Newbie zoom lens advice please

[burb]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say what a great site this is, some fantastic information and stunning pictures :)

I am fairly new to the world of digital SLR's and would like a bit of advice on a lens choice please.

I have an EOS 20D which I have been using for a few months now. I got it with the 18-55 kit lens. After reading through various posts I decided to go for a 50mm f1.8 II. I have quite enjoyed experimenting with the 50 and I think my pictures are gradually improving. although still a LOT of learning to do!!.

Now I would like to add a zoom lens to my kit, but I'm not sure what to go for. Initially I was considering the 70-200 f4 L USM. However, I am not so sure now. I have also been considering the 70-300 f4.5-5.6 DO IS USM. Although pricey, this lens appeals to me as it is a bit smaller and would be better for handheld shots?

Taking into account the following, what would you recommend?

1, At the moment I'm not big on using a tripod. So would mainly be handheld shots.
2, Would be used for for wildlife, travelling, maybe some motorsports capture. And general out and about candid shots.
3, Will probably be the only lens I add to my kit for for a while.
4, I am fairly new to this but very keen to improve.

Please let me know if there are any other factors I should be considering.

Many thanks.

[condyk]

What's the budget? Makes a big difference to know that :)

Also, where are you as prices vary greatly across the world.

[burb]

Hi,

I am looking up to about £900 at the moment (Mrs permitting!!). Bearing in mind that this will most likely be the only lens I buy for some time. I'm in th UK.

[AjP]

its up to your budget, if u can get 70-300 DO IS
if its too much 28-135 IS USM (great walk around lense)
to get an idea here is few pics with this lense http://ajp-photo.com/gallery/arboretum/index.html

[condyk]

Well £900 is a fine budget and I can think of some great options. The hard part is meeting all your needs with a single lens.

You really do need 400mm plus for wildlife and birding type shots and at that length without a tripod then you IDEALLY need image stabilisation. The obvious lenses to get with this feature are the 100-400mm IS L Canon or the 80-400mm OS Sigma. You might just afford the Canon for that budget and can certainly afford the SIgma. However, neither is a walk around style lens. Both are well loved by owners.

Cheaper but also great options without IS/OS are the Sigma 50-500mm 'Bigma' and the Sigma 100-300mm f4 with a 1.4 TCon. I have had them both and can vouch for their all round quality and value. However, again, these are not walkaround lenses and because they don't have IS/OS you ideally need to tripod/monopod/beanbag mount or shoot handheld at 1/800 or over, otherwise you will get camera shake on too many of your shots.

So, I just don't think REALISTICALLY you can have a walkaround/wildlife lens :lol: :lol:

As that is probably the case (unless you start to look second hand) then maybe you need a best fall back collection. I suggest that you go for the Canon 70-200mm f4 L and the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 DG Macro as a high quality, good value pair that will last and offer satisfaction as your skills develop.

Both can be walkarounds and the 24mm at the wide end of the SIgma will help now and again over the equally decent Tamron 28-75mm 2.8. If you want faster 70-200mm performance get the Sigma f2.8 version, but it's not a walkaround either. You can rely on the 24-70mm for that. The 50mm II is also still great to keep for indoor and portrait style shots, or you can sell it here for £60-70 with hood, or around £50-55 without.

You may also want to get a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TCon for use with the Canon f4 as it will give you an extra 80mm at the long end. Would take it from useless for wildlife to at least almost usable if you're lucky now and again ;) AF slows a little and low light performance isn't great and that's where the f2.8 Sigma and Canon variations come in.

If you decide to go real wild wildlife style then later down the line sell the 70-200 and replace it one of the above options. Resale value is excellent for good lenses, so no real harm done.

I think you'll get a bit cheesed off with the consumer level Canon efforts mentioned. Stick to Canon L, Sigma Ex, Tokina Pro and Tamron SP. Choose carefully tho' as all ranges have great and not so great. The www.fredmiranda.com reviews section is a great place to look for user reviews.

Try 7dayshop.com for the Canon 70-200mm f4 and best price at the moment for the Sigma 24-70 seems to be via Jessops.com (rarely the cheapest, but this time they seem to be!) Add the TCon and you can get these for your £900 budget.

If you want one of the expensive IS/OS style zooms it's worth contacting Kerso via the marketplace section here, or ebay. He seems to be a trusted seller and supplies at good prices.

See here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64418

[burb]

Wow, thanks for the info. I will have a good read through and do a bit more investigation.

Reading through reviews, etc I do like the sound of the quality of pictures the 70-200 4L will provide. I am just a little worried that I will end up feeling a bit self conscious walking round with a lens of this size, for example at Zoo's and places of interest. Resulting in leaving the lens at home. This is what drew me to the DO IS lens, however I am a bit concerned at the differing opinions on the performance of this lens.

Think I need to give it some more consideration. :)

[condyk]

The 70-200mm f4 is fine as a walk around. It's not that big at all. You should see my bl**dy 100-300mm f4 with its hoodie on :lol: :lol: You could win the olympic pole vault with it! Anyway, self consciousness is all in the mind. Transcend fella :lol: :lol: No one really cares anyway.

Best of luck and if you research and think and then want more input, post again!

[burb]

LOL. Thanks again, I will try to overcome the whole self conciousness thing. I'm very new to all this and appreciate all the help I can get. :) . I guess once I start getting decent pictures the worries will go!.

[Medic1]

The 70-200 F4L is not a bad walk around lens....I have done it on many occasions (even with the TC, its still not that bad).

[burb]

Perhaps I will go with my initial instinct and go for the 70-200 F4L then, and save a bit of money!!

Thanks.

[Andy_T]

This is what drew me to the DO IS lens, however I am a bit concerned at the differing opinions on the performance of this lens.

Think I need to give it some more consideration. :)

I don't think there are really differing opinions on its performance.
It's an unanonimous 'Nice, but not great' verdict ...

while the 70-200/4 is considered 'Great' by most.

Best regards,
Andy

[burb]

Hi Andy,


Yeah I guess that would be the general consensus of the opinions.

I'm still wondering whether I will regret trading portability for quality of results if going for the DO IS, or vice versa if I went for the F4L.

Decisions.... decisions....!!!