Team-BHP > Shifting gears > Gadgets, Computers & Software


Reply
  Search this Thread
982,039 views
Old 6th December 2007, 07:39   #1561
Distinguished - BHPian
 
condor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Speed-brkr City
Posts: 15,835
Thanked: 15,941 Times

Try to stick to Canon (I assume you have a Canon body).
condor is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 08:04   #1562
Team-BHP Support
 
Samurai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bangalore/Udupi
Posts: 25,798
Thanked: 45,190 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by mail4ajo View Post
I cant afford and my use do not require the L series which I know is quality glass.
If this was the case why did you go for dSLR? If you just wanted longer reach, there are many long zoom P&S cameras that can outperform most dSLRs with cheapo tele-zoom lenses. And they will be cheaper too.

One should switch to dSLR for achieving technical excellence. But after switching to dSLR, if you still want to buy cheap lenses, then you are defeating the purpose of switching to dSLR.

I know what you are thinking, you are thinking of the long reach the 70-300 can give, but when you find that it will give you bad images in most but the best condition, you will regret the decision.

Last year I had to choose between, 50-200mm Zuiko lens and 50-500mm Sigma (Bigma). Price was quite similar. I was thinking 50-500mm is VFM because I can get more reach for the money. Finally it took Rudra to show me the light, I went with the Zuiko 50-200mm, currently that is my best lens, I use it as much as my primary 14-54mm lens. Meanwhile I know people in PAAI who bought the bigma, but want to sell it since they don't know what to do with it.

I asked this question to another member recently, Do you want to shoot long range ordinary shots or excellent normal shots?

A dSLR system owner should spend 70% of their investment on lens and rest on body. The lens will stay much longer with you than the body. Don't go cheap on the lens. You can take great shots even with a cheap dSLR body, but you can't do the same with cheap lenses.

Actually borrow a L lens for a day, try it out, then think whether you want cheapo lens.
Samurai is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 09:58   #1563
BHPian
 
Hellcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 222
Thanked: 5 Times

Some Good Lens if you are on a budget.

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro II
Tamron AF55-200mm f4-5.6 Di II Macro LD

Personally I would recomend you to go for the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM, its one of Canon's lowest priced "L" series lenses. Optically excellent, probably as good as the 70-200/2.8. A stop slower of course. And Accepts both the EF 1.4x TC and 2x TC.


Cheers
Hellcat.
Hellcat is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 12:09   #1564
Team-BHP Support
 
tsk1979's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 23,715
Thanked: 22,756 Times

Samurai, You can get good shots from non L lenses. Shots which would not have been possible with a P&S.
On the 70-300 front, there are 2 lenses which you can go for
1. Sigma 70-300
2. Canon 70-300

go for the former as it has macro also. 70-200L with 1.4x TC is also good buy you will loose a stop with the TC. No big deal since the 70-300 are F5.6 at the long end.
tsk1979 is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 12:51   #1565
Team-BHP Support
 
Samurai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bangalore/Udupi
Posts: 25,798
Thanked: 45,190 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by tsk1979 View Post
Samurai, You can get good shots from non L lenses. Shots which would not have been possible with a P&S.
Sure, under best of conditions and in certain F stops. I wrote a long post because he said he doesn't want quality glass.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tsk1979 View Post
70-200L with 1.4x TC is also good buy you will loose a stop with the TC.
Are you sure? Never heard of a TC that doesn't rob a stop.

mail4ajo, spend couple of hours with Krishna, he's got good quality glass. Then you will rethink whether you don't want quality glass.
Samurai is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 13:27   #1566
Team-BHP Support
 
tsk1979's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 23,715
Thanked: 22,756 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by Samurai View Post
Are you sure? Never heard of a TC that doesn't rob a stop.
.
Yes if you lens is F4, and you put a TC 1.4x you can go down to F5.6 atmost(1 stop loss).
If you TC is 2x then your maximum aperture will decrease a step more (F6.3 I think)
tsk1979 is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 13:49   #1567
BHPian
 
praJEEP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bengaluru
Posts: 537
Thanked: 8 Times

I am planning to buy a digital camera, my budget max 24k can strech more that, experts please do advice..

my options

canon powershot S51S,
praJEEP is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 15:11   #1568
Team-BHP Support
 
Samurai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bangalore/Udupi
Posts: 25,798
Thanked: 45,190 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by tsk1979 View Post
Yes if you lens is F4, and you put a TC 1.4x you can go down to F5.6 atmost(1 stop loss).
Oops, I misread your post. I thought you said without loss of a stop, my mistake.

