I first started this thread as I had borrowed a neighbours Canon camera and lens and I was so impressed that I wanted advice from the forum members on what lens I should buy. I now have 2 choices that I want to have a look at. The thread has now evolved to include everyones favourite lens be it Nikon, Canon, Sigma or any other lens not mentioned. So if you would like to tell us all about your favourite lens just post away.
In the next couple of weeks I would like to head up to one of my local camera shops to have a look at Canon lenses and bodies. I have not wanted to go to a shop until I learn more as I really don't know what I am talking about and I think I will get lost in the lens jargon and leave the shop more confused. I am between the 7d and the body below but that is not really the problem as it will depend if I like the feel of them. I held the Nikon 7000 through the week which I did not like at all. I want to go for Canon simply because of its popularity and the resell value if I want to upgrade later in life!.
Anyway I was spoiled using the Canon EF Ultrasonic 35-350mm 3.5- 5.6 that I had on loan for a few days so I thought I would look in the lenses and see what my choices are available. Remember I am a complete novice and I am going to take my time learning and choosing the right lens. My gosh there are so many to choose from and the prices vary quite wildly. I have decided on what I want my new camera for and what I would really use the lens for giving me shots like the ones below. Not great but I want to practice this more. I have my fuji big zoom and that still gives me the faraway shots and I could not afford the lens that gives me the equivalent in canon terms. My budget on a lens is £1500 but if I can find a lens less I will obviously be pretty happy. I have also decided I would like to stick to a prime lens as I want quality of detail, sharpness and I really want a lens that will give me lovely "Bokeh!" hope I have the terminology is right. I was hoping that someone could point me in the right direction and suggest a few lenses that I could look at in the camera shop. I would like to have the Canon 350mm that I borrowed but maybe one of you experts could suggest a lens that I would like. I don’t really want to go below 300mm so that might mean a second hand lens. Forgot to add that I want that f. number quite high ie 3.5 ish. "Not asking for much eh!"
EF200ml f/2.8L IIUSM £600
EF200ml f/2L IS USM £1400
EF300mm f/4L IS USM £920
EF 300mm f2.8L IS II USM £4589 sadly cant afford this one!
The prices are just a guide and I am sure if I shopped about I could get them cheaper!
Thanks
Thanks Alan, I thought your lens had IS, it certainly helps when we like to hand hold these cameras. Prices seem to have dropped a little for the 400mm so I may take another look or even try trading the 300mm in at some stage, however, for the moment, I am happy with what this does.
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Regards, Hazel
OK Lolly, sorry for that. Good luck with your choice. If I can give any advice then stick with camera maker and camera maker body except that Sigma and Tamron can and do make good lenses for Canon and Nikon. I'll keep quiet now cos I just seem to have confused things.
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Lolly all I tried to say but probably didn'tvery well is dont try to mix Canon with Nikon.
Both Canon and Nikon are capable of fantastic results. Just dont try to mix the two together.
:-) Doggie, thanks.
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Hi Lolly, I wouldn't buy a zoom without IS personally because I hand hold the camera most of the time, yes, they are more expensive but worth it in my case. I love Canon lenses, those L series are a brilliant lens, I'm well pleased with mine which is under £900.
You probably won't be surprised to know your situation is pretty common :-) Sticking with Canon lenses, you have....
400mm f/5.6 L prime - known as THE birds in flight lens, it is razor sharp, fast focussing and lightweight. Downside? It doesn't have IS (stabilisation) which can be a disadvantage in poor light and handholding, but not such a problem for in-flight pics where you need a high shutter speed anyway. The other problem with this lens is the minimum focus distance - 3.5m, which can be irritating for close ups.
100-400 IS L zoom. This has IS and a closer minimum focus distance - 1.8m, so is better for getting close, handy not just for birds but butter/dragonflies etc as well. Under perfect conditions, the prime is sharper (primes nearly always are) and possibly slightly faster focussing, but there's little in it and IS can get you the shot at 400mm you'd miss without it. Good zoo lens, more flexible as a zoom. It's push-pull, which some don't like, but you'll be familiar with after the 35-350.
300 f/4 IS L + 1.4x teleconverter. Stabilised, minimum focus of 1.5m, prime lens that's extremely sharp. A good contender, takes the teleconverter well to make a 420mm f/5.6 combo.
At the risk of being contentious, I wouldn't choose enything shorter than 400mm. Whilst there's a decent 70-300 L in the same price bracket, length is (nearly) everything with birds and you'd always wish for something longer.
I have the 100-400 and the 300+1.4x options and both are fantastic. Whichever of the 3 you choose you won't regret it, it all depends on whether the flexibiity of the zoom, the benefits of stabilisation or the lightness for birds in flight are of most importance to you. I'll have a rummage if you like and put up a few pics from the options, though to be honest, it sounds like you've seen loads on Flickr already :-)
The only one I'll stick up for now is this robin from the garden. At 2.3m, the 400mm prime would have not been able to get the shot. MFD (Minimum Focus Distance) is often ignored when choosing a lens, but it can be very important, especially if you shoot a lot in the garden and can get very close
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I did buy my 300mm zoom online as a "grey import" and understand that UK guarantee doesn't cover overseas imports via grey market; the company itself, which I did research online before I purchased, gave a guarantee and I've already had the lens for a year with no problems and I saved close to £200 at the time. The lens price has come down since, as with a few others and you can find UK stock for the same price or slightly less. I wouldn't buy a camera body under "grey import" as there seems too much to go wrong with it but I was satisfied that buying the lens that way was worth the saving.
Oh - a quick comment on some of the cheaper places to buy lenses. Most (such as Simply) are based in Hong Kong and they are cheap because you don't pay import duties. You may get caught out and be presented with a bill by the courier, though some of the sellers will refund this if it happens. What the suppliers typically do is label the lens or camera as "spares" or "camera battery" or similar - in other words, they lie to avoid paying the correct duty. As you are the legal importer, that means you too are cheating the taxman. Entirely a personal decision whether you're happy to do that or not - just be aware that warranty repairs can be a pain as you have to deal with the supplier rather than the nearest convenient Canon repair shop :-)