Sorry if I'm going over old ground here. I did a bit of a search but couldn't really find the answer.
I'm currently using a 400D/XTi and my longest lens is the 55-250. I'd really like to get a lens with a bit more reach to use at airshows and sports etc.The thing is I don't have a very big budget, so was wondering what would be a good step up from the 55-250 without breaking the bank?
The only thing is, I was thinking that if I limit my budget, I might lose quality to gain the extra reach?
I guess I could sell the 55-250 to stretch the budget though.
Sorry if I'm going over old ground here. I did a bit of a search but couldn't really find the answer.
I'm currently using a 400D/XTi and my longest lens is the 55-250. I'd really like to get a lens with a bit more reach to use at airshows and sports etc.The thing is I don't have a very big budget, so was wondering what would be a good step up from the 55-250 without breaking the bank?
The only thing is, I was thinking that if I limit my budget, I might lose quality to gain the extra reach?
I guess I could sell the 55-250 to stretch the budget though.
use 300 f/4 non-IS wth 1.4x TC?
getting much more reach than 250mm is not cheap
not much what are there but $1000 lenses unless you do the above, i think (and even that is probably $725 at least)
250mm to 300mm, as others have rightly pointed out, is a bit of a negligable increase, best option (IMHO) is the Sigma 50-500, IQ will probably be about the same as the 55-250 (but not as good as the 70-300 IS) and will give you a lot more reach, it is quite heavy though, and while not horrifically expensive, you certainly couldn't call it budget glass.
I've owned the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS (non-DO) for a few years now, and I can just about guarantee it's not the lens for airshows and sports, as the OP requested. Sorry, but fast AF is not that lens' strong suit by any stretch of the imagination. IQ for static objects is indeed outstanding, though. Perhaps the 100-400L, 300 f/4L (IS or not), or the 400 f/5.6L?
jrscls wrote:
IMO, the 70-300 IS would be a minor upgrade as far as reach goes over the 55-250 IS.
You're right...it is a minor upgrade reach wise, then again the OP clearly stated "without breaking the bank"--I guess I just assumed that a +1K option was out the window, therefore the only one left (and the best, IMO) is the 70-300. While fl gain is not drastic, IQ is. As for Bigma...if the OP is going to go ahead and blow his load on one lens for sports and airshows Bigma is definitely not the way to go...Sigma 100-300/4, Canon 300/4IS, 400/5.6 or the 100-400IS are all better bets. I'd also like to add that Bigma is not actually a 500mm lens--more like 450mm
The next step up is the 70-300IS, but it's not a big step up. You still have the slow AF and no full-time manual focus, and sharpness is only slightly improved from the reviews I've read (caveat: I've never shot with either lens). The next step up after that are the 100-400 and 50-500. If it's in your price range, I'd go with the 100-400. IS is extremely useful on long telephotos, especially if you have somewhat shaky hands like I do. Furthermore, a good copy's sharpness is as good as the 400/5.6 or 300/4 with a 1.4x. And for sports the zoom is very useful.
It's also an excellent airshow lens. These are all heavy crops from my 5D (my wife stole my 350D for the day), which is essentially what you'd get straight out of the camera from your 400D at full resolution:
Considering this was my first airshow, and it was an extremely gloomy day, I was pretty happy with the results. I don't remember my exact rate of blown shots, but almost every shot was in focus.
Mike Liu wrote:
for strict budget, the 70-300IS lens with a Kenko 1.4 tc could work as well. not optimal, but a decent compromise.
The 70-300IS at the long end with a teleconverter will not autofocus on anything but a 1-series camera. And even then the AF speed would probably be very poor.
I am not saying the 70-300 is a bad budget option, but I don't think I would really even consider a teleconverter with it.
if you are considering the bigma, consider the Tamron 200-500 also. Great lens for the money, you'll want a monopod with it. Not the best for BIF but good for slow moving or static objects.
I believe the 70-300 IS can autofocus with a 3rd party teleconverter such as Kenko. You may need to tape the pins however. It will not focus with the Canon TC. If anyone else has more insight here, please input.
But I agree, even then the autofocus would not be great.
