Now the stupid questions start!
Discussion
V6GTO said:
I've found that a range of 300-600 is ideal for motorsport, so including the 1.6x crop factor of the 20D, the 100-400 would be a good choice.
The 70-200 is a great lens too, but I think it wouldn't quite be long enough, and if you're spending that much money on a lens, you want it to be right for what you want it for!
They are quite heavy, but Matt is right and you do get used to it. It is well worth getting a backpack bag to carry it in though, as it can get quite tiring carrying it around slung over a shoulder.
I've also got the 28-135 IS, and while it is probably my cheapest lens, it's also the one that's on the camera the most, and I've used it to take the majority of my best photos.
I second every word of the above, especialy the bit about the 28-135 IS being on the camera for most of the time.
( I've got the Canon 100-400 IS, the Canon 28-135 IS and a Sigma 12-24 DG)
Martin.
Hi Martin
How's spain? A world away from that day at Millbrook i guess
What did you use to shoot that excellent pic of the turquoise beastie by the sea?
I have both the 100-400L IS and the 70-300 DO IS (and the 28-135 IS)
I have just come back from a weekend in Marrakech and the 28-135 and 70-300 were all I needed - the 28-135 spent most of the time on the camera, with the 70-300 coming out for candid people shots. They are both excellent, good for travel and fairly un-obvious. I dug out the 18-55 a couple of times for some wider stuff though - not bad in a pinch and stupidly light.
A colleague brought his 100-400 and attracted a lot of attention most of which was unwelcome (he did have it on a 1Ds MkII though). However it did have the bonus that people then thought we were journalists and didn't hassle us for money so much.
I tend to use the 100-400 for motorsports mainly, and when travelling the 28-135 and 70-300 are fantastic, with the 18-55 shoved in a pocket.
I have just come back from a weekend in Marrakech and the 28-135 and 70-300 were all I needed - the 28-135 spent most of the time on the camera, with the 70-300 coming out for candid people shots. They are both excellent, good for travel and fairly un-obvious. I dug out the 18-55 a couple of times for some wider stuff though - not bad in a pinch and stupidly light.
A colleague brought his 100-400 and attracted a lot of attention most of which was unwelcome (he did have it on a 1Ds MkII though). However it did have the bonus that people then thought we were journalists and didn't hassle us for money so much.
I tend to use the 100-400 for motorsports mainly, and when travelling the 28-135 and 70-300 are fantastic, with the 18-55 shoved in a pocket.
stuh said:
28-135 IS ordered from 7dayshop at £299
I figure that will tide me over for a few weeks and give me a chance to pop into a shop and have a play with the different L's to see which one best fits my needs.........
Thanks again for all the advice.
£299!?...I paid £360 for mine when they first came out. A bargain then!
Martin.
V6GTO said:
28-135 IS ordered from 7dayshop at £299
I figure that will tide me over for a few weeks and give me a chance to pop into a shop and have a play with the different L's to see which one best fits my needs.........
Thanks again for all the advice.
£299!?...I paid £360 for mine when they first came out. A bargain then!
Martin.
Well it hasn't arrived as yet! My money could be in the offshore account of some unscrupulous online cowboy........
stuh said:
28-135 IS ordered from 7dayshop at £299
I figure that will tide me over for a few weeks and give me a chance to pop into a shop and have a play with the different L's to see which one best fits my needs.........
Thanks again for all the advice.
I had a look and tried to checkout, but they only deliver to the credit card address, which is no good for us single working chappies.
Anywhere else I can get one for a similar price?
trooperiziz said:
28-135 IS ordered from 7dayshop at £299
I figure that will tide me over for a few weeks and give me a chance to pop into a shop and have a play with the different L's to see which one best fits my needs.........
Thanks again for all the advice.
I had a look and tried to checkout, but they only deliver to the credit card address, which is no good for us single working chappies.
Anywhere else I can get one for a similar price?
I'm going back to Gibralter again next week to get a battery grip for the D20 so I'll have a look. Fares there are REALLY cheap so you could have a weekend away with the other half and still save money.
Martin.
In my experience, 30dayshop is a bit more accurate! 
Prices are good, but they can take their time getting stuff to you, so ideal if you're not in a hurry.
I also understand that they sell non-UK equipment, so you *may* have problems getting faulty items replaced or repaired. I'd recommend confirming what sort of warranty you would get with that lens if you did order it from them.
Otherwise, I've found Warehouse Express and Park Cameras to be two of the cheapest suppliers in the UK, and have always found their service to be top notch.
Prices are good, but they can take their time getting stuff to you, so ideal if you're not in a hurry.
I also understand that they sell non-UK equipment, so you *may* have problems getting faulty items replaced or repaired. I'd recommend confirming what sort of warranty you would get with that lens if you did order it from them.
