Beginner Telephoto

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Clarko1

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John Clarkson
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Hi all
I know I wildlife telephoto has been done to death but can't decide what to do.

I have found a great spot on an estuary I have seen dunlins sandpipers oyster catchers and a curlew at the same time.

Closest I can get without,spooking is a 100 feet or so. So want to set up for a morning see what comes and goes.

I currently have 3 zoom lenses with 250mm as a max . I think Iam right in saying I get the 1.6 effect , but I realise cheap 250 zooms will perhaps be soft.

I have considered a canon 100-400 L mark 2 with a 1.4 converter from reviews I can see most will feel this is a great choice, but Iam on a budget and even used this is beyond me at the minute.

Sigma do there 50-500 and 150-600 and Iam considering them. There 135-400 is perfect budget wise but many say it's weak at 400mm

But I will ask the experts on here to guide me . Any help greatly received!

Cheers
John


Ps canon 60d body
 
The Tamron/Sigma 150-600 are great lenses for the money. They are not the same lenses from different makers, although IQ wise no-one can tell them apart, so a particular feature may incline you towards one or the other. I can't comment on any other lenses, or converters.
 
Hi
Thanks Jenny I heard they where good. I think the big issue is there heavy. I could live with that as will be sitting down set up on tripod as a rule.

Just gone through my lenses and will post on here so will help anyone thinking about advising me . I think I have to much crossover.

After buying body only rushed out and bought the first thing cheap on eBay an ef28-135mm which i find pretty good and use as the walk about lens and happy snapping.

It left me short in two areas of course wide angle and telephoto.

I then bought efs 55-250 f4is ll. a good lens by all accounts and it's ok . I soon realised that 250 still isn't a lot for birding. So haven't used much.

I then made a mistake buying a tamron 18-250mm and a 1.4 converter. Thinking was I had 18mm for landscape/wide angle and could put the converter on would give effectively 500 plus over all effect.

The mistake being the 18-250 is a tiny lens so won't take a converter , that's before all the loss of light and AF of course.

So I now have 2 lenses up to 250, admittedly I can wide angle to 18 but the ef is 28 and landscapes aren't my thing .

What would you do if you where me?

Please remember my goal is to get as much telephoto as possible.

Cheers

John
 
The 150-600 isn't a light lens but AFAIK no wildlife lens will be light. If it's supported there is no problem. I use my 550D + Sigma 150-600 combination on a beanbag, usually in a hide but if there's no hide I find sitting with my knees up and the beanbag on my knees works well. I can't really handhold it, but that's to do with me, not the lens. I also have the Tamron 70-300, which I soon outgrew. Now it gets used as a travelling lens, ie if I'm going abroad, can't take anything the size and weight of the Sigma and won't have access to a hide anyway. It's just not long enough to be serious. I use an 18-135 as a walkabout. I do a lot of walking and need something for landscape and occasional wildlife but can only take one, lightweight lens. If I didn't do landscape 3 out of my 4 lenses would go. If you get seriously into wildlife no lens will ever be long enough.........
 
I have the Tamron 150-600, and for more 'mobile' shooting a monopod is great - just leave the ball head not quite tight (so there is resistance to movement, but you can still move the position) and it will take the weight from you when shooting without overly restricting movement. I find it makes using the heavy lens much less of a strain :)
 
Just one line,if you dont buy a 150-600 you will be thinking i wish i had;) its like you always need more reach for wildlife.:D
 
Hi looked at a 150-600 still high priced for me at the minute.

The bigma 50-500 seems to,go for less is it comparable?

Regards
John
 
The Sigma 150-600 Contemporary is around the same price as the 50-500mm.

Edit: In fact the 150-600 C is £110 cheaper then the 50-500 at Wex at £739 and may be even cheaper elsewhere
 
Last edited:
Hi guys
I think the 150-600 is the solution so thanks for,that does anyone think tamron or sigma has the edge?


Regards
John
 
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