Newbie User - a couple of questions

[BigDan]

Hi all, I'm currently using a digi-compact (s602 - Fuji) and want to get back into slr camera's (I had a wet film SLR about 5years ago)
I've decided on getting an eos300d/18-55mm bundle from 7dayshop.com in the UK and am down to one of probably two long lenses (the sigma 50-500mm and the sigma 100-300mm) and the bge-1 grip
Most of the use will be at airports/shows as well as the usual family/holiday shots.

What I was wondering was a) Have you any preferences in the lenses selections? and b) roughly how many shots would you get out of an average battery charge. I know the latter is a how long is a piece of rope thing, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Thanks all

Dan

[Medic1]

For lenses I prefer the L glass if I can. Some people will go and call me an "L lens prima donna", but at the end of the day it is pro quality glass. I looked into getting the 50-500 Bigma, but according to my preferences for shooting, I would rather have a 'long" lens with IS so I can handhold it. I guess which type of lens you want really depends on your preferences and your shooting style.

As far as a battery charge goes, I have never really counted to tell you the truth. I would say somewhere in the 300-400 pic range without using flash. Someone else should handle that question. I have never really looked at it because I have two batteries.

[Deckyon]

I went out with a group of photographers shooting eagles in January. One of the guys runs a local camera store and he had the Sigma 50-500. Waste of money, in all of our opinions. I got better results from my 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens with the 2x Extender II with a monopod for support than with the Sigma 50-500. BTW, that lens has been bought and returned to the store 3 times with the same complaints of softness and slow focus. Some people may have had better luck with it, I don't know.

Generally, a zoom lens with more zoom than 2 to 4x (divide larger number by smaller number) you will get softer images than using a zoom lens. There is some mathematical equation for how the light bends and such over the glass, but I do not know it.

If I were to buy one of these lenses, it would be the 100-300, but I have what I like the best, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS. You would probably be better served to get the Canon 70-200mm f/4 L lens and the Canon 1.4x Extender II.

[skyphix]

I cant answer the lens question.

the battery question: I never use my flash, and with my BG-E1 grip and two stock Canon battery equivalents I can get well over 600 photos over the course of 3 weeks without having to recharge the batteries. I even did 300+ photos in a row 2 weeks into the batterys being in the camera.

[BigDan]

Thanks's all for the advice,

I'm swaying toward the Sigma 100-300mm F4 EX APO IF HSM. Possibly with a teleconverter if i find that I need it. The canon L series lens is a bit over my budget, but I've heard good things from other places about the sigma.

I was wondering about the batteries because a couple of times a year, I can be away from mains power for 6-7 days, and taking in the region of 1200 shots!! The airshow at RIAT (RAF Fairford) But I think If i had 2-3 batteries, I'd be safe.
Thanks again

Dan

[Andy_T]

BigDan,

you might want to search the forum for further comments on the lenses.

Although I definitely give a lot of credit to Brad's testimonial, it's the first time I hear bad things about the image quality of the Bigma. But then, what you hear a lot is that Sigma might have some quality control issues and there might be a very big variance in lens quality. That the specific lens was already brought back to the store 3 times with softness concerns, does not really help, either.

The Sigma 100-300/4.0 also is reported to be a very nice, sharp and fast lens. However, both of these lenses are large and heavy beasts ... bear that in your mind when making your selection.

The Canon 100-400 L IS might be more expensive, but is normally a 'logical choice' for people who like to shoot airshows.

Best regards,
Andy