Another "Which lens should I get" question

Hi good forumees
I'm in a bit of a quandry, and know that in here are some very knowledgeable brains, that will probably be able to help.

I'm on the hunt for a zoom lens that will perform well.
I like to take pics at dog racing events, but am not always allowed too close to the track.
I currently have the 30D +17 - 85, and the EF 75-300 usm III - which I'm getting very disappointed with, especially at the top end.

I'm thinking 100 - 400 or 28 - 300.

Before any one says about a fixed prime - I don't really want one to be honest, as say a 400 or 600mm, would mean I'd be stuck at a fixed distance all the time, whereas with a zoomie, I can sometimes get physically closer, and therefore only need around 185 or less, or if not, then top end, 300 - which is the disappointing bit on the current lens.

Ideas, suggestions etc on a postcard and send to.............. LOL

Hope to get some good feedback, as I don't want to go and buy the wrong lens, only to be yet again disappointed.

Thanks guys/gals.

If you are not going with primes then yeah, the 100-400 is a very good option.
Keep in mind however, the 400 f5.6 is popular b/c the AF on that lens is VERY fast.

Can't say the same about the 100-400L. It's not dog slow, but certainly not the fastest on the block.

nicksan wrote in post #3533087
If you are not going with primes then yeah, the 100-400 is a very good option.
Keep in mind however, the 400 f5.6 is popular b/c the AF on that lens is VERY fast.

Can't say the same about the 100-400L. It's not dog slow, but certainly not the fastest on the block.

Thanks for the reply, nicksan.
Having read some other '100 - 400' threads, and about it's softness at top end, AF speed etc, but it's still edging me towards it.
I know nothing however of the (can't remember what damn lens now - 28 - 300?) other lens, but I always think that something that has such a huge range won't be as good.??

As I said, I don't want a prime, as it really would be impractical for me.
(Remembering back to late 70's, when I had a 35mm AE1, I bought a 300mm then, and hardly got to use it, because of the restrictions with it.)

Ta again, V58

You must be talking about this lens.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

The lens is slower the way the aperture is spread out over the range.

"The Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens is a variable aperture zoom lens going from f/3.5 at 28mm to f/4 somewhere around 50mm to f/4.5 near 55mm to f/5 around 70mm to f/5.6 approximately 115mm. Slightly annoying to me is that AV and M modes gives two clicks for f/5 at 70mm. "

f5 at 70mm and f5.6 at 115mm is kinda slow, no?
So the 100-400 is faster over that range.

Plus you pay a premium for the "does everything" range.

Something to consider...

Vulcan58 wrote in post #3533187
Thanks for the reply, nicksan.
Having read some other '100 - 400' threads, and about it's softness at top end, AF speed etc, but it's still edging me towards it.
I know nothing however of the (can't remember what damn lens now - 28 - 300?) other lens, but I always think that something that has such a huge range won't be as good.??

As I said, I don't want a prime, as it really would be impractical for me.
(Remembering back to late 70's, when I had a 35mm AE1, I bought a 300mm then, and hardly got to use it, because of the restrictions with it.)

Ta again, V58

nicksan wrote in post #3533231
You must be talking about this lens.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

The lens is slower the way the aperture is spread out over the range.

"The Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens is a variable aperture zoom lens going from f/3.5 at 28mm to f/4 somewhere around 50mm to f/4.5 near 55mm to f/5 around 70mm to f/5.6 approximately 115mm. Slightly annoying to me is that AV and M modes gives two clicks for f/5 at 70mm. "

That certainly diminishes quickly then.

f5 at 70mm and f5.6 at 115mm is kinda slow, no?
So the 100-400 is faster over that range.

Plus you pay a premium for the "does everything" range.

Something to consider...

Hmm. Yep - seems like I answered my self there then.
More convinced towards the 100 -400.
Plus the 28 -300 is £1500 here, and can shop about for the 100 ' for around £1k.
Still loads of money, but we have our hobbies eh.?

(I could so kick my self sometimes - I said to my OH that I couldn't justify spending out on the 5D, but here I am quite happy to spend out on a lens that cost more than the 30!)

Vulcan58 wrote in post #3533390
Hmm. Yep - seems like I answered my self there then.
More convinced towards the 100 -400.
Plus the 28 -300 is £1500 here, and can shop about for the 100 ' for around £1k.
Still loads of money, but we have our hobbies eh.?

(I could so kick my self sometimes - I said to my OH that I couldn't justify spending out on the 5D, but here I am quite happy to spend out on a lens that cost more than the 30!)

I think you will see more out of better lenses than getting the 5D. 5D is nice...but I wouldn't get it at the expense of better glass!

On the 30D, the 100-400 will have a 35mm FOV equiv of 160-640. Stick a Kenko 1.4x TC with pins taped and you have 224-896 FOV equiv.

Image that...

nicksan wrote in post #3533436
I think you will see more out of better lenses than getting the 5D. 5D is nice...but I wouldn't get it at the expense of better glass!

On the 30D, the 100-400 will have a 35mm FOV equiv of 160-640. Stick a Kenko 1.4x TC with pins taped and you have 224-896 FOV equiv.

Image that...

896 - Man - I don't want the dogs nostril hairs. LOL

Eeeuww! I'm having visions of higher ISO etc, if that's what you're suggesting.
And a good tripod, and cable release, and.........

Poor Diaphragm would be knackered I expect.

Please excuse - after all I'm english, I ramble on, and get accused of being Eccentric - maybe!

Vulcan58 wrote in post #3533509
896 - Man - I don't want the dogs nostril hairs. LOL

Eeeuww! I'm having visions of higher ISO etc, if that's what you're suggesting.
And a good tripod, and cable release, and.........

Poor Diaphragm would be knackered I expect.

LOL! Nothing like dog (or cat in my case) nostril hairs to impress the pixel peepers here!!!

At 896, taking into consideration the 2 stop IS, theoretically you can shoot as slow as 1/250 and still handhold the shot. Plus, at 1/250 you MIGHT be able to stop some action. I guess that depends on how fast the subject is moving, etc. (1/500 is probably more like it though...)

You could boost the ISO to gain more stops of speed as well...the 30D handles noise very well provided that you get the exposure correct or to the right. So boosting to say ISO 400, which the 30D handles very well, you gain 2 more stops...

Dogs normally around 35 mph - they are incredible at 0 mph out the trap to top speed in about 10 - 15 seconds(if that much - probably less than 10). I'm hoping to get some animated gif's done by a mate, (don't know how to personally) to emphasise the 5FPS.
I'd like to think that ISO 400 or a tad above wouldn't be too noisy - having seen some other pics on here with much, much higher ISO - and still not too bad.
I only want these as Amateur pics, not for anything else, but just want good copy for ME.

Vulcan,

Have you considered a 2nd hand EF 35-350? I freely admit that it's not Canon's greatest creation but I'll never part with mine. As you can see, I have various options but this is the one rely on to cover the unknown.

Bob