight tripod and carry it like a gun stock. On a few rare ocassions, I have added the x1.4 teleconvertor. With the x1.6 factor of my D60 camera, that effectively takes me out pass 1100mm focal length, so for small wildlife, that works. For larger wildlife, I omit the x1.4 teleconvertor to get that f-stop back.

---Bob Gross---

[David Lawson]

IMHO 135 is not long enough for wildlife. I photographed Lion Tailed Macaques (Monkeys) in India years ago and 500 wasn't long enough, trees grow tall in rainforests. Your best bet would be 70-200 IS with convertor, if it's within budget. IS will solve low light problems. Canons 2x are adequate but not really up to it on zooms. 1.4x is OK.

[tzrider]

Hi there,

Go for a 100-400 with 1.4 convertor,
a 300 4.0 IS with 1.4 convertor or
otherwise a Sigma xxx-500 or xxx-550.

You need al least 400 a 500, but
a fixed lens would be too limited

I use a 300./4.0, 300/2.8 IS and a
400/5.6 for wildlife, the 100-400
I use if I have to be flexible (horses).
The 1.4 is for extra reach.

The 100-400 is very good, but not as good as
the fixed focals. I used the 100-400 intensivly
for many years with excellent results.

Forget about the 2.0 Canon convertor.
better use the 1.4.

A handy package could be the 35-350
from Canon with a 1.4, but I never worked
with one.

Best wishes,

Jeroen

[Jeppe]

jorge wrote:
You’re probably right. I just fear that 200 mm will be too much for candid shots and I’ve read much praise about the sharpness of the 135mm. With a 2 x converter and the multiplying factor the 135mm will still give me 135x1,6x2 = 432 mm compared to full size equivalent.

Being a total ignorant about converters the 2 x will give me max aperture 4.0 (on 2.0 without converter) and the 1,4 x will give me 2,8 – right?? (or is it 2,8 and 2,5 respectively???)


Well.. it's hard to combine a wildlife lens with an "candid shot" lens. It's not really in the same area (of course, that depends on the term "candid shots").

The 135/3L is a nice one and yes it will give you a 270/4 with an 2x or 189/2.8 with the 1.4x.

What you really want for wildlife is an + 400mm prime lens.

[RichardtheSane]

I am just getting into the area of wildlife photography and I have recently been through the same st of decisions on which lens to buy.

I ended up the the 100-400 F5.6 IS lens, and I have been blown away with the results. I know it is not the fastest lens but I can alway up the ISO on my 10D to get a stop or two on shutter speed. I chose this lens over the sigma xx-500 purely cos of IS - am not a fan of crawling through the undergrowth stalking small mammels with a tripod :)

[Phil Hall]

135 mm is too short for wildlife. The 28-135 canon IS is great for all around use. The 70-200 plus a 1.4x or 2.0x is great for wildlife, it is heavy but does not require a tripod. The 100-400 plus a 1.4x converter gives a 560 mm lense but is sometimes slow to focus and is not as good as the 70--200. I shoot mostly deer, foxes and birds and the occaisional wild cowboy.


Phil Hall
Santa Ynez CA

[RichardtheSane]

I will agree that the 100-400 can be slow to focus, but once a lock is achieved it really hangs onto it well!
If you get the 100-400 chances are you are looking at shooting over 6 metres away - then use the limiter switch to stop it searching the entire focal range. Really speeds up the focusing.
I do eventually plan on adding the 70-200 F2.8IS to my collection though, for those closer encounters...
:D

[Jorge]

Thanks for the good advices. I guess you can never have too much focal length for wildlife. My choice should probably be the 100-400, but I fear it’s a little to heavy to be practical for my kind of shooting and also quite expensive when wildlife photography is something I will only be engaged in on rare occasions. But then again I might get hooked!

Perhaps the 70-200/f4.0 L is a suitable compromise – not really a wildlife lens, but useable for many things and cheap too, and I’ll just have to sneak a bit further up on those monkeys (in my dreams – right:)). Do you know if it’s sharp at f4?

[Geert]

jorge wrote:
Perhaps the 70-200/f4.0 L is a suitable compromise ? not really a wildlife lens, but useable for many things and cheap too, and I?ll just have to sneak a bit further up on those monkeys (in my dreams ? right:)). Do you know if it?s sharp at f4?


If you want a lens for photographing wildlife, the 70-200/f4.0 is too slow and too little reach to do the job. Furthermore, you'll probably find that you'll be shooting at 200mm all the time anyway, unless you try to photograph entire elephants at close range. For the same, or even a bit less as you'd pay for the 70-200/f4.0, you can get a (used) 200/f2.8. This lens is wonderful to handle and focus, not too bulky and fantastic quality. Add a 1.4x converter and you'll have a 280/f4 that will come very close to a 300/f4 in all respects (although it will have some more issues with flare). This will be much more useful for wildlife than a 70-200 zoom.

-Geert

BTW. The 70-200/f4 is sharp at f4.

[henkbos]

I have the 135 f/2L and it's a great lens combined with the 1.4. Seems a little short for wildlife though.
Suggest you skip KL and fly to Singapore as you can most likely get a better deal there. You might even get your hands on some second hand stuff. There are several shops in the Penninsula area.

Have fun in Borneo. Was there 2 years ago and it's great!

[Jorge]

Thanks Geert and Henk.

I’ve read through a number of reviews and noticed some talk about flare issues with the 200/2.8. Didn’t come across any cons about the 135/2.0.

Henk, would you by any chance have an example with this lens wide open? Unfortunately I can’t take your advice on Singapore as my itinerary is already set: a short stop in KL, then Kouching and back from Kota Kinabalu. Looking much forward to it!

[henkbos]

Will try this weekend.

[Andy_T]

Practical remark on deals in Malaysia: prepare to haggle!

When I lived there 5 years ago, The stated prices could almost always be reduced by something between 10% and 30% (having price quotes from Sngapore might help).

Regards,
Andy

[ineke]

will you be stopping by in Singapore?
here they are selling 70-200mm f2.8L for S$1,980... great singapore Sale :)
Xdrive II 40GB for S$430....

.......but just don't go to the wrong place :)