Lens upgrade suggestions please

**WhiteD3** · 18th October 2010, 04:04 PM

Time for an upgrade me thinks. I have a Canon 500D with a Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 which I love and a Canon kit lens EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS.

What I want, without spending a bucket load, is a longer lens (say up to 300mm) while keeping zoom capability and stepping up in quality from the kit lens.

Currently considering getting both the following:
Canon EF 70-300 f4.5-5.6 DO IS USM ($1202 at DWI)
Canon - EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

with a

Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 USM ($1324 at DWI)
Canon - EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

The Canon/Nikon argument aside, I'd welcome any comment and suggestions re these lens, alternatives, and how to select lens' to cover the range of say 20-300mm. ~$2k is about all I can justify right now.

Cheers.

**Chucaro** · 18th October 2010, 04:17 PM

Perhaps one of the best lens up to 300mm with IS is the Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM which works fantastic with a 1.4 converter and not to bad with a X2.

I have a friend who is a very good avian photographer and his images with a 30D and the 300 are excellent.
Have a look his page HERE

**mowog** · 18th October 2010, 05:11 PM

Move the 18-200 on and have a look at a Tamron 18-270.

Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

**KarlB** · 18th October 2010, 05:52 PM

Have you thought about the CANON 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (~$1800) combined with the CANON EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (~$1100)? Both excellent lenses.

Cheers
KarlB

**blitz** · 24th October 2010, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by KarlB

Have you thought about the CANON 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (~$1800) combined with the CANON EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (~$1100)? Both excellent lenses.

Cheers
KarlB

as you already have a 10 - 24mm that would set out your range very well

**WhiteD3** · 24th October 2010, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by KarlB

Have you thought about the CANON 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (~$1800) combined with the CANON EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM (~$1100)? Both excellent lenses.

Cheers
KarlB

Well over my budget but tempting all the same. My concern with the 100-400mm is its weight attached to the 500D.

Oh...and DWI now have the 100-400 for $1600 and the 24-105 for $950!!

**KarlB** · 24th October 2010, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

Well over my budget but tempting all the same. My concern with the 100-400mm is its weight attached to the 500D.

Oh...and DWI now have the 100-400 for $1600 and the 24-105 for $950!!

With the new DWI prices, that is only $24 more than you were originally proposing to pay for the other lens combo. But jibes aside, I more than understand, quality lens are bloody expensive. You wont enjoy them as much as you should if you are feeling guilty.

Cheers
KarlB

**Cap** · 24th October 2010, 08:59 AM

Ill second KarlB on this one, spend the little extra as the prices are fantastic!

And then you will have a long lens for birding

**C0L0N3L** · 24th October 2010, 10:51 AM

What do you want to shoot?

if your just getting the lenses to cover the gap in your range your probably getting them for the wrong reason and will probably end up disapointed... if you find your self using only 1 of those lenses most of the time... or even a particular mm

Like I have my 80-200 2.8.. its awesome i love it.. but I could replace it with a 85 and 200 prime and not miss the range in between. (exclude the fact that 85 and 200mm primes are worth around 6x more than my 80-200..)

I know you said you like the range.. but I think you should see if you really use it and if your prepared to sacrifice convenience for quality.

anyway.. id probably go the 70-200 2.8, 50 1.4 and 24 2.8

**tailslide** · 24th October 2010, 12:42 PM

I would recommend trying on each lens before you buy.

I also have the 500D and was looking for a decent lens that I could carry around all day. I tried my mate's 70-200 f2.8L IS USM but found it too heavy (he matched it with a 5D and that was one heavy rig...).

In the end I went for the 70-200 f4L IS USM and the Extender EF 1.4x II and am very happy with it. The 70-200 is a sharper lens than the 100-300 or 100-400, just depends on what you are looking for in a lens.

My other lens is a 17-40 f4 L USM which is a good walk about lens but some times I wish I had purchased the 28-70 f2.8L for a bit more reach. My next lens purchase will be the 50mm f1.4, very cheap for a good quality lens.

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