Strange lens need

[penguins_rock]

Hi all, I am just getting into the wonderful world of digital SLR's and fairly new here, so sorry if it has been talked about before (couldn't find anything with the search). Anyway, I currently have a 350D and an 17-85 IS USM. I love the lens but I seem to need more tele now and then (which is probably obvious). I would be looking at either a primary or a tele zoom (and will probably still get one), but currently a lot of my shooting is done while I am on my motorcycle (not used while moving, just packed in the saddlebag). I have a nice, well padded hip-style camera bag that fits perfectly in one saddlebag and thats about all the room I can spare, which basically limits me to one attached lens, a few CF cards, batteries, and a filter.

I saw that tamron recently started selling the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD, and was wondering if anyone has any experience or thoughts about it. I would love to get the canon EF 28-300mm IS USM, but I would worry about it "showing off" too much, being white and all, and the tamron is 1/4 the price or so. I would sort of be concerned about not having IS as most of the shots with this lens would be hand held, since I cannot seem to find a tripod that will fit in any of my bags.

Anything on these or other recommended lenses would be greatly appreciated :-)

[robertwgross]

A lens like that has tremendous range of zoom, but that makes compromises on the overall sharpness at any focal length. So, the general wisdom is to avoid lenses with a range of 10 times in zoom. Lenses with a range of 4 times in zoom are much sharper, but that doesn't solve your problem.

---Bob Gross---

[weemannie]

An alternative might be a converter. Its small and will increase your zoom range by either 1.4 or 2x. There's a sticky thread on them in this section.

I don't think you can use the Canon ones' with your lens, but Sigma and Tamron make good ones and are cheaper :)

[cmM]

70-300 DO IS
small, black, inconspicuous.

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

Yea, I'd agree with cmM. Take a good look at the Canon 70-300 DO IS. Great range, great lens, tiny, black. Sounds like everything you need. Not much on the wide end, but if it had that it'd degrade the image quality a lot. So, really wouldn't be worth it.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=319783&is=USA

If you want something cheaper, another possability is the Canon 75-300mm IS. Doesn't have the fastest AF, but it seems like a decent lens for the price and all.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=102854&is=USA

If you can only carry one lens, and need a little on the wide end for your 70-300, get a 50mm f/1.8 for it. That's what I did. I wanted just a wee bit more width for sertain shots than my 70-200 f/4 could provide. So, for 75 bucks the 50 f/1.8 seemed like a good resolution.

Hope this helped!

[Skip Souza]

Well, Penguins_rock, my dilemma exactly. Currently my bike. do-it-all lens is my Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di. Like all wide range zooms it tends to struggle at the extremes, especially when shooting wide open. Tighten up the aperture and things get much better. I have posted examples of this lens at http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73106 and http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=74789. The lens is extremely light weight and compact, almost ideal on the bike.
Having said that, as soon as I can sell the Tamron and my wife's EF 75-300 IS USM I am getting the EF 70-300 DO IS. This lens is almost as small and light weight as the Tamron but it costs about three times as much.

The ideal lens would be an EF 15-500mm f/2.8 IS that is the size, weight and cost of my Tamron. Yeah, right, along with nickel beer, dime cigars, 50 cent gas, and no speed limits.
Everything is a compromise.

[penguins_rock]

Thanks everyone; I realize a huge zoom is going to have a lot of tradeoffs, but I just wanted to make sure if I pick up one of those lenses they won't make my $200 P&S look fantastic ;-) On a sort of related topic, does anyone know of a single lens case with a beltloop or something with decent padding (the bike isn't rough by any means, but more than an everyday car)? I have a small case wth a velcro beltloop attached to the camera case for cleaning tools and a couple filters; I should be able to fit another one on the other side of the strap for another lens and perhaps solve my delima, but the ones I have seen at the shops around here don't have any padding, just felt lined.

Thanks again


ps
Hey skip souza, is that your bike in your avitar? If so, you have a much bigger problem than I do...my harley wide glide's storage space is like a truck compared to it ;-)

[KevC]

70-300 DO IS is an awesome lens. Small too!

I'd avoid hyperzooms though (like that 18-200, that's more than 10x!), loss of image quality. I'd say the 70-200/4 or 70-200/2.8 would be a good compliment to your 17-85.

[Skip Souza]

No, Penguins_rock, the bike in my avatar is a Honda superbike ridden by Miguel Duhamel. My bike is a Honda VFR750F. I call it a gentleman's roadracer. At least my bike is also red. I pack my gear in my tank bag.
I am using a Tamrac mod. 5315 top loader type camera bag. It easily holds my 20D with my Tamron 28-300 attached and hood reversed. It has 3 small pockets for batteries, cf cards, filters etc. It has belt loops and a detachable shoulder strap.
I plan to augment this with A Tamrac lens case and an accessory belt. They are part of Tamrac's M.A.S system. Check it out at B&H. Lowepro also makes a similar system.

Kevin is right about the 70-300 DO IS, and all wide range zooms are a compromise. For about 25% of the cost of a new 70-300 DO I have my Tamron 28-300 listed in the marketplace if $$$ are paramount;-).
The 70-200 f/4 is a good lens. It will give good results with the 1.4x TC and still not be too awful big.
If size dosen't matter and you have plenty of money then the 70-200 f/2.8 IS is awesome.
I know too many choices.
Photography is all about compromises.

[CyberDyneSystems]

70-300 DO IS
small, black, inconspicuous.

Yep,. sounds perfect for this use,. and it has "IS" Image Stabilization.. essentially a built in gyro to control camera shake. ;) You COULD use it while moving! :shock: