What telephoto zoom lens should I consider

[isaiahbrink]

Originally Posted by Zakd

Hi,
I'm about to buy a new lens for my Canon350d.
I have several lens that are max with 70mm.
I would use it for animal distance shoting, birds, maybe some bigger insects and finally ofcourse for Portraits the most.....
So, I have some thoughts about buying one of the following lens:

first choice because of the IS and acceptable price is
Canon EF 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM
Other choices I was thinking of>
Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM:
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.2 DC OS HSM also with OS
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX DG/HSM Macro:
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM: too short I think but with IS
Sigma APO 70-200mm F 2.8 EX DG/HSM
Canon EF 70-200mm F4 L USM Zoom I heard great things about this one

I have never used such lens so all of your suggestions are more than welcome....
regards Zak

Hey Zak, from the sounds of it, probabbly your best bet is either the f/2.8 or f/4 70-200.

[PhotoDave1]

Originally Posted by Zakd

Hi and realy thanks for your reply....
For sure I do not want to impress anybody I just want to buy a lens that I will be satisfied with the photo I do in terms of sharpness, without distorsion, vigneting.... and I do not want to spend sooo much money....
Max that I can spend is for Canon 70-200 f4L. I think that I will stay with Canon Lens , my only doubt is should I go for 75-300 with IS if this is very important or I spend my money (hard saved) for Canon 70-200 f4L....

PS> Artforms> That is an excellent photo. I;m do not understand how you make such exellent exposure with such beautiful color... each of your image is apsolutely fantastic.... Did you use a fill in flach for this photo or it was just available light....
Thanks
regards Zak

Zak:

This is a follow-up post to the one I left on Sunday.

A lot of what you see in the fantastic images posted on this site and others is post-production work that is done in an imaging editing program like Photoshop.

In my opinion you don't need an IS lens. IS adds to the cost of a lens for a very marginal gain and also adds complecity to the lens and is just another thing that can go wrong when you absolutely do not need it.

As far as the lenses choices are concerned I am attaching a photo I took at my shoot on Sunday. The photo was taken with my Sigma 75-300mm F4-5.6 DG APO lens set to F5.6 at approx 180mm. The camera (Canon EOS 30D) had the sharpness and contrast parameters set to +1 for each parameter. I did minimal work to this image in Photoshop. Normally I would have added some Unsharp mask and possible some sort of Gaussian Blur to smooth the skin but I wanted you to see the image as pure as possible and fresh from my camera.

Remember that this photo was taken with a consumer lens costing approx $275.00 but I doubt very seriously that you will find any lens out there that can beat it dollar for dollar. Also keep in mind that any deficiencies in this image are the fault of the photographer and not of the lens. Good luck.