how much zoom?

starky987starky987 Registered Users Posts: 86 Big grins
edited March 18, 2008 in Wildlife
I'm looking for a new lens that will allow me to take good wildlife shots. I don't have a big budget so that makes this more difficult. My camera is an XTI 400D so its a x1.6 I think. I'm currently looking at lenses in the 200-250mm range that would be significantly higher after the x1.6. Any advice on this would be great.

Comments

  • RNDRNDRNDRND Registered Users Posts: 65 Big grins
    edited March 17, 2008
    Check out reviews on the Canon 70-300 IS. This is a good lens for the money. I think that you will find that many users like this lens. I have this lens and used it much until I bought a 300 4/L IS.
    RND
  • BBiggsBBiggs Registered Users Posts: 688 Major grins
    edited March 17, 2008
    300mm is about the minimum for wildlife, with 400mm and 500mm perfered. The 70-300mm IS Canon lens has great IQ, though I don't own it personally, I have seen plenty of shots taken with it on various fourms and it really performs nicely. You may also want to have a look around for a used sigma 50-500mm Zoom. Its most commonly called the "bigma" as it is a heavy lens ( I think around 4lbs). That lens has very good IQ close to 100-400mm L.
    Brenton
    http://www.alluringnatureimages.com/
  • Jim TJim T Registered Users Posts: 211 Major grins
    edited March 17, 2008
    I'm currently using the 400d xti and the 70-300mm IS and it works well for a starter wildlife lens.. You will quickly find it is a bit on the short side for wildlife.

    I have read remarks from several ppl that you will always want/need another 100mm no matter what lens you have.

    I have been having a blast shooting song birds and the like with my 70-300. It just requires getting pretty darn close to your subject. Lots of blind sitting and a truck load of bird seed and deer corn.mwink.gif
    Jim Toth

    www.jimt.smugmug.com
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    as long as your pocketbook will let you but 300 is about as small as you can go
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • SKMSKM Registered Users Posts: 149 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    Hi

    I too have the 400D and started out with the Sigma 70-300 but soon found it just too short for decent wildlife shots so invested in the 100-400 L IS, which is soo much better, although sometimes I wish I had the 500 600.......

    Stan
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    SKM wrote:
    Hi

    I too have the 400D and started out with the Sigma 70-300 but soon found it just too short for decent wildlife shots so invested in the 100-400 L IS, which is soo much better, although sometimes I wish I had the 500 600.......

    Stan

    The Canon F4.5-5.6L IS 100mm-400mm telezoom is the one that really got me going with wildlife photography. I would say that this is a great starter wildlife lens. I say starter lens because I can guaratee you that you will still be wanting more focal length with this one too. Although I highly recommend this telezoom first. It's a great value. Or you can just go for the Canon F5.6 400mm prime which is sharper but no IS.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

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