Lens Buying Advice Required!

[coupekid]

Hi All,


Has anyone had any experience with the following lens:

Sigma - Telephoto zoom lens - 135 mm - 400 mm - f/4.5-5.6 DG APO Aspherical - Canon EF

I am very tempted to invest, I was primarily going to change my Canon 75-300mm lens like for like, as I have loved this lens ever since I bought it used from Ian.

So, what would you do, upgrade to the Sigma (if indeed it is an upgrade) or keep with what you know and love. Or do you have an alternative for me to consider?

[coupekid]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

OK, I think I have made a decision.

I spoke to a couple of chaps at work, and I reckon I might well go for his one:

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-300mm-4-0-5-6-USM-Lens/dp/B000B84KB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216844874&sr =8-2"]Amazon.co.uk: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM Lens: Canon: Electronics & Photo[/ame]

Its basically the same lens I had before, however it has an advanced image stabilisation system. Sounds ideal.

I would still be keen to hear what people think, but ultimately, I will be ordering something (probably this one) on friday.......

[Ian]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

OK, I think I have made a decision.

I spoke to a couple of chaps at work, and I reckon I might well go for his one:

Amazon.co.uk: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM Lens: Canon: Electronics & Photo

Its basically the same lens I had before, however it has an advanced image stabilisation system. Sounds ideal.

I would still be keen to hear what people think, but ultimately, I will be ordering something (probably this one) on friday.......

Ben, I have heard some excellent things about the Sigma 50-500 and have used one briefly. But it is quite long and heavy. Worth considering for the reach though...

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

Ben, I have heard some excellent things about the Sigma 50-500 and have used one briefly. But it is quite long and heavy. Worth considering for the reach though...

Ian

Cor blimey!
Just checked the price on that Sigma.......
The Canon it is!

I think if I could afford that lens at around 800quid right now, I would probably get the 40D.

[coupekid]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

Ben, I have heard some excellent things about the Sigma 50-500 and have used one briefly. But it is quite long and heavy. Worth considering for the reach though...

Ian

Cor blimey!
Just checked the price on that Sigma.......
The Canon it is!

I think if I could afford that lens at around 800quid right now, I would probably get the 40D.

[Ian]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

Cor blimey!
Just checked the price on that Sigma.......
The Canon it is!

I think if I could afford that lens at around 800quid right now, I would probably get the 40D.

[Goatsmilkuk]

[StuartR]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

The 70-300mm IS is a cracking lens, far better than the 75-300mm IMHO, and the price is pretty reasonable. I gave mine to my brother when I bought my 100-400mm recently, the only Canon lens I expected to beat it (and it does but not by the margin you might think).

I sometimes wish I'd kept it, the 100-400 is a bit of a monster sometimes (and attracts a lot more attention, sometimes when you don't want it!). I also find I have to work harder with the 100-400mm than I did with the 70-300mm to get good results. I don't think the IS is as capable on the 100-400 and, given the weight and size, it's harder to hand-hold.

[StuartR]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

A swift look through some 70-300mm shots from my gallery found these. IIRC the blackbird was about a 50% crop, the owl might have been taken with my 40D but the rest were taken with my 350D. Great lens for candids & portraits too (we'd all like an f/2.8 but...)

I'm sure I've got a better version of the four young ladies somewhere, I remember the lighting was a nightmare, strong sunlight through a window cutting the picture diagonally. I spent hours on it in Photoshop but the end result looked fairly good - must have done it after I posted this version.

[jds9000]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

Canon 70-300 IS is a great lens ... I had one for years.
Served me faithfully to several grand prix's, birding shoots ..
.. hill climbs ..... great shots.
The only reason I sold it was that I wanted to buy a Canon 70-200F4L ..
.. lovely lens, and so versatile and very quick !!

Do you need the extra 'reach' ?
What about a prime for the 'long reach', and a smaller versatile lens for
the 'gap' from 'wide' to 'long' ?

I know what I mean !! ...... I've got lenses all over the place !!

BTW, some nice shots there.

Jay

[coupekid]

Re: Lens Buying Advice Required!

well, some beauties there Stuart!

I have ordered the lens this morning, so hopefully I will have a nice shiney new lens on Monday I cant wait.

I have loved the non image stabilised version, so I gues this can only be better. Some of the reviews I have read have compared the quality to an 'L' lens, which is reassuring.

So, hopefully you may see the fruits of my labour soon.

Thanks again to all the advice.