Zoom lens advice

P

Philvagabond

Messages
2
Name
Philip
Edit My Images
No
Hi everyone.

I currently have a canon 5D and I’ve been using a Sigma 70 - 300mm DG zoom f4 - 5.6 lens for sports photography for a local rugby team, however I have been looking to not only extend my zoom range but add some more quality.

I have come across the Canon 100 - 400mm f4.5 - 5.6 but just wandered if anyone had come across any comparison between both. I would assume that the quality of the canon, given the original retail price would suggest a better quality all round lens?

Or can anyone recommend anything better without breaking the bank.

Thanks in advance everyone
 
How much do you want to spend? The Sigma is very much a budget lens. The Canon 100-400L is significantly better in comparison, but the Mark 1 version was superceded in 2014 with the Mk II version. The original 5D is now also an old camera and the newer versions offer significant improvments in noise handling, focus speed and accuracy.
 
FWIW

Before I sold all my Canon gear, I had the 5D mk3 with the 24-105mm and the 100-400mm mk2 (I previously had the mk1 but traded it in for the mk2).

I used that combo for both wildlife and airshows
 
Philvagabond said:
Or can anyone recommend anything better without breaking the bank.
Click to expand...
You might find it worth looking at your pictures and making a list of what you see as their shortcomings.

Are they not sharp enough? If so, is the unsharpness due to faulty focus or camera movement? Are the images fuzzy due to electronic noise? You have said you want to increase the "range" of the lens. Do you want more magnification? If so, you would want to have a focal length of at least 500mm to make a significant change. Long focus lenses for full frame cameras are big and heavy, will you be happy with such? Try and ask yourself as many questions as possible to figure out what are your main sources of unhappiness, with what you've got, then you may get some useful advice.

I used a Canon 5D with a Tamron 70~300mm lens for general snapshots and it was entirely adequate to my needs...

Gull flying with bread in beak 5D IMG_2836.JPG
 
Thank you all for your replies. I am aware that the camera itself is now old and could do with a refreshment. Costs at this stage is an issue but a second camera will always be my aim.

As I am not taking photographs in a professional manner I am limited to the amount I can spend. I was thinking within the region of £700 on a used lens.

The images I am getting on the setup I have are great to be fair and the general public still have the ‘wow’ factor response, but I was just thinking about adding some further quality to the zoom lens I already have.

Put it this way I can instantly tell the difference with quality once switched to the 24 - 70mm f 2.8.
 
Philvagabond said:
Put it this way I can instantly tell the difference with quality once switched to the 24 - 70mm f 2.8.
Click to expand...
That's good.

One test you may want to make, before making your decision: place the camera on a really solid support and point the camera at a static scene (brickwork will do at a pinch). Fit the 28~70mm and capture your target at the 70mm setting, Change to the 70~300mm and capture the same target, also at the 70mm setting. Comparing the two images may be helpful to decide where the Sigma falls short of your expectations and help you to define your needs.
 
I don't think you'll find the perfect one lens solution on a budget. The Canon 100-400L will be OK when the weather is nice, but when its gloomy and overcast, you'll end up dropping shutter speed and raising iso. Slower shutter speed introduces motion blur and iso increases noise, and there are limits to what people find acceptable.

I see someone else has suggested a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8. Fast focussing, high quality lens, with a constant F/2.8 aperture, which means you can shoot longer into the gloomy autumn mentioned in the previous paragraph. They also take a teleconverter - a x 1.4 to result in a 420mm f/4 lens or a x2.0 to make a 600mm f/5.6 lens. Downside it that its a pretty heavy unit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top