Lens help

[BellePrincessBelle]

Ok photo folks I have a Canon T3 right now but I might upgrade to the 6D in the fall. Whether I upgrade or not I need advice on what lens I should buy to shoot wildlife in the national parks. I currently own the standard 18-55 kit lens, a 75-300 but it does not have IS, and a 50mm f/1.8. What would you suggest with a budget under $500? Thanks.

 

[bob100]

Ok photo folks I have a Canon T3 right now but I might upgrade to the 6D in the fall. Whether I upgrade or not I need advice on what lens I should buy to shoot wildlife in the national parks. I currently own the standard 18-55 kit lens, a 75-300 but it does not have IS, and a 50mm f/1.8. What would you suggest with a budget under $500? Thanks.

for wildlife like birds you're always going to want more focal length - 400mm, 500mm and unfortunately that will cost more than your budget however there are options -

Canon 55-250IS - $100 (used) - sharper than your 75-300 and it has IS
Sigma 150-500 OS - around $750 used
Sigma 120-400 OS -
Sigma 50-500 - different versions
Canon 70-300 - different versions start at $300
Canon 400mm - $900 used
Canon 100-400 - $1,100 (used)
Tamron 200- 500mm -
Tamron 70-300 - different versions, some start at $350 with rebate

See www.photozone.de for comparisons on these lens - sharpness, AF speed, image quality, etc.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

for wildlife like birds you're always going to want more focal length - 400mm, 500mm and unfortunately that will cost more than your budget however there are options -

Canon 55-250IS - $100 (used) - sharper than your 75-300 and it has IS
Sigma 150-500 OS - around $750 used
Sigma 120-400 OS -
Sigma 50-500 - different versions
Canon 70-300 - different versions start at $300
Canon 400mm - $900 used
Canon 100-400 - $1,100 (used)
Tamron 200- 500mm -
Tamron 70-300 - different versions, some start at $350 with rebate

See www.photozone.de for comparisons on these lens - sharpness, AF speed, image quality, etc.

Thank you! I will look at all of those. I'm more thinking moose, bears, ect. for wildlife.

 

[photo_chick]

The 70-200 f/4 comes in just over $500 used. It's not the greatest lens for wildlife, but it does blow the 75-300 out of the water image quality wise. That alone would let you crop in more when you need to.

 

[havoc315]

The Tamron 70-300 is exceptional and affordable.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Thank you both for the suggestions.

 

[cisobe]

If your going to upgrade to a 6d, be sure to only look at EF lenses. The 55-250 s mentioned previously is a ef-s lens and will not fit your 6d. The 6d is a full frame camera. Your 18-55 also will not work on the 6d so you will also need a walk around lens. If you get the 6d with the 24-105 kit lens, you'll have a very solid setup.

For wild life shots, you'll definitely need 300-400mm minimum. Sigma has some big zooms for full frame which are relatively affordable, but I believe they are slightly above your $500 limit. If 70-200 is enough for you, then the 70-200 f4 mentioned before is really sharp, and just about your $500 price range.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Thanks! I did not know some of my lenses were not compatible.

 

[photo_chick]

Keeping a future camera purchase in mind.. I'd suggest looking at a 7D or at the 70D when it comes out and see if they might fit what you need. The 6D is an awesome camera but not the best choice for wildlife photography. And I agree that you'll probably want to be looking at the 300mm+ lenses or lenses that work with an extender to get more reach if you go with a full frame body.

 

[cisobe]

I second the suggestion to look at a 7D or 70D. wait for reviews on the 70D as it supposedly has the same AF system as the 7D with an updated sensor which hopefully has better high iso and low light performance.

2 benefits for going with either the 7D or the 70D is that your EF-S lenses will still work with them, and the second benefit is that you get a little more "reach" with the crop sensors due to the 1.6x crop factor.

I upgraded from a 7D to a 5D3, and it takes a little while to adjust to the FOV change from a crop sensor to full frame. I do a lot of portraiture and event shooting so Full Frame made more sense for me. If I shot more sports or wildlife, I would have stuck with my 7D. I still have it, I just don't use it as much. Only as a backup body, or second body when i shoot events and need both wide and long at the same time.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Thank you all again for the suggestions. I normally photograph people not wildlife. I'm going to head to B&H this week.

 

[cisobe]

I usually shoot portraits or landscape/architecture so full frame really made sense for me (luckily my wife was also kind enough to agree to let me get it for my Xmas, birthday, father's day etc present). If you primarily shoot portraits, maybe the 6d makes sense. You can always rent longer lenses for your trip, but buy quality lenses for what you shoot most.

With that said, renting a 100-400mm for your trip with you 6d would work well.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I usually shoot portraits or landscape/architecture so full frame really made sense for me (luckily my wife was also kind enough to agree to let me get it for my Xmas, birthday, father's day etc present). If you primarily shoot portraits, maybe the 6d makes sense. You can always rent longer lenses for your trip, but buy quality lenses for what you shoot most.

With that said, renting a 100-400mm for your trip with you 6d would work well.

Thanks. I will look in to renting. I've never done that before and am a bit nervous about it.

 

[R o y]

Thanks. I will look in to renting. I've never done that before and am a bit nervous about it.

I rented a 100-400L IS for our vacation to Alaska , super lens, kept me a safe distance from the bears. Fast quiet focus so good for wildlife. I also rented a circular polarizer for this lens, I used it with my T2i so with the crop factor made it 160-640.