Spec me a telephoto for Sports (and birds/planes etc.)

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Soldato
Joined
6 Mar 2008
Posts
8,761
Location
Leicestershire
Hi all,

So I've borrowed a 75-300 lens and now I want to get my own telephoto lens. A 400mm would be great, so it doesn't strictly have to be a 300 max. But I think I would want more than 200, so at least 300. :p

Which would you recommend for a budget of around £500? DSLR is a 700D, though I might upgrade to the 750D/760D when it comes out for the extra AF points (amongst the upgraded sensor, processor etc.).
 
That isn't much budget for that kind of lens so you will have to compromise.
For birds you probably will want something that goes to 400mm, main choices would be 100-400mm L f/5.6, 400mm f5.6 prime, or 300mm f/4.0 IS with 1.4xTC. You will have to look second hand, my preference is the latter, better image quality than the zoom and more flexibility than the 400mm f/5.6

For sports you will want so,ething faster but shorter. You might find the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L right up your alley but there is the cost. Some people like the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 but the AF is slower and for sports you might have issues. Even second hand these will be somewhat over budget.




The on budget solution is likely the lattes canon 70-300mm IS, or better the L model. It is a little short for birds and a little slow for sports but can be made to work for either with luck and patience.
 
A bit more cash would get you a mk1 Canon EF100-400 which is pretty good for the money. Versatile and not too heavy etc with good but not great image quality.

A 70-200mm F2.8 would be better for the 70-200mm range but as soon as you add teleconverters then your lens starts to get a lot worse!
 
300mm isn't really enough for birds at all. Especially ones we have in UK (my lens is 120-300mm)

As to lenses.. Can't comment At that price. Think only one I'd go for is 100-400mm. But that is over budget

I'm guessing you need the zoom got sport?
 
Birds aren't really that important for me. Mostly sports, I live 15 min drive from Donington so I'd be shooting bikes and cars there now and then and other car events. Also a couple of F1 outings per year.
 
For Motorsports then you might be fine with a 70-300mm F3.5-5.6L but that's a little out of your budget too.

Ultimately, £500 isn't much for anything decent 300mm or longer.

A EF-S 55-250mm STM might be worth a look at since it's cheap cheap and pretty decent quality wise. It's not the fastest lens in the world but you can still get decent shots with it.
 
Definitely going to need a cheap as possible zoom.
70-300mm looks about 650-750 used. - too much?
 
Sounds good, will have a read up on it, I could stretch to it if it's a decent lens.
 
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