Lens advice

[EchoZA]

I'm currently using a CANON EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens on my 550D and have been looking at the SIGMA 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS lens, in order to get a little more "reach".

Is this worthwhile? Or should I rather spend a bit more and get the CANON EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens?

 

[undesign]

I'm currently using a CANON EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens on my 550D and have been looking at the SIGMA 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS lens, in order to get a little more "reach".

Is this worthwhile? Or should I rather spend a bit more and get the CANON EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens?

I had the 55-250 on a 550D. Decent lens, especially at that price - very decent PQ. But after using my 15-85 for a while the 55-250 just felt too light and dinky. Upgraded to the Canon 70-300 and really enjoying it. Heavier, sturdy - and that extra length never hurts.

I bought it new, but there are many 2nd hand ones available on Gumtree and OutdoorPhoto.

 

[Schwartz]

I have a Sigma 70-300 on my 600D and I am enjoying it so far. Nice zoom with great quality. Good build quality and none of that creep nonsense.

 

[bwana]

I'm currently using a CANON EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens on my 550D and have been looking at the SIGMA 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS lens, in order to get a little more "reach".

Is this worthwhile? Or should I rather spend a bit more and get the CANON EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens?

Is that 50mm going to make enough difference? Why not save up for sigma's 50-500mm or 150-500mm?

 

[koffiejunkie]

Is this worthwhile? Or should I rather spend a bit more and get the CANON EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens?

No. Yes. Get the Canon.

I had the Sigma (the APO version - stay away from the older non-APO), and while it was great bang for buck, I'm not convinced it compares well with the Canon 55-250.

 

[EchoZA]

One of the other reasons, is I'm looking at getting a set of extension tubes and all the ones I have tried, don't work with the current EFS lenses that I have

 

[HelmutRS]

70-300 Canon L Rocks.

 

[EchoZA]

Going to hold out a bit longer and save towards a 500mm. Thanks for the input.

 

[bwana]

Going to hold out a bit longer and save towards a 500mm. Thanks for the input.

Which one? The new R106k Canon EF 500mm f 4.0 L IS USM Mk II? Nice.

 

[EchoZA]

LOL, most likely the 50-500 or 150-500 SIGMA

 

[bwana]

LOL, most likely the 50-500 or 150-500 SIGMA

Both decent lenses and probably a wiser choice than the 70-300 you were looking at. I was sad to see my 150-500 go but it had to be done.

 

[BigAl-sa]

Both decent lenses and probably a wiser choice than the 70-300 you were looking at. I was sad to see my 150-500 go but it had to be done.

+1.
The C70-300L mentioned by HelmutRS is also a good choice, but I'd rather go for the Sigma x-500 or the C100-400L at that price.

 

[hilton]

LOL, most likely the 50-500 or 150-500 SIGMA

Still rubbish.

If want IQ, then look at the Canon 400mm F/5.6, it's only about R15k and can take an extender.

Best poor man's L telephoto prime around.

 

[bwana]

Still rubbish.

If want IQ, then look at the Canon 400mm F/5.6, it's only about R15k and can take an extender.

Best poor man's L telephoto prime around.

R15k for the lens and R5k for the tc? Suppose that's not too bad.

Though lets not forget the R40k for the 1DMk4 . . . just in case you enjoy auto focus your R20k combo.

 

[BigAl-sa]

Still rubbish.

If want IQ, then look at the Canon 400mm F/5.6, it's only about R15k and can take an extender.

Best poor man's L telephoto prime around.

Not sure what you mean by can handle an extender - the same as any lens can handle an extender? No AF on the 400 f/5.6 with a TC with the camera under consideration...

Sent from my U20i using Tapatalk

 

[hilton]

R15k for the lens and R5k for the tc? Suppose that's not too bad.

Though lets not forget the R40k for the 1DMk4 . . . just in case you enjoy auto focus your R20k combo.

Can I assume you meant MF?

Not sure what you mean by can handle an extender - the same as any lens can handle an extender? No AF on the 400 f/5.6 with a TC with the camera under consideration...

Auto focus IS achievable with a Kenko 1.4 TC, although the caveat is that the lighting conditions need to be bright and contrasty.

Check out these two links in question.

Apparently it helps to pre-focus first.

One
Two

For R2k, how wrong can you go?

Just saying...

 

[bwana]

Can I assume you meant MF?

No, if you want to avoid having to manually focus the 400mm f/5.6 with a 1.6x tc you're going to need a 1D body (excluding the new 1Dx of course).

 

[EchoZA]

Went and had a look again today, I'm leaning more towards the SIGMA 120-400 now as it is a stop faster than the 150-500, unless I get a little more cash on had and then it will be the 50-500