Discussion
I'd quite like to extend the reach of my 60d - I've currently got an EF-S 55-250mm lens and it's great for the money, but I'd like a little more reach for photographing wildlife.
Ideally I'd like to spend as little as possible, but I'm very much aware that my 55-250 was a bargain and I need to invest in some nice glass to get decent results.
In ideal world I'd just pop out and get an EF 400mm f/2.8... but I'm about eight grand short!
I've seen the Sigma 150-500mm for around £599... is this any good?
Alternatively I've also noticed that I could probably get a Canon 70-200mm f4/L and a 2x TC for similar sort of money second hand. Would this offer better quality results?
Ideally I'd like to spend as little as possible, but I'm very much aware that my 55-250 was a bargain and I need to invest in some nice glass to get decent results.
In ideal world I'd just pop out and get an EF 400mm f/2.8... but I'm about eight grand short!
I've seen the Sigma 150-500mm for around £599... is this any good?
Alternatively I've also noticed that I could probably get a Canon 70-200mm f4/L and a 2x TC for similar sort of money second hand. Would this offer better quality results?
Mr Kitten said:
Alternatively I've also noticed that I could probably get a Canon 70-200mm f4/L and a 2x TC for similar sort of money second hand. Would this offer better quality results?
On your 60D you'd lose autofocus with that combination, you need a maximum aperture of f5.6 or less, a 2x converter adds 2 stops giving you f8. You could get away with a 1.4x converter which would only take you to f5.6Another lens to look at is the 100-400, despite being an older design it is a good lens, very flexible, not the latest spec in IS systems but still good enough to offer some assistance when handholding.
The OP has already hit the nail on the head; you won't get good photos of wildlfe with cheap glass unfortunately. Using a consumer lens with a TC2 or whatever will give very limited aperture, requiring in turn a high ISO setting to compensate, resulting in noise and a photo that won't be pleasing. DOF is most important in wildlife photography, keeping the subject matter sharp but the background blurred (bokeh). I'm a Nikon person, and use a 200/400 f4 lens but even that isn't really enough so the TC1.4 comes into play a lot of the time. Even with the price of this lens, the TC20 causes the lens to hunt and more shots are lost than kept.
But, to keep on track, has the OP considered the Sigma 50/500? Longer reach at f6.3 and affordable.
But, to keep on track, has the OP considered the Sigma 50/500? Longer reach at f6.3 and affordable.
I'd stick with canon 'L' lenses, some zooms notably Canon100-400 have very variable quality, but the sigma 150-500 is very temperamental too, I had one, returned it twice to Sigma beacuase of the 'IS' not working - even when 'IS' was switched off, the shots were blurry
- somehow the IS affected the results?? Having said that when the 'IS' did work properly the shots were superb, better than any I've seen from canon100-400
In your case I'd buy a canon Prime 300 or 400 and add 1.4x convertor if you need more reach.
Hope this helps
- somehow the IS affected the results?? Having said that when the 'IS' did work properly the shots were superb, better than any I've seen from canon100-400In your case I'd buy a canon Prime 300 or 400 and add 1.4x convertor if you need more reach.
Hope this helps
400mm L f5.6 = £ 870
400mm L f4.0 = £4,600
400mm L f2.8 = £7,600
For good birding you'll need at least the middle one, which will work with a TC, but the cheap one won't. We're back to serious money again. Me? I'd go with the 70/200 f2.8 and a TC. You'll have the flexibility and length when you need it. Makes a superb portrait lens too.
400mm L f4.0 = £4,600
400mm L f2.8 = £7,600
For good birding you'll need at least the middle one, which will work with a TC, but the cheap one won't. We're back to serious money again. Me? I'd go with the 70/200 f2.8 and a TC. You'll have the flexibility and length when you need it. Makes a superb portrait lens too.
lowdrag said:
400mm L f5.6 = £ 870
400mm L f4.0 = £4,600
400mm L f2.8 = £7,600
For good birding you'll need at least the middle one, which will work with a TC, but the cheap one won't. We're back to serious money again. Me? I'd go with the 70/200 f2.8 and a TC. You'll have the flexibility and length when you need it. Makes a superb portrait lens too.
