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Thread started 07 Aug 2012 (Tuesday) 14:42
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What do you all think about my AF lens kit choice?

 
Sweet_Bee
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Aug 07, 2012 14:42 |  #1

Here's my deal. I have my 7D and my old school Yashica lenses. They are great optically and I get some neat bokeh. But lately I have been in deep contemplation, almost meditation, over nabbing up some auto focus lenses. I haven't been able to capture flying bees or birds very well, and bees are my thing.

So, after reading up on lenses and viewing what everyone likes and dislikes, I have been thinking about getting a Sigma 10-20 for the wide end, and a 28-105 USM. I know these aren't the best of the best, but I do this for the fun of it, possibly as a career in the future.

Are there any recommendations you have I may have missed? I'm wishing my gear could be white and have red rings, but I don't think I want to dive that far into the deep end.

One day in the future I want to go full frame, but that's not for at least a year or two. Any thoughts? Thanks for looking guys, and helping me out!


Sweet Bee
Canon 7D ¦ Yashica 50mm 1:2 ¦ Yashica 75-150mm ¦ Canon SD1000

  
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riverdog1
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Aug 07, 2012 18:31 |  #2

I have been photographing bees in particular for the past several years as a volunteer collecting data for Illinois. I shoot live bees in natural habitat with natural light and after
trying everything from macro lenses (honey bees might allow it but bumble bees don't
want you that close. the tympanic membrane senses the shock wave from the shutter and
angers them!) to zoom lenses with and without extension tubes etc. Long story short,
I have made my last 800 or so photos using a 7D with a 300mm f4 IS and a 1.4x II. It
provides a good working distance etc. I'm an amateur but have been published in 8 magazines now using this setup. Hope this helps as it doesn't directly address your question.




  
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wayne.robbins
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Aug 08, 2012 06:50 |  #3

@riverdog1 : If you are shooting that and the bees sense the shutter opening/closing- maybe you should try a point and shoot, like a SX40, as point and shoots use an electronic shutter- not a physical one. Just a thought !


EOS 5D III, EOS 7D,EOS Rebel T4i, Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS II, Canon 24-105L, Canon 18-135 IS STM, 1.4x TC III, 2.0x TC III, Σ 50mm f/1.4, Σ 17-50 OS, Σ 70-200 OS, Σ 50-500 OS, Σ 1.4x TC, Σ 2.0x TC, 580EXII(3), Canon SX-40, Canon S100
Fond memories: Rebel T1i, Canon 18-55 IS, Canon 55-250 IS, 18-135 IS (Given to a good home)...

  
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riverdog1
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Aug 09, 2012 17:07 as a reply to  @ wayne.robbins's post |  #4

Good idea! In fact I do use point and shoots in macro mode sometimes for just that.
Often times, you can't get closer than several feet away anyways and for those times
the 300mm, 1.4x II is terrific. No one has ever been interested in publishing my point and
shoot photos either while there continues to be interest in my current work with the 7D
300mm etc.




  
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rick_reno
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Aug 09, 2012 18:22 |  #5

i've used a 100mm L, 70-200 2.8L and 300mm f4 for bees, had pretty good luck with the 100mm. But after reading Riverdogs post I'm going to give that 300 and TC a try, I've never tried it with my 1.4 TC.




  
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1Tanker
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Aug 09, 2012 18:35 as a reply to  @ rick_reno's post |  #6

I like the 100/2.8 macro with 1.4x tc and 300/4 IS with 1.4x for bees (mostly Bumble Bees). The 70-200 is ok, but it's MM isn't quite as good.


Kel
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DreDaze
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Aug 09, 2012 21:39 |  #7

if bees are your thing i don't see how the two lenses you picked come into play...i'd go for a 100mm macro myself...unless you can afford the more expensive 300mm suggested above


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rwhardy
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Aug 09, 2012 22:09 |  #8

i shoot bees with my 300 or my 70-200 with a 1.4 t/c. some of the best shots i got on honeybees on clover were with my 70-200 f/4 non is. i set the shutter speed way up there and hand held it.




  
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What do you all think about my AF lens kit choice?
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