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Lens for telephoto landscape photos

Younjulius
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

Among telephoto lenses that reaches 300mm or 400mm, those are what I consider.

G2 lens + TC being 300mm is the weakness
Tamron has not great 300 to 400mm corner performance compared to Sony
100-400mm GM is big heavy and expensive

Which of the shortcomings are least critical for landscape photography?

Feb 06, 2024 at 11:45 PM

telyt
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

big, heavy and expensive doesn't show in the photos.

Feb 07, 2024 at 12:46 AM

Uncle Chip
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

I have the Sony 100-400, 70-200G2 and 1.4tx

Both are excellent, I have no issues with the 1.4 on the 70-200,

For me it would come down to how many shots I took in the 200-400 range, if it’s a lot then the 100-400 is worth the extra size and weight if only so you are not constantly taking the TC on and off, if like me it’s very occasionally then the 70-200 is excellent, you will appreciate the weight saving on a longer walk

Feb 07, 2024 at 02:19 AM

Aztatlan
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

There was a very similar thread posted recently, you may find some helpful info in that:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1842301/0

Feb 07, 2024 at 03:28 AM

jtra
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

Did you mean Tamron 50-400mm?

I have one and use it for landscapes.
My review is here: https://jtra.cz/stuff/review/tamron-50-400/

Feb 07, 2024 at 04:53 AM

Charlie N
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

you missed a simpler option, the tamron 28-200

Feb 07, 2024 at 09:32 AM

chez
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

Charlie N wrote:
you missed a simpler option, the tamron 28-200

Seems like he wants to go to at least 300mm.

Feb 07, 2024 at 09:42 AM

Viramati
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

In all honest the 100-400GM really is not that big or heavy for what it does in it's focal range

Feb 07, 2024 at 09:58 AM

chez
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

Another option to look at is the Contax 100-300. I picked one up for $400 and test shots look fantastic. Haven’t any chance yet to take it out for landscapes.

Feb 07, 2024 at 10:14 AM

Jochenb
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

I already said it in another thread, but people seem to underestimate how nice the Tamron 50-400mm is.
I also have the 70-200 GM II with 1.4x TC, but I like the Tamron more for landscapes (which is what I mainly shoot).
It just feels much more versatile and it's sharpness is very good across all of the zoom range. I have zero complaints about the corners. The copy I have performs just as good as the 100-400 GM I had in the past.

Feb 07, 2024 at 10:27 AM

KS56
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

The Sigma 100-400mm is another option. I love mine, it is lightweight and very sharp.

Feb 07, 2024 at 10:46 AM

MARKFER
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

I really think that a 300mm f4 prime is what makes sense. A bigger zoom seems like a bit of an extra burden for just landscape. For me maybe, others not. Sony doesn't have a slower long prime. They need one.
I had the Sony 100-400 and it is a great lens. Packs nicely, but it is heavy

Feb 07, 2024 at 10:51 AM

akashyap
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

If 300 mm is a weakness of the 70-200, why not consider the 2x TC?

The 70-200 + TC is more versatile (can do portraits and events) and much more expensive than the 100-400. I’d pick that if money wasn’t an issue.

The Sony 100-400 is looking like amazing value at $1400 used, great weight for that range, and special image quality.

If I were building a landscape kit out now, a used 16-35 GMv1 and used 100-400 GM would be at the top of the performance for price list.

Feb 07, 2024 at 12:19 PM

Younjulius
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

jtra wrote:
Did you mean Tamron 50-400mm?

I have one and use it for landscapes.
My review is here: https://jtra.cz/stuff/review/tamron-50-400/

Yes, it was a typo that I can’t fix. Thanks for the review!

Feb 07, 2024 at 12:24 PM

Adam Schallau
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

akashyap wrote:
If I were building a landscape kit out now, a used 16-35 GMv1 and used 100-400 GM would be at the top of the performance for price list.

I took a similar approach but with the FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II and Tamron 50-400mm.

Feb 07, 2024 at 12:58 PM

Michel85
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

telyt wrote:
big, heavy and expensive doesn't show in the photos.

I think it does if it wears you down on long hikes, if the weight prevents you for climbing that mountain peak to take the shot, or if the weight of the lens means you're not taking it with you or leave it in the bag because it's too heavy and bulky as a walkaround lens.

Feb 07, 2024 at 01:37 PM

telyt
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

Michel85 wrote:
I think it does if it wears you down on long hikes, if the weight prevents you for climbing that mountain peak to take the shot, or if the weight of the lens means you're not taking it with you or leave it in the bag because it's too heavy and bulky as a walkaround lens.

For myself this applies to my 600 GM. The 100-400 GM is my walk-around/hiking/travel lightweight lens.

Regarding the cost: buy once, cry once.

Feb 07, 2024 at 02:41 PM

Younjulius
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

telyt wrote:
For myself this applies to my 600 GM. The 100-400 GM is my walk-around/hiking/travel lightweight lens.

Regarding the cost: buy once, cry once.

Sounds like a good policy.

Feb 07, 2024 at 05:47 PM

wordfool
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

I'm a big fan of the 100-400 (and I also have the 70-200GM ii). Having the option to go to 400mm plus the semi-macro capabilities should you need them for flowers or whatnot are very useful. Plus I don't consider it a big or particularly heavy zoom. A tiny bit fatter than the 70-200 and heavier (but not that much in the grand scheme of things), but still a very portable lens IMO.

Feb 07, 2024 at 06:54 PM

Aztatlan
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Lens for telephoto landscape photos

chez wrote:
Another option to look at is the Contax 100-300. I picked one up for $400 and test shots look fantastic. Haven’t any chance yet to take it out for landscapes.

The 100-300 is the best overall choice for landscape IMO, provided one does not mind it being manual focus. Sharp throughout the range (best from 100-200 though, 300 is still good but does fall off a bit, perhaps similar to the falloff you might expect from a 1.4TC on the GMII) and pretty compact - stores upright in my camera bag if I take the adapter off. Cheap too. The main thing is being an old lens, availability of good quality used samples is patchy, and you may need to keep an eye on eBay/B&S/other for a while before a good condition example shows up.

I have not tested it side-by-side against the 70-200 GMII, but I cannot possibly imagine the GM would be any sharper in the 100-200 range they share.

I am resoundingly disappointed by the IQ of almost all telephoto zooms having used the CY 100-300. The GMII is the only alternative I would consider, but it costs maybe 4x as much, weighs more, and is much bigger in the bag. On the plus side, it has a faster aperture (of questionable usefulness for landscape) and AF (could be useful) so is a more versatile lens.

Feb 07, 2024 at 08:33 PM

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