Zoom lens recommendation - Canon

[Zippee]

Hi all,

I'm slowly progressing with learning my EOS 650D, at present I just have the basic 18-55 kit lens which for a complete beginner like myself is good to start with. However, there are times I want a bit more zoom - especially at airshows or motorsport days so would like to add a not too expensive but reasonably decent zoom to my kit.
I've looked at the so called superzooms (Tamrons 18-270 for example) but I feel its a bit too much of a lazy compromise and as such guess I'd be better off with a 70-200/300 or similar?
I'm totally new to all this - am an amateur so wouldn't benefit from the most expensive kit, just after something affordable but reasonably decent.

[DibblyDobbler]

70-300 is good and affordable (I don't mean the L version)

70-200s (ie f2.8, f4 etc) are great but less range and more expensive (they are L lenses)

It's kind of horses for courses - how much zoom is needed and what's the budget?

[Speed addicted]

The 70-200 f4 L is a sane price and very decent indeed. Not sure it would have enough range for air shows though?

[rehab71]

I just bought this for my 550D and am delighted with it, just be reduced on amazon too!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-USM...

[DibblyDobbler]

rehab71 said:

I just bought this for my 550D and am delighted with it, just be reduced on amazon too!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-USM...

Good call

[blugnu]

Speed addicted said:

The 70-200 f4 L is a sane price and very decent indeed. Not sure it would have enough range for air shows though?

Funny old world where the advice to a beginner who implies he doesn't want to spend to much is a £900 lens.

I have a tamron 103a 80-210 f3.5 (I think) with an adaptall mount for my camera, which cost nothing, but can be picked up for a price not much more than a few quid. It's decent quality - no AF of course, and old-fashioned centre weighted metering, but you can't beat if for value.

[tenohfive]

For a budget zoom with decent optics what about the Canon 55-250mm IS II?

[rehab71]

DibblyDobbler said:

rehab71 said:

I just bought this for my 550D and am delighted with it, just be reduced on amazon too!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-USM...

Good call

I've got two lens hoods for it too, need to sell one....

[flat-planedCrank]

DibblyDobbler said:

rehab71 said:

I just bought this for my 550D and am delighted with it, just be reduced on amazon too!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-USM...

Good call

^ looks like a good idea, cheaper than I paid for mine too!


Tbh, for motorsports you want fast focusing - ring USM in 'canon speak' - and that is generally expensive. The 70-200 f4 mentioned above has it.

So it's basically a decision between the longer reach of the 70-300 or the quicker focusing of the 70-200 - unless you want to spend loads if cash on a 70-300 L, 100-400, etc.. which have the faster focusing.


Imo that recommended 70-300 is a good compromise, the focusing is generally fast enough, plus i'd say 200mm isn't really long enough for airshows.


I've been happy with mine...


by motion-images, on Flickr


by motion-images, on Flickr

Most of the ariel shots in here were taken with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/motion-images/sets/72...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/motion-images/sets/72...

[nellyleelephant]

blugnu said:

Funny old world where the advice to a beginner who implies he doesn't want to spend to much is a £900 lens.

Whilst not cheap, secondhand makes this lens great value

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/us...

[jmorgan]

Personal beginner experience. I bought a Sigma 70-300 APG DG. Don't like it. Also finding I want more.

I am not an expert, just wished I had shelled out a tad more.

Edit. Should have said, it is soft as hell at full zoom. And I notice it is a lot cheaper now than when I bought it.

Edited by jmorgan on Monday 8th July 06:32

[LC2]

I've been tempted to go with
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-18-250mm-3-5-6-3-Mac...
to replace my Tamron 18-200 (which seems soft at close to full zoom).
Does anyone have any experience of it?

Looking for the full range, not particularly wanting a 55-something, as the events I take photos are can be dusty / dirty (stage rallys etc.) so I'd rather not be swapping lenses.

[RobbieKB]

Never buy the 75-300mm no matter how attractive the price is. I was desperate for a zoom lens back when I first started photography and that little bugger was cheap as chips. All of your shots with it will look as if your camera has trachoma.

I vote for 70-200mm F4 L + 1.4 or 2x extender. Very sharp lens and very affordable too.

[flat-planedCrank]

If you plan to use it as a 70-200 a lot then the 1.4x converter makes sense (the 2x converter will loose 2 stops and therefore not be able to autofocus).

Just to make things more annoying, don't forget that recommended Canon 70-300 also has IS (it's optically stabilised) which can come in handy.

[gangzoom]

I got a 70-300 mm IS lens. Very nice only wish is has a lower F stop at the 300mm end. The 70-200mm I think is a tad short on zoom for getting close track side shots, would love it if Cannon did a 300mm lens with a F stop of 4 but sadly they don't.

Never tired a extender tube but for fast moving things like F1 cars you really need fast AF, though I actually ended up using Manual focus quite a lot once I worked out how to predict where the cars would be.

[DavidCane]

I picked up the 70-200 F4 L for £400 new from Amazon last year, although it was a bit of a pricing error. When Canon do cashback offers it's available for £440.

My advice would probably be to hire a lens from somewhere like lensesforhire.co.uk as it'll allow you to try some of the more exotic lenses that are out of budget normally.

You're gonna end up lusting over a 100-400l, I can tell you this now if you're into airshow photography.

If you want to go the budget option though, I'd suggest looking at the 55-250mm. It's cheap, has IS and for the 9 months I used mine I was pretty impressed with it.

[Zippee]

Thanks all - the 70-300 looks a good bet for me then and is rpetty much bang on my budget.
Just out of curiosity as I'm totally new to all this, the 'L' series lenses (white ones as I know them) generally have better optics and a much faster AF? As well as greater ranger of apetures etc?
The terminilogy surrounding photography is confusing as heck

[DibblyDobbler]

Zippee said:

Thanks all - the 70-300 looks a good bet for me then and is rpetty much bang on my budget.
Just out of curiosity as I'm totally new to all this, the 'L' series lenses (white ones as I know them) generally have better optics and a much faster AF? As well as greater ranger of apetures etc?
The terminilogy surrounding photography is confusing as heck

Better built, better optics, typically 'faster' ie wider maximum aperture (lower f number) - also more expensive and not necessarily white!

(I think the speed of autofocus is mainly a function of the body rather than the lens? Not certain though)

[g3org3y]

DibblyDobbler said:

Zippee said:

Thanks all - the 70-300 looks a good bet for me then and is rpetty much bang on my budget.
Just out of curiosity as I'm totally new to all this, the 'L' series lenses (white ones as I know them) generally have better optics and a much faster AF? As well as greater ranger of apetures etc?
The terminilogy surrounding photography is confusing as heck

Better built, better optics, typically 'faster' ie wider maximum aperture (lower f number) - also more expensive and not necessarily white!

(I think the speed of autofocus is mainly a function of the body rather than the lens? Not certain though)

Lens funtion. Hence the benefit of USM for the focus - faster and quieter.

The Ls are lovely pieces of kit. Great build quality and super sharp. I've been using a 70-200L f/4 (non IS) as my walk around lens for a number of years now.

[Zippee]

Thanks for your help and answering my numpty questions. I think the L lenses can wait till I can at least pretend I know what I'm doing
I've just ordered the 70-300 from Amazon - £307 which seems a good deal - hopefully here in time for the weekend and a possible day out at Flying Legends, Duxford.