topic Canon lens in EF & RF Lenses

Canon lens

nikhilkgomes — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:30:25 GMT

Hey all, I have a canon EOS 1300D. So far I have just been using the 18-55mm kit lens. I am now in the market for a new lens. I am looking at doing quite a lot of wildlife photography and was wondering if you guys could point me in the direction of a cheapish, good beginners lens? TIA 🙂

Re: Canon lens

ebiggs1 — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:40:10 GMT

"I am looking at doing quite a lot of wildlife photography ..."

This is easy. Check out the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 for Canon EF. This lens will be the only one you need and will go with you when you upgrade your camera, too.

Looking none zoom and prefer a prime? Check out the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens. Or, the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens with the addition of the 1.4x tel con. Makes a 420mm f5.6 with IS. Gotta love constant aperture.

Want to stay all Canon with a super zoom? The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is your choice. My only gripe is it doesn't have native 600mm. Nevertheless all these are winners.

Re: Canon lens

RobertTheFat — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:44:52 GMT

@nikhilkgomes wrote:
Hey all, I have a canon EOS 1300D. So; far I have just been using the 18-55mm kit lens. I am now in the market for a new lens. I am looking at doing quite a lot of wildlife photography and was wondering if you guys could point me in the direction of a cheapish, good beginners lens? TIA 🙂

"Cheapish" and "wildlife photography" rarely belong in the same sentence, I'm afraid. The problem is that with wildlife it's often difficult, and sometimes dangerous, to get close to your subject. Which means that you need a fairly long (i.e., telephoto) lens, and good ones are never cheap.

Re: Canon lens

TCampbell — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:44:01 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@nikhilkgomes wrote:
Hey all, I have a canon EOS 1300D. So; far I have just been using the 18-55mm kit lens. I am now in the market for a new lens. I am looking at doing quite a lot of wildlife photography and was wondering if you guys could point me in the direction of a cheapish, good beginners lens? TIA 🙂

"Cheapish" and "wildlife photography" rarely belong in the same sentence, I'm afraid. The problem is that with wildlife it's often difficult, and sometimes dangerous, to get close to your subject. Which means that you need a fairly long (i.e., telephoto) lens, and good ones are never cheap.

No need for a long focal length lens. You *should* be able to get close enough to photograph a Grizzly Bear with an 18-55mm ... just make sure you get the amazing shot BEFORE the bear eats you! They usually don’t eat the camera. 😉

Re: Canon lens

kvbarkley — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 01:34:17 GMT

If you are taking a video it can be the next "Blair Witch Project". 8^)

Re: Canon lens

Waddizzle — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 02:05:14 GMT

This is arguably the best entry level telephoto lens that Canon currently offers.

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/ef-s-55-250mm-f4-5-6-is-stm-telephoto-zoom-lens-refurbished.

Using a telephoto lens is very different from using a “standard” zoom lens. This lens will give you an AOV, Angle Of View, that is nearly equivalent to the professional grade EF 100-400mm lens.

Re: Canon lens

Tronhard — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 02:33:08 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
This is arguably the best entry level telephoto lens that Canon currently offers.

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/ef-s-55-250mm-f4-5-6-is-stm-telephoto-zoom-lens-refurbished.

Using a telephoto lens is very different from using a “standard” zoom lens. This lens will give you an AOV, Angle Of View, that is nearly equivalent to the professional grade EF 100-400mm lens.

I must agree... for the money the EF-S 55-250 (STM) is an amazingly good value lens, and it's relatively small and light.

The next one up from that I would suggest would be the Canon EF 70-300 F4.0-5.6 IS II USM. It will be a bit more expensive than the 55-250, but it's got a longer reach and seems to have a more robust build. If price is a big factor (considering the word "cheap" was included in your requirement) you could go for the MkI version - they can be picked up used or refurbished very cheaply - I have the earlier version and my copy gave me great images.

Re: Canon lens

ebiggs1 — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:37:47 GMT

"Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens"

You mean the white one not the black one?

Re: Canon lens

kvbarkley — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 15:26:55 GMT

No the black one. Non-L, note the II

Re: Canon lens

Tronhard — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 21:20:34 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
No the black one. Non-L, note the II

Yep that is what I meant.

In the progression of price up the scale for telephoto lenses I would rank them like this:

EF-S 55-250 STM

EF 70-300 Mk II or Mk I (non-L) I Have the MkI version and it's a good lens, although there seems to be some variation in QA from user report, but if you get a good one (I did) excellent value

EF 70-300 L version (gorgeous lens I have one, but there is a significant price difference.

Re: Canon lens

TCampbell — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 22:27:48 GMT

There is also a Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM II ... an outstanding lens.

Among people who frequently shoot birds .... the 150-600mm seems to be the favorite. Canon does not make one but both Sigma and Tamron do (actually I think they both make two apiece.)

Re: Canon lens

Tronhard — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 22:34:10 GMT

@TCampbell wrote:
There is also a Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM II ... an outstanding lens.

Among people who frequently shoot birds .... the 150-600mm seems to be the favorite. Canon does not make one but both Sigma and Tamron do (actually I think they both make two apiece.)

Thank you for your excellent suggestion. I have one actually, but again I have a different purpose!

Re: Canon lens

Waddizzle — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 23:26:55 GMT

@TCampbell wrote:
There is also a Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM II ... an outstanding lens.

Among people who frequently shoot birds .... the 150-600mm seems to be the favorite. Canon does not make one but both Sigma and Tamron do (actually I think they both make two apiece.)

Yes, that is an outstanding lens. Expensive, but it can capture razor sharp images.

A lens with a 100-400mm focal range used on an APS-C sensor body would have an “equivalent” focal range of 160-640mm. This is very close to using 150-600mm on a full frame sensor body.

Re: Canon lens

Tronhard — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 23:36:59 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
Yes, that is an outstanding lens. Expensive, but it can capture razor sharp images.

A lens with a 100-400mm focal range used on an APS-C sensor body would have an “equivalent” focal range of 160-640mm. This is very close to using 150-600mm on a full frame sensor body.

Asbolutely agree. I love the 100-400 L MkII combined with the 1.4MkIII adaptor it has an amazing reach with high quality imges. See...

THis was taken hand-held on the 7DII+100-400MKII+1.4xMkIII giving an EFL of around 900mm.

I am looking for a much shorter range (hence the 70-200) of really good quality but lighter than my 70-200 2.8MkII. I am carrying an injury right now so weight is a bit of a factor "the best camera (lens) is the one you are prepared to carry!

Re: Canon lens

kvbarkley — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 00:00:37 GMT

What, no love for the 70-300 DO?

Re: Canon lens

Tronhard — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 00:02:19 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
What, no love for the 70-300 DO?

Not so much... the reviews I saw indicated that it wasn't that good a lens.

Re: Canon lens

ebiggs1 — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 13:49:18 GMT

"No the black one. Non-L, note the II"

The white one, yes. The black ones, no. IMHO, as always.

Re: Canon lens

Tronhard — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 05:06:39 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"No the black one. Non-L, note the II"

The white one, yes. The black ones, no. IMHO, as always.

Oh, absolutely agree the L lenses are generally better than the black ones - although I would defend the 15-85 because of its place as a speciality APS-C lens and it produces some great results - that extra 3 degrees at the wide end can make a big difference. A lot of those choices are pegged to the available budget - that's why I always ask someone who wants to know what lens to buy that question amongst all those others. Otherwise the inquirer gets a list of what works for other people.

Re: Canon lens

ebiggs1 — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 22:47:20 GMT

"...that extra 3 degrees at the wide end can make a big difference."

Yes it does. Good point.