Lens Question

[ramp mouse]

I recently upgraded from a sony mcv 95 to a canon 20d. I have the 75-300 canon lens and am looking to get a longer lens.
Is it better to get an l series lens with a shorter length, or another lens like the sigma 100-500?
What do you guys think of adding a 1.4 or 2X is it worth it to step up to a bigger lens??

[Victor Archer]

Re: Lens Question

Canon's 100-400 IS USM is becoming the standard for most aviation photography. You loose auto focus with the 1.4 and 2x on the 20D if you use anything bigger that an f2.8 lens.

[zaqwrx]

Re: Lens Question

I've had, at one time or another, most of the after market brand lenses. I haven't found anything better than OEM.
Of the aftermarket, Tokina or Tamron have given the best results.
I'm not real fond of Sigma though, I've heard they're getting better.
And, as Victor said, You don't want to use a multiply with anything with a higher F-stop than 2.8.

[ignomini]

Re: Lens Question

I was using a Canon 2x extender and 70-200 f2.8 IS on the Canon 10D, but have recently gone to the 100-400. Image quality is pretty close, but the 100-400 gives more zoom range without making a lens change. Standing in the pits with the 10D's crop factor, it was impossible to get a whole unlimited in the frame with the 70-200 and extender. This meant constantly swapping out the extender. The 100-400 will back out just enough to fill the frame with a Fury.

However, I'm not a fan of the push/pull zoom. It moves dust around and draws ribald comments from one's box seat mates as you "stroke your..."

Oh, never mind. You can figure that one out for yourself.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Lens Question

Shooting at Reno with a 100-400 = Clean sensor daily!!!

Hey where's Tim???
I'm waiting for your 2cents... (Value much higher)

[ignomini]

Re: Lens Question

Shooting at Reno with a 100-400 = Clean sensor daily!!!

You said it man. I thought spot toning went out with my old home dark room. WRONG! Maybe CS3 will have an automatic dust detecting sky clone stamp filter tool thingy.

[T. Adams]

Re: Lens Question

Shooting at Reno with a 100-400 = Clean sensor daily!!!

Hey where's Tim???
I'm waiting for your 2cents... (Value much higher)

Some of us work for a living.

The 100-400 dust pump thing is pure BS. All I had to do was use the Rocket Bulb blower every night. Takes all of 10-15 seconds. If you sit and pump this thing like a shot gun, well, you may have some problems then.

Just get a 400 f/2.8L, only a shade over $6,000.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Lens Question

The 100-400 dust pump thing is pure BS. All I had to do was use the Rocket Bulb blower every night.

Try standing in babypowder dirt all day

Just get a 400 f/2.8L, only a shade over $6,000.

Gee... only 6,499.95 + Tax or shipping or whatever...
Then you need something to carry it around in other that the ballistic case it comes in. The Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 will do but then you need a few more add-on cases for other lenses, batteries...ect ect.

Paging Mr. Pearce... you use one of those Sigma 500's right

[Stevo]

Re: Lens Question

Same as Tim, I didn't have too much of a problem with the dust getting into my camera because of the 100-400... but then again like Victor alluded too... we weren't standing out in the dirt all day. I'd gladly go out to one of the pylons to compare

[ignomini]

Re: Lens Question

I'd gladly go out to one of the pylons to compare

Me too! I'll even let you guys try shooting a few frames with a REAL (stereo) camera. If the world was meant to be viewed flat, we would all only have one eye.

[Race 22 Crew]

Another Lens Question

Looking into buying the new Canon 30d. It comes with the standard 17-85 usm lens where I'm looking. At the moment I'm looking to get a very good body and for now a mid-range lens. Can't afford the 100-400mm L is af osm, so will be looking at a more mid range lens.

Can someone tell me if standing in the pits, the new 70-300mm is osm will fill the frame? This lens runs about $570. Anyone have experience with this lens.

Any information would be appreciated. Going to be a big switch from my Olympus OM10 Programable if I can swing it....

Thanks in advance,
Warren

[Victor Archer]

Re: Lens Question

What's the difference in price between the 20D vs 30D?
300mm at Reno from the line is not enough...

[Race 22 Crew]

Re: Lens Question

Difference is only about $100 - $200 depending on where you get it. Not enough NOT to go with the slight enhancements I can see with the 30D. A lot of this is still greek to me. Going to be a learning curve before Reno.

Thanks for the information Victor. If I could be so bold....you say 300 isn't enough from the line. Do you have any shots from the line with a 300mm by chance?? Would like to see how close it really gets. Maybe on your gallery pages already?? I understand the focal length is actually a little more than the highest range of the lens... (make sense??).

Thanks again,
Warren

[T. Adams]

Re: Lens Question

Price difference at B&H is $300. Victor is right save $300 right off the bat and get a 20D. Victor is also right that you will not be able to fill the frame at 300mm. If you can't swing the 100-400, then that's just the way it is. I have a suggestion though. Don't even think about any of Canon's 70-300 zooms, they are extremely soft at the long end.
At B&H price for 70-300mm IS: $534.95 (after rebate)
price for 70-200 f/4L: $544.95 (after rebate)
price for 1.4xII: $284.95

Now with the $300 you saved getting a 20D you can have one of the best values in Canon's lense lineup. With the 1.4x attached it will give you a focal length of 280mm at the long end. Now it is 20mm short of 300, and it will not fill the frame, you will get pictures that are so much better than the 70-300, that you would not believe it. I had the 70-200 f/4 for a year. It was fantastic. I only sold it because I wanted IS, and the f/2.8 version of the lense.
Now the cheaper version of the 70-200 f/4L does not have IS, but this lense is extremely light, and hand holding it is no problem.

The 20D can also be bought with the 18-55mm kit lense. It is still $250 cheaper than the body only price of the 30D. Most people seem to say the kit lense is ok, I have never used it though, so I can't report anything.

[T. Adams]

Re: Lens Question

This will give you an idea.

These are all from the fence in the pits.

220mm



400mm



400mm



Sparky is pretty small even at 400mm, but if you nail a shot you can crop the shot quite a bit and it still looks pretty good.

Here is one at 380mm, cropped quite a bit,