Lens to achieve max zoom length similiar to G3 and Tiffen 2X

[Hannah]

Hi,

I'm still have a little trouble trying to reconcile Rebels Lens Zoom Distances as relates to my G3.

The G3 had a zoom of up to 14X and I would also use the Tiffen 2X to double that. At the high end, sometimes the pictures were a little soft based on the scenerio, however, I was able to use most even in print work with some Photoshop work.

Given that, what type of lens would I need to look at to achieve similiar distance and hopefully even better results?

Thanks in advance,

Hannah

[Belmondo]

I fear you're going to be disappointed with the zoom ranges available in typical SLR lenses. Within the Canon lineup, the broadest range that comes to mind in a single lens is the 28-300L, a $2500 lens. That's an 11X zoom, and is arguably not the best lens available at any point within its range.

Your 18-55 is only a 3X zoom, and even the best lenses (such as the much fabled L lenses) are often closer to 2X. There are still some of the 35-350 L lenses floating around, but they tend to be pricey as well ---about $1500.00 Still, those two lenses (35-350 and 28-300) will be your choices for the broadest zoom range in the Canon lineup.

At the budget end of things, the Canon 28-200 is available for around $360.00, but that's only a 7X zoom, and probably not a fantastic lens optically.

Most of us have gone to multiple lenses for the extreme range in zoom capabilities like you're looking for. I just don't think you'll find a quality solution that will come anywhere close to what you're hoping to do. In the SLR world, 14X (and greater) is really a pipe dream.

Good luck.

[Miika]

G3 has optical zoom range 7.2-28.8 mm that is approx. 28.8 - 140 mm on 35 mm film SLR. (4x zoom)

That can be doubled with a tele converter; it yields 57-280 mm equivalent focal range.

The very large 4x zoom range is achieved by using very small CMOS sensor and short actual focal length.

The 14x zoom range of G3 is optical + digital zoom combined; there's no digital zoom in SLR cameras. However, we can calculate that 14x 7.2 mm = 100,8 mm; which would equal to approximately 500 mm focal length in 35 mm SLR (or 400 mm, I don't know the exact factor).

Witha tele converter optical+digital combined would give 800-1000 mm maximum; but the image is just big squares (upsampled).

You can find lots of documentation why there are no such zoom lenses. It is very difficult to build one and it would be very expensive; it would also be a compromise - you will get better results by having multiple lenses.

I guess EF 28-300 L could be close to what you think.
Remember the 1,6x crop factor: it equals to approx 45 - 480 mm in 35 mm film SLR.

Or maybe EF 100-400 with 2x extender... :shock:

The results will beat the G3. Just go to your camera shop, they will let you try different lenses.

Miika

[Hannah]

Belmondo and Miika,

Thanks for taking time out. Very Helpful.

Hannah

[leony]

The beauty of SLR is that you can change lenses. Now, SLR takes lenses that go from 8mm full-frame fish-eye with 180 degrees view all around to 1200mm which can be combined with 2x AND 1.4x converters for a whopping 1200*2*1.4=3000+ effective focal length. that's 180 degrees to about 0.8 degrees of view in one system which you can acheive with unlimmited resources. by the way, digital zoom is acheived by cropping the image and up-sampling. something photoshop does a lot better than cameras.

if you like the one-piece system, check out Canon's Pro-1:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=317308&is=REG &si=acc#goto_itemInfo

[gcogger]

Bear in mind that your 14x zoom is not really 14x. The digital zoom should be ignored, since you get the same results by cropping and resizing in post-processing.

The G3 gives a 35mm equivalent of 35-140mm, and up to 280 with the converter. For the 300D, you'd need lenses of 22-175. Nobody makes anything in that range, although you can get a Tokina 24-200 that isn't bad. Sigma also do an 18-125, and there's a very good quality Tamron 24-135.
For best quality you'd need at least 2 lenses (but then, you're effectively using 2 for the G3). Chepest solution is the kit lens (18-55) plus the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro Super 2. This gives a small gap in the middle (not too important) and goes much wider and longer than the Canon.
For top quality, how about the Canon 17-40L, 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200 f/2.8 or f/4.0 L?

[Miika]

The digital zoom is there only to increase sales - there really is no use for that. But now having a 70-300 mm (with D10 crop factor of 1,6 it is 112-480) lens I have started to think that a big focal length is not that big deal after all.

I was today testing my lenses in the beautiful old town of Tallinn. Tallinn is a very photographic city: you can find lots of contrasts between old and new buildings and it changes very quickly.

I had first my Sigma 70-300 APO attached - it is an eye-catcher with lens-hood attached even when it is set to its shortest - when I arrived to a panorama place... My last time there was in May with a G3 (with Canon 1.75x teleconverter - 245 mm) and I thought I don't reach all details I want. Of course I should have brought a tripod with me: you can't hold 300mm steady without tripod or image stabilizer found in more expensive lenses. On the other hand, if you want to be there with a tripod you need to be there 5 am... See picture of situation (http://www.saunalahti.fi/masunta/Kuvat/Tallinn_7039.jpg)

But still, I didn't really find use for the long lens in that scenery... At 300 mm you can get a detail picture of Hotel Olympia (http://www.saunalahti.fi/masunta/Kuvat/Tallinn_7029.jpg) (the highest building in the left side of the picture linked above - but what's the point taking a picture of a hotel you are not staying at?) I sneaked away to switch the 18-50; there's so much more to look at in a wide angle picture.

But then... there's lots of point in using 300mm for a detail of an "obligatory duck": (http://www.saunalahti.fi/masunta/Kuvat/Duck_6177.jpg) this was taken only 2m away from the target. At 70 mm you can see the whole "obligatory" duck (http://www.saunalahti.fi/masunta/Kuvat/Duck_6191.jpg).

Conclusion - the good old truth: "if your photographs are not good enough you are not close enough". (Robert Capa)
See http://www.magnumphotos.com/

Miika
--
Canon G3, D10
Sigma 18-50/3.5-5.6
Sigma 70-300 APO Macro II/4.0-5.6
Canon 50/1.4
Canon 85/1.8