400mm lens & up

Hi
I'm interested in a lens of 400mm or more. I have a Canon 20D camera and am
now using a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I also use the 2X extender..
But I want to get a little bit more. I've looked at the Canon EF 100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS lens @ about $1,500.00 (which is my price limit) and was very
much impressed. However, I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, $1000.00
Sigma 170 -500mm DG APO Asph, $770.00
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF, $780.00
Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ATX Pro "D", $550.00
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00
I am hoping that anyone who has used and is familiar with any of these
lenses would favor me with an opinion.
Thank you in advance.
Jim

"ji" jimpict.comcast.net wrote in message
. ..
Hi
I'm interested in a lens of 400mm or more. I have a Canon 20D camera and
am
now using a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I also use the 2X
extender..
But I want to get a little bit more. I've looked at the Canon EF
100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS lens @ about $1,500.00 (which is my price limit) and was
very
much impressed. However, I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, $1000.00
Sigma 170 -500mm DG APO Asph, $770.00
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF, $780.00
Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ATX Pro "D", $550.00
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00
I am hoping that anyone who has used and is familiar with any of these
lenses would favor me with an opinion.
Thank you in advance.
Jim



The only one I can comment on is the Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM -
I've taken some lovely pictures with this lens. However, it has some serious
limitations - primarily the fact that it's virtually impossible to handhold
effectively (surprise surprise!!), has a small maximum aperture at longer
lengths and extends when it zooms. Build quality is also an issue - the
locking mechanism on mine is broken. However, image quality has always
surpassed my expectations, given what this lens does and how much it costs.
I still use it occassionally.
Cheers

"ji" jimpict.comcast.net wrote in message
. ..
Hi
I'm interested in a lens of 400mm or more. I have a Canon 20D camera and
am
now using a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I also use the 2X
extender..
But I want to get a little bit more. I've looked at the Canon EF
100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS lens @ about $1,500.00 (which is my price limit) and was
very
much impressed. However, I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, $1000.00
Sigma 170 -500mm DG APO Asph, $770.00
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF, $780.00
Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ATX Pro "D", $550.00
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00
I am hoping that anyone who has used and is familiar with any of these
lenses would favor me with an opinion.
Thank you in advance.

Jim

Hi Jim,

I have the Canon EF400mmL f5.6 and love it. Of course, I guess it depends on
what you want to photograph, but it is known as one of the best (if not THE
best) bird lenses out there. I find the photos come out great, even
hand-held. I also use it with my Canon 20D. The 100-400 you mention is
perhaps a little more versatile by virtue of the different focal lengths,
but I'm really happy with the 400mm. The other lenses you mention may be
cheaper, but remember you get what you pay for, and although 500mm is the
maximum in the Sigma/Tamron lenses I doubt the quality would be there at
that focal length.
If you email me at I could email you back some
sample photos I've taken.

Cheers,
Paul

"ji" jimpict.comcast.net wrote in message
. ..
Hi
snip
I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00
snip
Jim

Wow, thats a lot of lens for not a lot of money. I can't see it being any
good or Canon would go out of business pretty quickly!

Having said that for that price it could be a great toy

"ji" jimpict.comcast.net wrote in message
. ..
Hi
I'm interested in a lens of 400mm or more. I have a Canon 20D camera and
am
now using a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I also use the 2X
extender..
But I want to get a little bit more. I've looked at the Canon EF
100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS lens @ about $1,500.00 (which is my price limit) and was
very
much impressed. However, I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, $1000.00
Sigma 170 -500mm DG APO Asph, $770.00
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF, $780.00
Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ATX Pro "D", $550.00
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00


The Quantaray appears to be f/9.9 to f/16, and uses a T-ring adapter. No
autofocus. Better have a good tripod. I've never seen any reviews of the
lens, but as with anything else you pretty much get what you pay for.
I've read a lot of good things about the Sigma 50-500 on the dpreview.com
forums. Sigma also makes an optically stabilized 80-400 f/4-5.6 which has
decent image quality.

Mark

ji wrote:
Hi
I'm interested in a lens of 400mm or more. I have a Canon 20D camera and am
now using a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I also use the 2X extender..
But I want to get a little bit more. I've looked at the Canon EF 100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS lens @ about $1,500.00 (which is my price limit) and was very
much impressed. However, I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, $1000.00
Sigma 170 -500mm DG APO Asph, $770.00
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF, $780.00
Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ATX Pro "D", $550.00
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00
I am hoping that anyone who has used and is familiar with any of these
lenses would favor me with an opinion.
Thank you in advance.
Jim

Jim,
I stared with a 100-300, then 75-300 IS canon zoom, migrated to a sigma 170-500,
then a 100-400 L IS, and none were very good in my opinion.
I assume you want the lens for either sports or wildlife or both.

