lenze help

[308ME]

 ? what is a good lenze for wildlife photos I have taken some nice photos over the years but nothing to special cheep cameras so on so on. this year for X-mas the wife got me a camera nothing pro but what i would consider very nice. it's a canon T2i and it dose more thing then i thought a camera could do. so now i want to take some better photos and have beem told i will need a better lenze then what came with the camera. looking for some help from those who have been there done that.

[jyerxa]

You can get a 70-300 mm for a good price just to get started. That's all I got. Yeah I'd like bigger better more, but it is big bucks after that. You can rent them too if you want to play around before you buy.

And this is a good time of year to look around too. I know mine was knocked down $100 bucks if not more when I got it. I made a killing! Might have been $200 no more though. DSLR's are like any other digital device, last years is obsolete and they need to make room for this years models. Just a little tip.

[Huntbear]

Borrowlenses.com is awesome to try lenses.   I am thinking about renting the Sigma 50 - 500 lens.  I have heard nothing but good things about it.   To buy it is about 2 grand, if I remember right.

I run a 70-300 on my Canon for what I normally do.

[White Tornado]

The Canon T2I is a GREAT camera!!! Congrats on an awesome christmas gift!!
Just my opinion but I think you will find that the Canon kit lenses that came with your T2I have the ability to take some really good quality images. Master the technical aspects of taking pics with the new camera and lenses you have, get a good photo editing program for your post production work and you will be really pleased with what that camera and the kit lenses can do. In the mean time, read a lot of reviews for some of the better quality Canon lenses that you might want to aquire and after you have narrowed down what your looking for take the advice from the other posts and rent one for a weekend.   

[grandpawrichard]

The Canon T2I is a GREAT camera!!! Congrats on an awesome christmas gift!!
Just my opinion but I think you will find that the Canon kit lenses that came with your T2I have the ability to take some really good quality images. Master the technical aspects of taking pics with the new camera and lenses you have, get a good photo editing program for your post production work and you will be really pleased with what that camera and the kit lenses can do. In the mean time, read a lot of reviews for some of the better quality Canon lenses that you might want to aquire and after you have narrowed down what your looking for take the advice from the other posts and rent one for a weekend.   

I definitely Agree with you on the Canon T2I camera and the kit lenses!  Also, I agree with learning to use the camera and for learning the aspects of taking photos! That camera and lenses are capable of taking spectacular, Award winning photos IF The Photographer does his part!

Dick

[huntnphool]

 Don't buy new, only buy quality glass and you will be way better off. Start with a 70-200, if you can afford a little extra get it with IS. 70-200 f4 can be found for $450, with IS it can be found for $850. 70-200 2.8 can be found around $900 and with IS about $1400.

 Add a 1.4X and you will lose a stop of light but be out over 300mm, that should get you loads of quality wildlife pics without breaking the bank.

 Use those while saving for a longer lens and you will likely be able to sell them for the same amount you paid, but having played with them the whole time.

[huntnphool]

 Here you go 308, these were with a 70-200 f/4 IS, the bird shots were with a 1.4X added.

 If you click on each image you will see the non compressed version.

[jyerxa]

Those are excellent quality photos. Much better than my 70-300mm. I'd listen to huntnphool's advice.


Well................................. before I say that, I would like to take photo for photo, light for light. Tripods enabled perhaps. ISO settings. Most of the time I take snap shots. When I spend the time to set up my camera I can take some excellent photos too.

You have found an excellent gift under your Christmas tree that should create lasting memories. Have fun first and for most. Play with it like a kid with a new toy, experiment with it. Learning will take over with out your noticing. 

[Wazukie]

The only problem I see with your new camera is that it is not a Nikon   Take the advice given here about the lens.  I think the most important part of photog is to learn your camera(even if it is a Canon) and learn the fundamentals of photography.  Shoot lots of pictures and enjoy God's creation doing it.

[quadrafire]

Don't buy new, only buy quality glass and you will be way better off. Start with a 70-200, if you can afford a little extra get it with IS. 70-200 f4 can be found for $450, with IS it can be found for $850. 70-200 2.8 can be found around $900 and with IS about $1400.

 Add a 1.4X and you will lose a stop of light but be out over 300mm, that should get you loads of quality wildlife pics without breaking the bank.

 Use those while saving for a longer lens and you will likely be able to sell them for the same amount you paid, but having played with them the whole time.

 
That is what I did 70-200 f4 IS w/ 1.4x extender

[teal101]

Don't buy new, only buy quality glass and you will be way better off. Start with a 70-200, if you can afford a little extra get it with IS. 70-200 f4 can be found for $450, with IS it can be found for $850. 70-200 2.8 can be found around $900 and with IS about $1400.

