Advice needed for new lens ( Help me spend my money )

flick5848

flick5848

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Chris Flick
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Hi All :wave:

I need some advice on what new lens to buy. Please excuse the way I am about to explain this but I am fairly new to photography and not up to speed with the correct terminology. The trouble I have with my current lenses ( See my signature below ) is that the 18 - 55 doesn’t have enough reach and the 75 - 300mm has a little too much reach at 75mm for general photography. I am finding myself constantly changing between the 2 lenses so I am looking for a lens which combines these lenses and I have noticed the Canon 28 – 300 L IS would appear to be exactly what I am looking for.

I am interested in all types of photography from Nature to Motorsport and I believe this lens could live on my camera most of the time but it is a little on the expensive side.

Could anybody here recommend a lens to me ?
 
It's a heavy lens and not the best quality - certainly for the price. I think you are going to have to get used to changing lenses to be honest.

A good first upgrade could be the 24-105 f/4L IS. This will give you a bit more reach at the top end and limit the number of changes you need to make.
 
I'll say what I usually say (and probably get shot down in flames) but the "does it all" zoom lenses tend to be poor compared with the more specific zooms (which in turn are not as good as the primes)

My own personal opinion is that the 28-300 L is probably the worst of the L series range.

The addage "if it looks too good to be true it probably is" rings true here.

The Badger's suggestion of the 24-105 for the low end is a good one, but for the longer stuff you probably need to work out just how long you will need for motorsport or wildlife. My ideal motorsport bag would contain a 70-200 f2.8 and a 300 f2.8 and the 1.4x and the 2x teleconvertors plus finally a super wide angle (perhaps the efs10-22) for those arty pitlane/paddock shots.
 
I have to agree - while the idea looks attractive, a zoom lens with such a long range is very likely to be compromised on image quality.
 
grumpybadger said:
It's a heavy lens and not the best quality
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It is a heavy lens, and its the push / pull zoom variety (which would drive me to distraction). But, it would seem to suit your needs and the IQ will be way ahead of your current lenses (a 10x zoom is never going to outstanding, but this is good without being the best lens in the stable). Have a look here for info and review: 28-300 L IS review
 
Fair point Jonny. It is a good lens and better than the OP has already, but my point was more that there are many better ways to spend £1500. The other thing is that it is heavy. I think too heavy to be an everyday walkaround lens. I rented one once for shooting out of an aeroplane with no door when I had no option but to not change lenses.

If it were my money and I wanted a basic walkaround wide range lens, I think I'd buy a cheap one and then get better glass with the change. Or even getting a 2nd body. That's how I work. I run a pair of cameras and either a short zoom on one and a longer on the other, or a long zoom on one and a prime on the other.

Paul
 
Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 ??
 
There are lots of options covering part of the range, but our friend needs to decide how wide to how long he feels he wants to cover. 50mm might not be wide enough, given that he has a 350D with a 1.6x crop factor...
 
All very fine suggestions, but apparently the point has been missed that this guy DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE LENSES

flick5848 said:
I am finding myself constantly changing between the 2 lenses so I am looking for a lens which combines these lenses and I have noticed the Canon 28 – 300 L IS would appear to be exactly what I am looking for.
Click to expand...

Given that very important point, lets not suggest more expensive versions of the lenses he already has :shrug:

Sorry, i need less coffee :lol:
 
JR,

You know you should not be taking caffeine dear...
 
I know AR, I know. But you see, the laughing juice is gone and the purple elephants were coming back :runaway:
 
desantnik said:
There are lots of options covering part of the range, but our friend needs to decide how wide to how long he feels he wants to cover. 50mm might not be wide enough, given that he has a 350D with a 1.6x crop factor...
Click to expand...



I think upto 50mm would be an acceptable start but I would prefer a little more reach than 105mm as I do often use 200+ on my other lens.

Obviously I have to decide what is best suited to me from what is available and I am asking for suggestions and ideas of what ranges are availabe and your opinions.

I know I'm being a pain but if I am going to spend this kind of money then I need to be sure about what is best for me.

Thanks for all the advice
 
Knowing next to nothing about phography as I do would the canon 55-250 isbe any use to him?
Bob
 
Go on then, Sigma 50-500, never change your lens again!
 
But you can cancel your gym membership too... think how much money you could save!
 
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