Going telephoto with my new DSLR?

Soldato
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Last week I purchased a new canon EOS 1000D as my first SLR camera! I have to say its really got my passion for photography going again!

The 1000D bundle came with the non-IS 18-55 lens which I have had a great play with and so far loving it, getting some suprising macro shots from it at 55mm too.

Anyway. My main passion has always been photography of things far away it seems. So birds, planes, wildlife, motorsport etc etc. So I need to get a telephoto lens next.

Looking around on the net it seems a 70-300 is a very popular choice. I also read about extenders? Is there a 70-300 that will accept these to get closer? Do they affect the image quality at all when using them?

Am I right in thinking 300mm focal length is equivalent to 10x optical zoom on my old bridge cameras? I just sold a 12x optical zoom fuji which had enough zoom most of the time.

If I look into even bigger telephoto lenses 400/500mm, am I getting into massive ££££ area???

I dont have a budget as such and I know the advice of spend on the lens is always being given, so I dont want to get the cheapest out there. Will £250 get me a good enough new zoom lens?

Apologies for the barrage of questions here but I want to make sure I get the right lens as its the lens I will be using most!

Many thanks in advance. Examples of image quality from recommended lenses is always appreciated! :)
 
Last week I purchased a new canon EOS 1000D as my first SLR camera! I have to say its really got my passion for photography going again!

The 1000D bundle came with the non-IS 18-55 lens which I have had a great play with and so far loving it, getting some suprising macro shots from it at 55mm too.

Anyway. My main passion has always been photography of things far away it seems. So birds, planes, wildlife, motorsport etc etc. So I need to get a telephoto lens next.

Looking around on the net it seems a 70-300 is a very popular choice. I also read about extenders? Is there a 70-300 that will accept these to get closer? Do they affect the image quality at all when using them?

70-300mm is a popular choice indeed other options to consider are the 70-200mm f/4 & 55-250mm. You can't use extenders on these lenses. (The 1.4x only works on f/4 or faster lenses, the 2x on f/2.8 or faster)

Am I right in thinking 300mm focal length is equivalent to 10x optical zoom on my old bridge cameras? I just sold a 12x optical zoom fuji which had enough zoom most of the time.

It's pretty close to that sort of idea yes. Assuming the 10x zoom started at around 28mm-280mm. The 70-300mm would in that case be longer. It's complex really - I'll get onto that a little later...

If I look into even bigger telephoto lenses 400/500mm, am I getting into massive ££££ area???

Not necessarily - provided you okay with buying used equipment. Note that lenses hold their money well. (They're almost never replaced). So for example a 24-70L costs £900 new. It's about £800 used. And the old version of it (15 year old lens) still fetches £650! So buying expensive lenses is usually a better idea anyway...


I dont have a budget as such and I know the advice of spend on the lens is always being given, so I dont want to get the cheapest out there. Will £250 get me a good enough new zoom lens?

For £250 you'd probably want to look for a 55-250mm. It's a great lens. Sharp. Lot's of pulling power. VERY VERY lightweight & compact.

Apologies for the barrage of questions here but I want to make sure I get the right lens as its the lens I will be using most!

Many thanks in advance. Examples of image quality from recommended lenses is always appreciated! :)

Options I'd consider:
Budget - 55-250mm (can't beat this)
Sports/Motorsport - 70-200mm f/4L (cracking lens - can be 1.4x TC'd)
Sports/Motorsport (with a little more cash) Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 non-DG non-macro (hard to find used but well worth it if you can - it's old but AF is really quick & when I had mine it was suprisingly sharp - can be 1.4x or 2x TC'd)



Now for more reach:
These all cost a fair whack more... 50-500mm, 150-500mm. Thats about it for decent AF, IQ and price wise...
 
EDIT: ^^^ lol snap;)

Looking around on the net it seems a 70-300 is a very popular choice. I also read about extenders? Is there a 70-300 that will accept these to get closer? Do they affect the image quality at all when using them?

Yep they will affect image quality, and really aren't suited to canons standard zooms. I'd avoid tbh.

Am I right in thinking 300mm focal length is equivalent to 10x optical zoom on my old bridge cameras? I just sold a 12x optical zoom fuji which had enough zoom most of the time.

