High-power telephoto lens for Rebel T6i T7i

[RainyNight]

I was just wondering if anyone can please recommend a high-powered telephoto zoom lens that is compatible with the EOS Rebel T7i

I'm looking for something 400mm or higher for photographing the moon.

If possible I'm hoping to find one for under $500 but I know that might not be realistic.

Thanks for any help!

[ebiggs1]

Recommending the lens is easy.  Keeping it at or around $500 is impossible.  Good and cheap are opposites. Not simpatico.

Anyway here goes;

Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 for Canon EF, and

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens for Canon EF

Both fo these blow the doors off $500 bucks.  They are a your choice deal as both are nearly the same IQ wise.

There is cheaper options in the prime market.  For instance;

Bower 500mm f/8 Manual Focus Telephoto T-Mount Lens.  It is not a zoom and it is totally manual.  Totally !  However it is around $125 bucks.  It is also reasonably decent in IQ.  This lens is branded by several makers but essentially the same lens no matter.

This brings us to the used market.  You may still have a hard time finding one of the above super zooms for $500 but there were other variants that can be had for around $500. For instance, the Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM Lens.

I might mention one of my all time favorite teles, the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens. This is a unique lens that only Canon makes.  It is superb and a best buy for sure.  Used, $500 might not be possible but close, $750 should be doable. This lens is light, fast and super sharp. A hand-holder's delight.

[ebiggs1]

Oh, BTW, remember the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens is 640mm on your Rebel.

[ebiggs1]

Again, BTW, if you do go for one of the super zooms in the 150-600mm range, you are talking a whopping 960mm on your Rebel.  This will almost surely necessitate a tripod for the absolute best shots.

[kvbarkley]

Do you mean 400 mm equivalent to FF, or 400 mm actual?

[RainyNight]

@ebiggs1 - thank you so much for taking the time to respond!

I really appreciate the info and had a feeling that my price-point was too low for what I want to do.

But you certainly nailed it on the recommendations. I Googled the Tamron / Sigma / Canon each along with the terms for the subjects I want to shoot with them, and the images that came up on the various photog discussion sites were exactly what I'm hoping to be able to achieve someday soon.

I also tried the same type or search terms with the cheap Bower that you mentioned, and while the images were somewhat acceptable they really lacked the detail and overall look that I want to achieve.

Looks like I need to start saving toward that $800 to get one of the nicer models you mentioned on the used market (you were right - found some for around $750).

As you can probably tell I'm just stepping into the "real camera" realm after way too many years of putting off my passion due to finances. I've simply reached the limits of what I can do with point & shoots / phone cams etc... and I'm thirsting to learn & do more. I'm in my late 40's so I guess that makes me a little late to the game, but no less enthused about it.

My Rebel T7i will be here any day and I cannot wait!

I also don't have a tripod yet and will surely need one with my somewhat shaky hands. I'm going to guess that a cheap $30 Amazon tripod isn't going to handle those big zoom lenses on the T7i, so it's time for me to research tripods now as well.

Based on your input so far, a realistic expectation for the zoom quality I want (used) plus a tripod I'm guessing is going to be in the $850 - $900 range total. Time to start socking those pennies away...

Thanks again for your replies!!

[RainyNight]

@kvbarkley - I'm just learning, so I wasn't sure exactly how to respond to your question. All I really know is that I want to be able to take good quality detailed photos of subjects like the moon, and that it would require a zoom of 400mm or better to achieve.

[kvbarkley]

This:

Was taken with a 500 mm (actual) lens. On a FF camera it would take a lens of 800 mm to fill the frame the same.

A 400 mm (actual) lens will get you the same field of view on your rebel as a 640 mm lens would on a FF camera. If you were looking for a 400mm FF equivalent you could get buy with a 250 mm lens.

I am pretty sure you want a 400 mm (actual) lens though, longer is better.

[StanNH]

I use a Tamron 150-600mm (version 1) and have had really good luck with it.  It can be used handheld, even at 600mm, but you'll need a fast shutter speed and a steady hand.  A tripod makes it easier and is always recommended at longer focal lengths.  This is a cropped bird shot I just took using its full 600mm handheld.  The Sigma is also very good, and it offers similar performance but is a bit heavier.

[Waddizzle]

---

@RainyNight wrote:

I was just wondering if anyone can please recommend a high-powered telephoto zoom lens that is compatible with the EOS Rebel T7i

I'm looking for something 400mm or higher for photographing the moon.

If possible I'm hoping to find one for under $500 but I know that might not be realistic.

Thanks for any help!

---

Save up for quality super telephoto lens.  Beware of the used marketplace.

Invest in a good tripod or monopod.  I am hardly the bird photographer, but I like to fish, and I have found birding has many similarities to fishing, except birding is far less messy.  Shooting handheld with BIG lenses takes a LOT of practice, and so it is skill many never master.  Consider investing in some form of camera support.

If you are on the go in the wild, I find a monopod to more useful and easier to manage than a tripod.  A tripod is good if you plan to park yourself in one general location, but unless you are in a hidden location, the wildlife will easily spot you.  A sufficiently robust tripod can be heavy, which is why the lighter carbon fiber tripods are popular.

But, I have found that a monopod is lighter than a tripod, easier to carry, and faster to setup.  A monopod can also be a less costly solution for someone on the move.  Use a tilt head with a monopod,  You pan by turning the entire rig.  I use a Kirk MPA-2 head on a Benro A48TD monopod.

 I love the Kirk because the quick release is Arca-Swiss compatible, like the rest of my gear, but more importantly, the quick release clamp can be rotated 90 degrees.  The Benro monopod came with an excellent case, large enough to hold a mounted video head, and has retractable feet for stability.  That is as good as it gets on a budget.  I am not recommending that particular gear, but only trying to give you an idea of "what to think about" as you consider your options.  A tripod would cost more than a monopod, and you would likely want a head with a larger price tag than a tilt-only head.