telephoto lens

[Blinkz]

Hey guys,

I'm only just easing myself into the world of SLRs, bought a used 40D a few months back with EFS 17-55 f/2.8 lens. I'm still learning pretty much everything to do with taking decent pics but one thing I have found is that 55mm isn't enough zoom for half of what I want to taking! The main realisation came last night when I tried to take a photo of the Lunar eclipse also last month I was at an airshow and basically couldn't get a close up of anything!

Any recommendations on a decent but not bank breaking telephoto lens, and what sort of thing should I be looking for? I was thinking a 70-300 would be a good start....

Any suggestions and info welcome!

 

[BattFink]

When I had my 20D (first DSLR) I went for the Canon EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 USM III Lens to complement my kit lens

Depending on budget, have a look at second hand lens, you can get a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM for £600ish (which would give you a 160-640mm focal length)

 

[dannyjo22]

I was at an airshow...

Any suggestions and info welcome!

I suggest stopping going to airshows you spotter!

You are already buying good lenses with the 17-55 on a crop. It depends what else you are going to use the telephoto for but I use a 70-200 2.8 and have an extender 1.4X rather than buy a 300mm for the limited uses it would get it comparison to the lot's of use it gets at 70-85mm.

 

[D.P.]

70-300mm is a very good starting point, it will give enough reach to capture larger mammals like deer with relative ease and smaller mammals if you can get close. Good for large birds you can get close to like a Heron but will be too short for smaller birds and shyer animals. You will get OK moon photos but will need a heavy crop still.

The next step up wold be either a 100-400mm f/5.6 or a 300mm f/4.0 + 1.4xTC (giving 420mm f/5.6). At 400mm n crop then smaller birds become much more feasible. My wildlife photography took a big step forwards once i got 400mm reach, not to say the 300mm didn't give great results but for birds and smaller animals it meant very heavy crops.

If you are really into birds then a tamron or Sigma 150-600mm should be considered.

 

[Phal]

I think people will generally recommend the 55-250mm STM or mk2 versions over a 70-300mm as it's quite a bit sharper. The 70-300mm L version is better but that comes at a cost.

After that you start to look at the Sigma and Tamron 150-600 offerings which aren't that cheap either :/ Or the primes that D.P. suggested (300mm F4L + converter or maybe a 400mm F5.6).