Most reasonable x-600mm Lens to use with Canon Rebel T6i for casual shooting

[MrsCatLady]

I have a Canon Rebel T6i that is still working perfectly and frankly I'm scared to make the jump to mirrorless - so I am thinking of investing in a bigger lens so I can photograph from a greater distance. I don't mind the weight, mostly looking for something that's under $2k. I especially love photographing birds and other wildlife at the ocean and the lakes I visit every summer, as well as some local sports games. I can never get close enough for my taste even with my 55-250mm lens. 

A friend of mine has a Sigma 150-600mm for her Nikon and I've played with her camera and absolutely love the length and the quality of pictures she gets. I've seen a 60-600 out there as well as 150-600 from various brands, so I want to make sure I'm getting the best (and most reasonable) bang for my buck since it's a big investment for me. 

Thanks for any suggestions!

[MrsCatLady]

Oh that's great to know! Thank you. I'm nervous renting even though I baby my equipment, but I think it would be a good trial run for me to make sure it's something I want to invest in. 

[ebiggs1]

You do have DPP4? It is free form Canon. You may be surprised how a little cropping in your images can make them a whole lot better. D/l DPP4 from the Canon website.

[MrsCatLady]

I do - I also use Lightroom for most of my editing, including cropping. I shoot in RAW with manual settings and have learned the basics of editing in LR. Here is an example of a Bald Eagle I photographed in Belgrade, Maine. This was quite cropped from the original. More cropping would have killed the quality. This was taken from the water level just below the tree it was on. Sometimes, I'd just love a little more zoom 🙂 

[ebiggs1]

You rock!

[ebiggs1]

 The 60-600 seems like it'd be a bear to carry around …

it is very heavy if you are considering it try it  first. 

[shadowsports]

@MrsCatLady ,

I couldn't agree more with the lens suggestions made by my colleagues, having owned at least one of them myself.

The only other suggestion I may add is buy used or second hand from a reliable reseller.  KEH, MPB, Adorama or B&H used departments.

Understandably if your current camera is meeting your needs, then upgrading your body is not a necessity, but whatever apprehension you're having about upgrading to mirrorless is unfounded. Mirrorless bodies are superior to DSLRs in just about every way.  They've been around long enough now so that price is also very reasonable.  DSLRs remain very good, but mirrorless has eclipsed them from a performance standpoint.  I'm not suggesting that you run out and upgrade but you have nothing to be "scared" of when the time comes.  

[ebiggs1]

"I take it you're fond of the Tamron G2?"

Not to labor this further but I have, or have had, every single version or model of the so-called super zoom lenses. About a dozen or so! I didn't buy and do not have the Tamron G2 since it was introduced  after I had bought my Siggy Sport. I have a best friend that shoots all the G2 lenses so that is why I can vouch from experience how good it is well as all the other G2 lenses. They are fantastic. I think Tamron knew it fell behind when the Sigma Art series came on line, so it prompted the redesign and the new G2 line.