The 75-300, and 100-400 are not that much different in my experience,
and the sigma 170-500 is sharper. There has apparently been some
quality issues with 100-400 lenses. For example mine is not sharp
at 400 but others get sharper results. This has been discussed by
Art Morris in his bird photography newsletters.

A larger problem with the 100-400 is the back of the lens is not sealed,
so as you zoom it, air (along with dust) is pumped in and out of the
lens. Not good for DSLRs.

I finally found good sharp results when abandoning telephoto zoom
lenses. I recommend for beginning wildlife photographers a
300 mm f/4 L IS (or Nikon's equivalent for the Nikon owners; not
sure about other manufacturers) with a 1.4x TC. That gives you
420 mm at f/5.6 with IS and autofocus.

The Canon 400 f/5.6 L is reportedly very sharp and has the fastest
autofocus of any canon lens according to pro bird photographer
Art Morris. It is one of his favorite lenses for bird flight
imaging. I wish it had IS, as I find many situations where light
is low and IS helps.

So either the 400 f/5.6 L or the 300 f/4 L IS are great starter lenses.

Forget any combination slower than f/5.6 as you will lose autofocus
with your camera, or at best it will be slow and less accurate.

This is an image done with the 300 f/4 + 1/4x TC:
http://www.clarkvision.com/galleries...962.b-700.html

I take the 300 whenever I need to travel lighter compared to
taking my 500 f/4 L IS, which is the ideal lens for wildlife.

Roger
Photos, digital info at: http://www.clarkvision.com

"ji" jimpict.comcast.net a écrit dans le message de news:
...
Hi
I'm interested in a lens of 400mm or more. I have a Canon 20D camera and
am
now using a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, I also use the 2X
extender..
But I want to get a little bit more. I've looked at the Canon EF
100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS lens @ about $1,500.00 (which is my price limit) and was
very
much impressed. However, I've seen other lens listed with higher focal
lengths for a little less money. Such as the following:-
***Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, $1000.00

*** I am very much pleased with this lens.
You have to tolerate the weight, though... But he weight helps stability, I
am sure!
http://baron.phpnet.us/50-500/index....xif=Y&page=all

The 50-500 range is much versatile, so you don't need exchanging lens in
moving situations:
http://baron.phpnet.us/rythmes/index.htm?size=1&exif=Y

Only one drawback, some vignetting but only at 500mm wide open. Easily
correctible by software.

Hope this helps...

Mike



Sigma 170 -500mm DG APO Asph, $770.00
Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD IF, $780.00
Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ATX Pro "D", $550.00
Quantaray 600-1000mm zoom lens. $350.00
I am hoping that anyone who has used and is familiar with any of these
lenses would favor me with an opinion.
Thank you in advance.
Jim

Saguenay wrote:

The 50-500 range is much versatile, so you don't need exchanging lens in
moving situations:
http://baron.phpnet.us/rythmes/index.htm?size=1&exif=Y

Only one drawback, some vignetting but only at 500mm wide open. Easily
correctible by software.

2nd drawback: And its not very sharp.

The larger the zoom range, the more compromises that must be made
in its design. Above 3x and you lose rapidly.

Roger

"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" a écrit
dans le message de news: ...
Saguenay wrote:

The 50-500 range is much versatile, so you don't need exchanging lens in
moving situations:
http://baron.phpnet.us/rythmes/index.htm?size=1&exif=Y

Only one drawback, some vignetting but only at 500mm wide open. Easily
correctible by software.

2nd drawback: And its not very sharp.

The larger the zoom range, the more compromises that must be made
in its design. Above 3x and you lose rapidly.

Roger


Yes it IS sharp.
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/50_500_4_63_ex_dghsm

Saguenay wrote:
"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" a écrit
dans le message de news: ...
Saguenay wrote:

The 50-500 range is much versatile, so you don't need exchanging lens in
moving situations:
http://baron.phpnet.us/rythmes/index.htm?size=1&exif=Y

Only one drawback, some vignetting but only at 500mm wide open. Easily
correctible by software.
2nd drawback: And its not very sharp.

The larger the zoom range, the more compromises that must be made
in its design. Above 3x and you lose rapidly.

Roger

Yes it IS sharp.
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/50_500_4_63_ex_dghsm

You've shown it makes nice 500 x 800 pixel images; most consumer
zooms will do that.
How about showing some 100% crops, including some with tough lighting
situations? That's where you see the difference between fixed
focal length lenses and zooms, and that is what makes the difference
in impressive enlargements. If you only want to show
small web images, then consumer zooms are fine.

Roger