A Bit of Both Lens

Tom1138

Tom1138

Tom1138

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5 Oct 2004
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864
Location
The South, United Kingdom
Yeah sounds a odd request and i am unsure if these lenses exist. I wanted something which has a bit of telephoto and bit of a normal focal range. I have a standard 18-55ms for my Canon 400D but i want something which gives me a medium range. I recently did some photos for my uncles wedding and the only problem was for candid shots was needed to get close to get a single person shot, then the person sees you and its not candid.

So i wanted something which is a good telephoto lense but can be used inside and get candid shots from some distance. Like a 55-200mm or something.

Any makes and prices are recommended, im not sure how much i want to spend but £300 would be the cut off point. Around that mark im ok with though (like £310, £320 maybe).

Thanks.
 
Tom1138 said:
Yeah sounds a odd request and i am unsure if these lenses exist. I wanted something which has a bit of telephoto and bit of a normal focal range. I have a standard 18-55ms for my Canon 400D but i want something which gives me a medium range. I recently did some photos for my uncles wedding and the only problem was for candid shots was needed to get close to get a single person shot, then the person sees you and its not candid.
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Technical the kit lens does what you say as due to crop factor is equivalent of 28mm Wide to 90mm Telephoto. Assume thought that you want more range then i would look at the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 or if you do want a more range than that Canon 70-200mm F4. The 70-200 may be just out of your price range and F4 may mean it not too useful in doors but optically it meant to be excellent.

I wouldn't get the Canon 55-200mm as it a cheap poorly built lens.
 
Saw a SIGMA 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Zoom Lens on a website, is that any good? Looked pretty small, but the focal range is quite large.
 
Tom1138 said:
Saw a SIGMA 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Zoom Lens on a website, is that any good? Looked pretty small, but the focal range is quite large.
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Verdict from a review site I can't link to.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in lens land and the Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC is no exception here. The resolution figures are generally quite decent and regarding the extreme zoom range you may accept the very pronounced distortions present throughout the zoom range as well as a few other shortcomings. Unfortunately the AF accuracy leaves something to be desired with this lens especially towards the long end of the zoom range - at least on the EOS 350D. Typically such a type of lens is used by beginners on entry level DSLRs where a rather dark viewfinder combined and an average AF system don't really help here. So if you're interested in this lens it's a good idea to take your DSLR to your trusted photo dealer around the corner to check whether the camera's AF system is really up to the task. If so it is a good compromise between quality and zoom range.
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It seems it can have quite bad Vignetting and Chromatic Aberrations especially at low apertures but overall seems quite good.
 
I just got the Nikon 18-135mm and it's pretty good. No f2.8 but it's a good upgrade from the kit, I got mine for £185 altogether (after £20 HK tax-bad luck I guess).
 
He has a Canon, so I don't think a Nikon would work :P

You can try the sigma 70-300 APO, really decent price, and acceptable performance I have heard. Also can be used as a macro, bonza!
 
Gipo said:
He has a Canon, so I don't think a Nikon would work :P

You can try the sigma 70-300 APO, really decent price, and acceptable performance I have heard. Also can be used as a macro, bonza!
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32574289_1eceb034a3_b.jpg

I photographed this with the sigma.
for the price it is great, with care.

Even if you end up buying a 70-200mm f2.8 IS you may still find uses for the 70-300mm sigma, such as the extra reach, the useable macro mode, the light weight and cheap price factor when traveling.
 
Well I am either gonna go for a:

SIGMA 28-300mm DG F3,5-6,3 MACRO lens (£192)

or

SIGMA Lens AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Macro Super II (£161)

Looking for reviews on both, its about even really though some rave about the 70-300mm and I've seen people saying there is some little 'niggles' with the 28-300mm, I am not sure what.

Both have a good range, both have macro. And image quality is pretty good with both.
 
300mm at f6.3? Good luck if you're in anything but bright sun!
I've done a bit of sports photography with the 70-300 and I have had to use ISO 800 and add exposure in PS. That's at f5.6, so I wouldn't like to think what f6.3 would mean...

(something to think about, also I bet the f6.3 comes in at about 210mm)

If I were you I'd go for kit+70-300mm, or something with the range ~18-135ish.

Entai said:
Sorry to butt in on this thread, however does anyone know how fast the autofocus is with these lenses??
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It's just about ok with the 70-300, slow and noisey but it will track a subject reasonably well.
 
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robertgilbert86 said:
300mm at f6.3? Good luck if you're in anything but bright sun!
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Dull and dismal day , straight from camera (resized :))

300mm @ f9.0 , 1/320 & ISO 200

car.jpg
 
robertgilbert86 said:
-Stands corrected!

(Still though, I wouldn't be buying anything with that aperture!)
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I'd love something with a reasonable aperture but after wife / kids / house etc my camera gear is ranked at 312th :(
 
mrgubby said:
I'd love something with a reasonable aperture but after wife / kids / house etc my camera gear is ranked at 312th :(
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heh, know the feeling! I'm still with Canon kit lens and Canon 75-300! (I use the wife's Canon 100mm Macro!)

A mate has the Sigma 70-300 and t'is a great lens. Certainly a shot and a bit above my 75-300!!
 
I've steered clear of the 18-200 bridage but for a general job they're pretty good

I've got the 17-85IS but it's not long range
the 28-135IS would give a bit more ummph and for much cheapness I loved my 28-105USM, quick, cheap canon lens

there are compromises in going for 18-200mm lenses but it depends if they still deliver what you want
 
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