Nope, forget about 10x zooms etc. It's a useless way of comparing the magnification of a lens and camera shops need to stop bleating on about it! Once you have tried a few lenses you will know what a 300mm or 200mm lens will look like through your camera, that's all you need to know.

If I look into even bigger telephoto lenses 400/500mm, am I getting into massive ££££ area???

Yep:) Cheapest decent way of getting to 400mm is probably the canon 300mm f4 with a TC. Obviously, all the canon big primes are exceptional, but really not aimed at amateurs.

Something like this is a good way of getting to 500mm on a 'budget'...

I dont have a budget as such and I know the advice of spend on the lens is always being given, so I dont want to get the cheapest out there. Will £250 get me a good enough new zoom lens?

£250 should do you ok:)

I would either look for -

second hand 70-200 f4L. Can't say anything bad about this lens.

second hand 70-300 f4-5.6 IS

They will both be a bit more than £250, so if you don't want to go outside your budget, then look at the canon 55-250 IS, i don't have any experience with it but apparently its good for the price. Expect plasticky build of the kit lens though.

Failing that, the sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO is highly regarded
 
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I just recently bought a used 70-200 f4l for £393(v.good condition tho missing it's lens hood and no official canon box. does come with a 6month warranty tho) from here, if I had waited a couple of days could have got one with the hood and a uv filter for £20 more(missed 1 with a hood but no uv filter as I took too long deciding to buy). unless you're happy to settle with a not so good condition one these will cost you around the £400 mark as already been mentioned.

stupot the 50-500 was like £500-£600 just last year, cheapest not is like £900. I was looking at getting one last year but ended up with a used 10-22 for £410.
 
stupot the 50-500 was like £500-£600 just last year, cheapest not is like £900. I was looking at getting one last year but ended up with a used 10-22 for £410.

Yeah I know, depressing isn't it:( I don't want to buy any lenses at the moment in the vain hope they will go down again! Not gonna happen though is it..! I bought a 24-105 new from calumet last year, for £580. It's now £940...
 
If you're on a budget the 55-250mm is probs best, and then if you have more money to spend get the 70-200L f/4. I have the 55-250mm and it's a cheap and light but good quality lens, and the focal length will be more than enough if you said your 12x optical zoom on your fuji was more than enough.
Like what's been said, you can't compare focal lengths the same way with different lenses, but if you're taking ~25mm as a starting focal length on the fuji, the top end of the 55-250mm will seem like 15/16x optical zoom.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

I am now between the 55-250 and the 70-300.

The 12x zoom was adequate on the Fuji I just sold but would I not be better getting the lens with the bigger zoom in order to make sure im never disappointed by 250mm not being enough?

Cheers.
 
Which 70-300 are you talking about?
If you mean the tamron or sigma one, then the IQ is better on the 55-250mm according to reviews.
And if you're talking about the canon one, then that's ~£270 more than the 55-250mm going on new prices.
 
I think im settled on the canon 55-250 IS lens then. New on the high street its up at £219? On the bay of "e" a new one can be had for £168. Does this seem a fair price?
 
I've got a 55-250mm and it's been good thus far - will no doubt want more reach one day but for now it's a nice addition to the kit lens (18-55mm).

Got mine from Camerabox!

/Didn't realise it but you get a 5 year warranty from them with the lens :)
 
What sort of things do you shoot mate to require more reach? This is my thinking, I dont want to spend this money on the 55-250 and find I then need more very shortly after?

Does the 55-250 take 1.4 extenders?
 
Looking back through old photos from the Kodak I perhaps at times needed about 1.5x the zoom I got from its 12x zoom when shooting motorsport and taking photos of planes etc? If thats any help?
 
Yeah just want to make sure I make the right choice now as a good lens will last beyond the body im using.

Thanks for all the help! Going to be a couple of weeks until I get the lens though!
 
Looking back through old photos from the Kodak I perhaps at times needed about 1.5x the zoom I got from its 12x zoom when shooting motorsport and taking photos of planes etc? If thats any help?

Then 250mm will be more than fine :) Like what's been said.. if you want longer it's quite a jump up in price.
 
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