mail4ajo, it is better to have 1 good lens instead of 3 ordinary lenses. That's all I gotta say.
Samurai is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 16:29   #1569
BHPian
 
kvish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 627
Thanked: 195 Times

Canon makes amazing high end lenses, but their aam-aadmi offerings are below par to some of the lenses being offered by Sigma and tamron. Sigma and tamron are cheaper too. Check out both before taking a decision. I am also in the lookout for a tele, since sigma has launched two new lenses (50-150 and 70-200) I think I'll wait.
kvish is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 16:38   #1570
Team-BHP Support
 
tsk1979's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 23,715
Thanked: 22,756 Times

Agree with you kvish, but before buying any sigma or tamron, check for focus accuracy. The entry level SLRs(esp the 350D) is notorios for throwing up focusing issues.
So try before you buy

If I use the 50mm at F1.8, about 20-30% of my shots come OOF.
And thats a canon lens. Looking at web forums, this is a problem with the XT, and most people shoot at F2.8.
With Sigma and Tamron telephoto offerings, you may miss focus quite often for some samples.
So try the lens, if it focuses, buy it.
tsk1979 is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 20:05   #1571
Senior - BHPian
 
mail4ajo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 1,957
Thanked: 330 Times

Thanks for the comments especially from Samurai. Was an eyeopener. I was under the impression that L series are used only by proffessionals for very high quality results and hence said that I dont require it.

I spoke to a few proffesionals in my native and they echoed the same comments on the 300mm lenses. What I am going to do now is to either rent or borrow a L series and a 300mm one for comparision.

I have also heard that the Canon 70-300mm IS USM gives good results and is considered a "hidden L lens". Its priced almost equal to the entry level 70-200mm L series. I think the IS and the extra 100mm is value for money.
mail4ajo is offline  
Old 6th December 2007, 21:59   #1572
BHPian
 
guyonblackybx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 366
Thanked: 14 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by mail4ajo View Post
What I am going to do now is to either rent or borrow a L series and a 300mm one for comparision.
I would love to do that too where in Hyd can I get to rent lens like these I have Sigma 70-300mm and not happy with the quality of pictures that I get with it. I can't afford a high end IS lens. Any one around here who knows a place to rent lens?
guyonblackybx is offline  
Old 7th December 2007, 00:57   #1573
Senior - BHPian
 
mail4ajo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 1,957
Thanked: 330 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by guyonblackybx View Post
Any one around here who knows a place to rent lens?
I am trying to check in Chennai. The only place I know is in Bangalore, Jaya Nagar, Singh Studio. Charges 500Rs per day for 70-200mm L series.

Last edited by mail4ajo : 7th December 2007 at 01:00.
mail4ajo is offline  
Old 7th December 2007, 07:01   #1574
Team-BHP Support
 
Samurai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bangalore/Udupi
Posts: 25,798
Thanked: 45,190 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by mail4ajo View Post
Thanks for the comments especially from Samurai. Was an eyeopener. I was under the impression that L series are used only by proffessionals for very high quality results and hence said that I dont require it.
You are welcome and thanks for taking it in the right spirit. People often take offense when they are told the hard truth, but such a jolt is required to force a change in thought. Although I have owned SLRs since 1989, I wasn't a serious photographer until 2005. It took a Team-BHPian (who is missing on the forum for a year now) to tell me I didn't know jack about photography. I really needed that slap in the face to start thinking freshly about my photography.
Samurai is offline  
Old 7th December 2007, 10:09   #1575
Team-BHP Support
 
navin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 25,142
Thanked: 9,215 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by Samurai View Post
Last year I had to choose between, 50-200mm Zuiko lens and 50-500mm Sigma (Bigma).
A dSLR system owner should spend 70% of their investment on lens.
So a $1700 E3 body should warrant about $4000 in lenses? I figured $2500 for a 12-60 adn 50-200 SED glass would be enough! :-) just kidding Samu.

Seriously, I also feel that a greater portion of your busget should be the lenses. For a simple-starter "body+2 zoom" solution about 40% on the body and 60% on the lenses. Of that 60% I would spend more on the lens you will use most.

There are a few non L canon lenses that are pretty good. The 17-55/2.8 and 70-300/IS are 2 that come to mind although the later is slow (best used after f/8).

Quote:
Originally Posted by tsk1979 View Post
70-200L with 1.4x TC is also good buy you will loose a stop with the TC. No big deal since the 70-300 are F5.6 at the long end.
I am not sure if a canon will AF with a 1.4 TC and a 70-300/IS. The 70-300 is a bit soft at 200-300/5.6 you will need to stop it to f/11 to get adequate sharpness, adding a TC will make it slower still (so you will need bright sunlight).
navin is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks