New to SLR's and need some help

Hi,

I have just got a 350d for xmas with the kit lens which seems ok, but I will need a zoom lens about 100-300, a macro lens and a 1.4 converter. I am not a pro, but I like to photo wild life and do close ups and the normal family shots.

I have done a few searches on here and have come up with the following lenses and woulddlike your thoughts:

Sigma 100-300 F4 EX IF HSM
Sigma 105 Macro
Sigma 1.4 converter

At some point later next year I would like to change the kit lens for the Tamron 28-75 XR DI

I don't have a lot of cash, well none I can spend on myself, I will have to sneak a lens past the wife and lie about the cost. So I might be able to get one lens now and maybe one for my birthday in March and I will sneak the converter in sometime and say I have had it for ages!!

The sigma F4 100-300 is £550 in the UK and the 105 is about £290, does anyone know if I can get them cheaper anywhere else or can recommend a good place to buy second hand.

Can I use the converter on the 105 and the kit lens (I know it works on the zoom).

Thanks

Mike

Looks like some good choices to me. You'll always want a longer lens for wildlife but 100-300 with a 1.4x is a good start. Highly rated lens.

The wildlife would mainly be in safari parks or zoos so hopefully it will be ok, I may neeed to get the 2x converter and go on a sunny day

I've just found this website http://www.onestop-digital.com …x.php?manufactu​rers_id=12 who have some fantastic prices claiming to be vat free and guarantee no import duties and if any are paid they will cover them.

has anyone used them before as I'd save £200 if I got the 3 from here.

Mike

Well Master Boswell ... I can help you here as you're talking about my back catalogue

Firstly, Onestop are very good. I've spent plenty over several purchases. They will refund any import related charges and it's just fuss free.

I've also owned the lenses you mention. The Macro is a cracker. Really nice shots and nice to use. I'd actually like to get another one. The AF hunts quite a bit, same as most Macro's, but you would normally use MF for true macro shooting.

The 100-300 f4 is a stellar performer on a tripod or monopod. Handheld it suffers a bit because it's quite big and a bit heavy. It's very close to the 100-400 IS L in IQ and maybe it comes down to individual copies.

It does well with a TCon. I would leave the 2.0x personally as IQ suffers and you lose AF. AF speed and accuracy and IQ with a 1.4x is still very good indeed. Will do a great job in the circumstances you mention. IQ is better without a TCon, but I kept mine on most of the time. I used the Sigma 1.4 and 2.0x. Also the Kenko Pro 300 DG 1.4x is recommended and cheaper.

The Tamron is also very nice. I'd prefer a bit more on the wide end personally which is why I got a 24-70 2.8 Sigma. Also a superb lens.

Thanks condyk, I will give them a try once I have returned the 350d today, my wife bought it on a credit agreement which she needs to cancel we will pay using our mastercard to get the extra £100 off, she also got a pny card which I hear are not very good so thats going back too. So I will go for 100-300 next week.

Thnaks

Mike