Cheap 300m zoom for Canon 400D?

[millband]

Hi, I'm thinking of getting a 300mm zoom for Le Mans and rallies this year. I already have a Tamron 55-200 which I'm very happy with for the price (now only £69!), but would like a little more reach. Must be lightweight and under £200.

I'm currently thinking of getting a Tamron 70-300mm (f4-5.6 Di LD Macro) ~ £115

Any thoughts? I'm staying at the cheap end because I'm happy enough with the quality so far and the lens is likely to be mis-treated - rain, mud, grit etc. The lens is likely to be used at the 200mm-300mm end of it's range mostly I'd imagine, so that's where I want it to perform.

Cheers,

Steve

[chris.mapey]

IIRC - that is rated as being quite "soft" at the far end of it's reach when using the fastest aperture.

The old cliche of you get what you pay for rears its ugly head again...

That said, I'd try it against the Sigma 70-300 as well (similar in price) as I have a very old Sigma 75-300 that cost peanuts from ebay, and very occasionally allows a decent image to be captured

It's a very personal thing, so I'd suggest that you go and have a try with them at a camera shop such as Jessops.

Go on a slightly overcast day so you are working the lens a bit harder (anything will seem OK in bright sunlight pointing it down a high street)

Do some net searching and get a pice for each lens online - take this to Jessops and ask how close they can get to the price you have found (they will usually budge on their prices)

HTH

Chris

[VxDuncan]

If you go for the sigma, get the APO version (as I've said many, many times before). The non-APO is pretty poor, the APO great! I've owned both btw. The Macro is really good too - 1:2 magnification is probably the best of any non deadicated macro lens.

[millband]

All good advice guys, thanks.

How heavy is the APO version, is it similar to the non-APO? (I'll check specs later...)

[stigmundfreud]

I have both the tamron and the canon (mk2) of hte 2 the canon is light years ahead in focus speed and image.

[millband]

Which Canon lens do you have? I see there is a USM and non-USM version of Canon EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 III lens in my price range.

My current Tamron is quite slow to focus but it's fast enough to keep up with a rally car so it'll do. It does tend to hunt around in low light though.

Thanks,

Steve

[stigmundfreud]

usm never use it or the tamron now tbh, I do everything at lower zooms but for a 300 the usm is a good lens

the tamron is good just compared to usm its a sloth

[tertius]

I have the Canon 75-300 USM III - pretty darn good for the money in my view.

Though I've replaced it with a 70-200 F2.8L and 1.4TC so I never actually use it now.

[millband]

Sorry, did you just say "I don't use it anymore so I'll post it to you for a fiver"?

[tertius]

millband said:

Sorry, did you just say "I don't use it anymore so I'll post it to you for a fiver"?

I don't think I said a fiver ... ... I've actually lent it to someone, however, if they don't want it it may as well move on so open to offers.

[MonkeyHanger]

Find a used Canon 100-300 USM (MUST be the USM version). Be aware this may not be fast enough for a Forest rally if you're in the woods..

I've e-mailed you a link to one i know for sale at a dealer

Edited by MonkeyHanger on Thursday 1st May 23:58

[millband]

tertius - YHM

monkeyhanger - No mail turned up, could you send it again?

[MonkeyHanger]

Done

[millband]

Just a note to say I went for a Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM in the end, new from 7dayshop for £219.

Read a lot about it being sharper than the Canon 75-300 so I'll give it a whirl (and bust my budget slightly!)

Cheers for the help

Steve

Edited by millband on Wednesday 14th May 23:18

[Pierscoe1]

I've got the Sigma 70-300 APO DG blah blah....

I find it pretty darn good.. especially considering the price!

most of us can't afford L-glass..

[millband]

Well you're too bloody late to influence my purchase now!