Sorry, only just seen this.400mm L f4.0 = £4,600
400mm L f2.8 = £7,600
For good birding you'll need at least the middle one, which will work with a TC, but the cheap one won't. We're back to serious money again. Me? I'd go with the 70/200 f2.8 and a TC. You'll have the flexibility and length when you need it. Makes a superb portrait lens too.
I couldn't disagree more.
The 400 5.6 is perfectly fine for good bird photo's (though I would still suggest the versatility of the 100-400 zoom over the prime), it's only when you start going for 'even more reach' that you need to start looking at other options, and even then going for a prime +TC is not necessarily the right approach IMO.
For decent bird photo's I'd suggest getting a prime over ANY zoom. ANother possibility which comes cheaper than Canon 300 F4 or 400 F5.6 is the now discontinued Sigma 400 F5.6 APO Prime. it's possible to get one of these off ebay for less than 200 notes
Of course if you are an expert at photoshop then a poor 100-400 zoom may suffice, provided you have plenty of spare time to adjust/sharpen your shots in PS.
Of course if you are an expert at photoshop then a poor 100-400 zoom may suffice, provided you have plenty of spare time to adjust/sharpen your shots in PS.
Edited by S47 on Thursday 28th February 08:15
Good technique is the main one, and a zoom will help that, by allowing you to frame correctly then zooming in with the range you have.
The largely imperceptible difference between say a prime 400 5.6 and a 100-400 4.5-5.6 make it an easy choice.
Mentioned above that good bird photo's are only decent on a prime is just not true.
The largely imperceptible difference between say a prime 400 5.6 and a 100-400 4.5-5.6 make it an easy choice.
Mentioned above that good bird photo's are only decent on a prime is just not true.
A silly thought; in the back of my cupboard are my dusty old lenses, including the Nikon 500mm f8 mirror I used way back then. Would one of these serve? I reckon mine is worth about £100 tops on the open market and new minor make ones are available, and while a manual lens needs practice they can be fun. I lent it to a friend at Le Mans last year and he got acceptable results, never having used a manual lens in his life before.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 28th February 09:36
A "cat" was one of my first thoughts.
The answer is to try it - work on technique - see if this is the right focal length for you etc.
I've dabbled with both a Tamron and a Nikkor over the years - on the whole I don't like them that much (doughnut flavoured bokeh and average image quality) but they are relatively cheap (especially £/mm).
You might be surprised after dusting it down to find it could offer nearer £200 on Fleabay. That's a couple of tons toward a replacement if and when you do move on ( obviously depends on which model and on condition, presence of filters etc!)
The answer is to try it - work on technique - see if this is the right focal length for you etc.
I've dabbled with both a Tamron and a Nikkor over the years - on the whole I don't like them that much (doughnut flavoured bokeh and average image quality) but they are relatively cheap (especially £/mm).
You might be surprised after dusting it down to find it could offer nearer £200 on Fleabay. That's a couple of tons toward a replacement if and when you do move on ( obviously depends on which model and on condition, presence of filters etc!)
That's nice! So now I also have the f1.2 50mm Noct, the 80/200 f.28D (replaced with the 70/200 years back), the 75/300, the 135mm macro (Tried it but used it twice) and some cheapo consumer lenses to get rid of too! Might keep the Noct for old times sake though; never found another lens that works like that one. Simply superb bokeh. Todays lenses range from the 12/24 up to the 200/400 with several in between, all pro lenses.
I'd like to think that I've got a reasonable technique, although I'm learning a lot every time I go out and take shots.
It's interesting to read the differing views about the 100-400mm and the 400/5.6 prime...
Also interesting about the Sigma 400mm - I'll keep an eye on ebay - to pick one up for about 200 quid sounds like a good starting place!
It's interesting to read the differing views about the 100-400mm and the 400/5.6 prime...
Also interesting about the Sigma 400mm - I'll keep an eye on ebay - to pick one up for about 200 quid sounds like a good starting place!
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