400mm canon for £400...

[alexsmith]

I'm tempted to get a canon 550d for its video ( i do a lot of filming) but will it be possible to get a "decent" 400mm lens without spending £800! I think it would need to be about that as most of my photography is birds.

I read the new tamron 70-300vc is good but might be a bit short...
The only 400mm I can find on google is Tokina 80-400mm . Any one know if its any good or even others I should look at?
Ta
Alex

 

[Chris seager]

400mm for filming on a 1.6x crop body is not goon be any good for filming ! Got a 200mm prime and despite it being a lovely lens i hardly use it when filming.

 

[grum]

You could get one of these - http://www.onestop-digital.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=33666

 

[rssmrry]

Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO HSM Telemacro?

It would only work wide open unless you got a re-chipped one. Nice lens and mine only cost £130. They come up from time to time on ebay.

I don't know if variable apertures are needed for filming so might not be of any use.

 

[alexsmith]

400mm for filming on a 1.6x crop body is not goon be any good for filming ! Got a 200mm prime and despite it being a lovely lens i hardly use it when filming.

Why not?

can you not use long lens for filming?

 

[Skyline On Fire]

Why not?

can you not use long lens for filming?

You can, it's just a long lens, and that much reach on video will be very shaky unless you've got a very firm tripod, and aren't panning around too much, i.e static shots.

 

[BacktotheFuji]

Grab a used 300/4L with a Kenko 1.4x teleconverter. Cost should be around £550.00.

 

[artyman]

Shooting video at 400mm you need a steady tripod, have a look at the Sigma 120-400 should be in your price bracket.

 

[alexsmith]

Thanks for the replies... Not too worried about the tripod thing. You need to use one whatever your filming with. Also thanks for the lens suggestions
. Will check then out/ read up on them. I can't believe there is a 300 l lens in there.
Thanks
Alex