Otherwise, I've found Warehouse Express and Park Cameras to be two of the cheapest suppliers in the UK, and have always found their service to be top notch.
stuh said:
I have both the 100-400L IS and the 70-300 DO IS (and the 28-135 IS)
Interesting. There is mixed opinion about the problems created by the DO. Have you found any issues in use?
Not really, you can get some wierd "white-out" flare at acute angles to the sun, even with the hood. Unfortunately I don't have any examples to post as I deleted them.
I've not tried it directly into the sun yet.
However it is a very high-quality lens - solidly built and close to if not L-standard. Absolutely NO CA at all...
It's also incredibly compact and convenient.
For me it's well worth the money over the 75-300IS, especially as it is 3rd generation IS giving you 3 stops.
Next sunny day when I am not in an office I will try and take a couple to show you.
All of these were taken with that lens, with no processing apart from minor levelling (though I find that in daylight the 20D doesn't need much levelling.
www.pbase.com/baguleys/winter_garden
Bit of a newbie question, but to follow on from this, how does the Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 EX stack up against the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS?
They work out at similar money, but which will work better for motorsport, is the extra reach of the Sigma worth it over the Canon, given that the Sigma doesn't have IS (unless I've misunderstood).
Thanks,
Steve.
They work out at similar money, but which will work better for motorsport, is the extra reach of the Sigma worth it over the Canon, given that the Sigma doesn't have IS (unless I've misunderstood).
Thanks,
Steve.
The Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS L is acknowledged to be probably the best zoom lens available in terms of sharpness at all apertures, focal lengths. It's also got very fast autofocus and the IS is very capable.
The only downside is that it's probably not "long" enough for what you want (although you could consider the 1.4x or even 2x extender at a push). You could consider the 100-400mm IS L Canon lens which is very good but has a smaller max aperture which may not be limiting if you are shooting mainly outside.
Sigma lenses can be good but their quality control is not as good as some others so it's imperative to test before you buy to make sure you get a good example. They also tend to have slower autofocus which may or may not be an issue.
The only downside is that it's probably not "long" enough for what you want (although you could consider the 1.4x or even 2x extender at a push). You could consider the 100-400mm IS L Canon lens which is very good but has a smaller max aperture which may not be limiting if you are shooting mainly outside.
Sigma lenses can be good but their quality control is not as good as some others so it's imperative to test before you buy to make sure you get a good example. They also tend to have slower autofocus which may or may not be an issue.
Bee_Jay said:
Not really, you can get some wierd "white-out" flare at acute angles to the sun, even with the hood. Unfortunately I don't have any examples to post as I deleted them.
I've not tried it directly into the sun yet.
However it is a very high-quality lens - solidly built and close to if not L-standard. Absolutely NO CA at all...
It's also incredibly compact and convenient.
For me it's well worth the money over the 75-300IS, especially as it is 3rd generation IS giving you 3 stops.
Next sunny day when I am not in an office I will try and take a couple to show you.
All of these were taken with that lens, with no processing apart from minor levelling (though I find that in daylight the 20D doesn't need much levelling.
Cheers for that. More food for thought!
>> Edited by stuh on Thursday 20th January 11:25
Lenses have just arrived!
After a few problems with the 7dayshop payment system, i ended up ordering from Park Cameras about 4pm yesterday. They arrived this morning, which is fantastic service!
I now have the EF 28-135 IS and EF-S 10-22 IS to play with for the rest of the day
Initial impressions are that both lenses are of a a much higher construction quality than the 18-55 that comes with the kit, but i guess that's to expected considering the cost.
Also got myself a Lowepro NOVA 4 AW camera bag.....which isn't quite as girly looking as i'd expected.
After a few problems with the 7dayshop payment system, i ended up ordering from Park Cameras about 4pm yesterday. They arrived this morning, which is fantastic service!
I now have the EF 28-135 IS and EF-S 10-22 IS to play with for the rest of the day
Initial impressions are that both lenses are of a a much higher construction quality than the 18-55 that comes with the kit, but i guess that's to expected considering the cost.
Also got myself a Lowepro NOVA 4 AW camera bag.....which isn't quite as girly looking as i'd expected.
beano500 said:
stuh said:
which isn't quite as girly looking as i'd expected.
You sound disappointed!
Nope, but the Mrs was. She overheard my conversation with the guy at the shop yesterday and found it all very amusing....."didn't know you were so into bags" and such comments
I was hoping to get some pics but the weather is shocking here today.
First observation however, is that the 10-22 goes VERY wide!
>> Edited by stuh on Thursday 20th January 12:16
stuh said:
I now have the EF 28-135 IS and EF-S 10-22 IS to play with for the rest of the day
Hope you don't experience the same problems as in this topic: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50645&highlight=EF-S+10-22
Post something up asap show what you get at 10mm and 22mm 
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