 Add a 1.4X and you will lose a stop of light but be out over 300mm, that should get you loads of quality wildlife pics without breaking the bank.

 Use those while saving for a longer lens and you will likely be able to sell them for the same amount you paid, but having played with them the whole time.

The only issue with this is you're over $1000 for the IS with the extender.  You lose AF as soon as you hit f/5.6 which is immediate with the 1.4x.

I'll be getting the Tamron 70-300mm. it can be had for right around $300 and is a great lens for the price.  I'll use it until I can stomach an L lens' price tag

[huntnphool]

  You lose AF as soon as you hit f/5.6 which is immediate with the 1.4x.

 Um....no you don't. Before making suggestions to a guy you should make sure you know what you are talking about.

[boneaddict]

Phools advise is sound.  70-200 2.8 is one of the best lens out there.   It does come with a price tag.

The 100-400 Canon is even a better choice over that Tamron in my opinion.  You can argue its sharpness and utilization all you want, but for the money its a damn good wildlife starter lens.

[popeshawnpaul]

I'd buy the 300mm F4 L IS if it were me looking only for a wildlife lens.  If you want a family/sport/wildlife lens, then the 70-200 in any flavor with a 1.4x on makes more sense for the versatility.  You only lose autofocus at F8 with a non 1 series camera (except for new 1Dx) so no 2x on an F4 lens if you have a crop camera and want autofocus.  A 1.4x is fine.  Or just get a cheap 1D2 and have autofocus at F8. 

[Huntbear]

Phool,

Is this the lens you are talking about? 

http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/For_Sale/Canon_EF_70-200mm_f4_IS

[huntnphool]

 Thats the f/4 version yes. You should also try www.lensrentals.com I have used them on large lenses several times, they are awesome. Every lens I have ever recieved from them looked and functioned like brand new. You place your order, letting them know the dates you need it, it shows up at your house a day or two before with a prepaid postage stamp for return. Put it back in the box, tape shut, put on return label supplied and drop off at UPS/FED EX whichever they used, and you are done.

 Like Bone said, the 100-400 is a fun lens too. Although not real sharp at f/5.6 it does get you decent shots and gives you a little more reach.

 I agree with Pope too, the 300mm is a great wildlife lens but you will pay a little more for it than the 70-200. I guess it all comes down to how much you are willing to pay.

 Certainly there are cheaper ways to go but as I said, if you stick with one of these lenses and get it pre owned, you can use it for a while while saving more $, and sell it down the road for about the same amount you pay for it.

[boneaddict]

That statement could not ring truer when buying glass

I guess it all comes down to how much you are willing to pay.

[huntnphool]

That statement could not ring truer when buying glass

I guess it all comes down to how much you are willing to pay.

 Or in your and Popes case, glass and a trailer to tow it with.

[teal101]

  You lose AF as soon as you hit f/5.6 which is immediate with the 1.4x.

 Um....no you don't. Before making suggestions to a guy you should make sure you know what you are talking about.

This is completely contradictory to everything I've been reading in regards to my zoom lens purchase, but I dont have first hand experience with it so I'll take your word for it.

[huntnphool]

 Teal, is your lens f/4 or faster?

[teal101]

Teal, is your lens f/4 or faster?

f/4-5.6

I dont have it yet, just weighing my options for an introductory zoom lens that I wont have to sell an organ for.   It;s the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD for the Canon.

[popeshawnpaul]

That 70-300 lens is an f5.6 lens.  If you put a 1.4x on it, it becomes an f8 lens.  f8 won't work on a non 1 series camera for autofocus. 

The lens they are talking about is a 70-200 f4, so putting a 1.4x on it makes it an f5.6 which will focus with any Canon camera.

All decent options start at about $1000.

[teal101]

That 70-300 lens is an f5.6 lens.  If you put a 1.4x on it, it becomes an f8 lens.  f8 won't work on a non 1 series camera for autofocus. 

The lens they are talking about is a 70-200 f4, so putting a 1.4x on it makes it an f5.6 which will focus with any Canon camera.

All decent options start at about $1000.

Probably where I was confused.  Thanks for the clarification. 

[grandpawrichard]

Phool,

Is this the lens you are talking about? 

http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/For_Sale/Canon_EF_70-200mm_f4_IS

Huntbear,
I own one of these lenses and I'll happily tell you that it is an Awesome Lens! My lens does not have the IS, but I have never missed a shot with it and I love to use it. It's a great walk about lens too due to not being to darned heavy.
Currently my wife is using the 70-200 lens every time she goes out on photo taking trips with me, so I don't get to use it very much. I'm forced to use the 400 f4 L.

Dick