would you agree with this lens choice list

Anson

...just purchased a Rebel and found the following link with an informal poll for
'a good walking around glass'

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=14550320

would like to get Dgrim members opinion

thanks in advance

gtc

personally i dont find these kinds of things(straw polls) helpful-with gear its different strokes for different folks-"good"lens needs to be defined and there are so many different parameters that it is almost impossible.

what you need to do is work out what kind of shooting you will mainly be doing as you walk around and then what qualities are rquired to best meet that need,then consider what your next most common type of shooting will be and so on-then add up those lenses that fit your need and compare costs and features etc.

after just purcahsing my EFS 60mm macro (great specialist lens by the way) I am eyeing off the tamron 28-200 macro zoom but thats just me-if you are street shooter you may not need so much zoom-

anyway these are just my thoughts on how I go about my decision making

think it through and buy something that will last and that you can hold onto-a good lens will last you for life

Anson wrote:

...just purchased a Rebel and found the following link with an informal poll for
'a good walking around glass'

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=14550320

would like to get Dgrim members opinion

thanks in advance

Anson

Hi Greg
thanks for your input...I am of course checking through glass threads on Dgrin as well..

I tend to gravitate to pet shots (head and action shots) ..any wild creature I stumble on, as I stomp through the hills/woods and as many dolphin/whale/flying fish etc. shots as I can get close to, when I am out on the water with friends..

also frequent a good friends ranch on a regular basis and keep my eye out for a family of approx. 9 coyotes...they for the most part keep their distance at least until sundown...when the sun is up, I have not seem them closer than roughly 100 yards..(also would love to capture a flock of VERY shy doves that frequent poolside for a drink before sunset) ...tons of wabbits and squirrels that are also pretty darn shy but with patience can get within 15-20 yards as they feed on the green lawn, which is surrounded for most of the year by the sundried/brown California hills..

this is without question my favorite kind of photography, at least up to this point.

regards,

gtc

long zoom
methinks a zoom with a fair bit of telephoto reach and reasonably fast to take account of low light creatures etc

another option is a zoom ,as above and an old pentax
screw mount(M42 mount-lots of cameras used these)
telephoto with an adapter plate (check threads in here)

a reasonably fast 300mm for not much $100-200 would be good for your little creatures but you would need a tripod or something

Anson wrote:

thanks for your input...I am of course checking through glass threads on Dgrin as well..

I tend to gravitate to pet shots (head and action shots) ..any wild creature I stumble on, as I stomp through the hills/woods and as many dolphin/whale/flying fish etc. shots as I can get close to, when I am out on the water with friends..

also frequent a good friends ranch on a regular basis and keep my eye out for a family of approx. 9 coyotes...they for the most part keep their distance at least until sundown...when the sun is up, I have not seem them closer than roughly 100 yards..(also would love to capture a flock of VERY shy doves that frequent poolside for a drink before sunset) ...tons of wabbits and squirrels that are also pretty darn shy but with patience can get within 15-20 yards as they feed on the green lawn, which is surrounded for most of the year by the sundried/brown California hills..

this is without question my favorite kind of photography, at least up to this point.

regards,

wxwax

Sounds like for your needs, a long lens is the best bet, Anson. Not cheap, tho!

ian408

I think those lists tend to sell people glass they don't need.

But your explanation of what you're interested in shooting would suggest
anything from 70mm on up to 500mm. There are several very nice zooms
in that range. The short list would be Canon 70-300 f/4,5-5.6 DO,
Canon 70-200 f/2.8L, and the Sigma 50-500 (Bigma). All three would make
fine additions.

None is cheap but good glass rarely is. As you contemplate your purchase,
remember that good glass will outlast you current camera body.

Cheers,
Ian

Anson

appreciate the input folks
what a great way to fine tune my lens shopping list...thanks all, for your input!

Marie and I have been shooting with a Nikon 5700 and a Sony 828 ..& this week decided to get our first digital SLR...we will play with it for a spell and most likely pick up a 20D within the year....in the meantime plan to purchase a lens or two, to fill the quiver.

Ian, if you were to purchase one of your 3 choices , how would you narrow your decision down to 'the' one...

for example should I go with the lesser Zoom, yet more expensive lens
OR
go with the Big zoom for less money ..Mmm?

regards,

ian408

Anson wrote:

Ian, if you were to purchase one of your 3 choices , how would you narrow your decision down to 'the' one...
regards,

If you plan on shooting low light, the 70-200 f/2.8. Otherwise, I would look for the lens
that gives the most reach for my need.

I should add that all three produce very nice results.

Ian

ziggy53

ian408 wrote:

If you plan on shooting low light, the 70-200 f/2.8. Otherwise, I would look for the lens
that gives the most reach for my need.

I should add that all three produce very nice results.

Ian

I believe that I read several people using the Canon 70-200 with a 1.4x telextender with very good results. So a single lense plus converter could give some serious flexibility at the long end.

...And isn't the 70-200 f2.8 one of those lenses that holds its value really well?

ziggy53

Anson

Hi Ziggy53
..so am I correct in understanding that 1.4x telextender would translate into a 200 lens being able to reach to a sharp 280 (or close to it)?

thanks

KA0TVO

Anson wrote:

...just purchased a Rebel and found the following link with an informal poll for
'a good walking around glass'

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=14550320

would like to get Dgrim members opinion

thanks in advance

looks as if you know what subjects you want to photograph. I've had my 20D for about three months and initially thought I wanted a telephoto in the range of 70-200mm. However it seems as if most of my shooting is more close up and I'm considering a wide angle some time in the future, so your lens needs may change with use.
With regard to wildlife photography consider bait, seed, corn for the birds as well as a blind. Some are portable, looks like a tent. A review is on FM. As far as the coyotes are conscerned they are smart and just won't come in range. Consider an adaptor for a telescope,90mm that will get you close and personal . Adaptor about 60.00,telescope ( spotting Mede 90mm around 175.00 used ). It will fit on a medium tripod. However, it's not fast but usable.

gus

ian408 wrote:

I think those lists tend to sell people glass they don't need.


None is cheap but good glass rarely is. As you contemplate your purchase,
remember that good glass will outlast you current camera body.

Cheers,
Ian

Ian is on the money. You cant really let other people decide what you want. No different to food or clothing in my view.I dont mean that in an argumentitive way ..but its just how i see it.

Just work out what you want to shoot & buy the best you can to do that job. I solely walk around with a 135 prime...total madness to most photographers but i won't have it any other way.

Remember .. its only expensive if you have to buy it twice. A good lens will outlast many camera bodies in this digital body slide to poverty.

gluwater

Anson wrote:

..so am I correct in understanding that 1.4x telextender would translate into a 200 lens being able to reach to a sharp 280 (or close to it)?

thanks

Yes and no. The Rebel has a crop factor of 1.6. That means that the 200mm plus a 1.4 tele would translate into 280mm in 35mm terms. But since you have a 1.6 crop factor you would in essence have a 448mm lens in 35mm. The rebels and 20D both have the same crop factor. Anyone correct me if I have done that wrong, but from what I understand it should be correct.

Nick

PalusMus

I recently bought the new Canon 28-300 lens with IS and I'm really loving it. Its a load to carry but I dont have to carry a bag of lenses and I seldom carry a tripod anymore.

www.palusmus.smugmug.com