Telephoto Lens Recommendation

[-0MEGA-] · 11-09-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmymac

canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM

Had this lens for my 400D for nearly a year now and its been fantastiv, hopefully you can find it for the right price

I have that same exact one, excellent lens!

**mep916** · 11-10-2008, 06:40 AM

My wife was discussing a photography contest with me - a MySpace contest - so I asked her about the lens weight issue. She seems to believe that a heavy lens wouldn't be a problem, so I'm gonna eliminate that as a negative, or deciding factor.

The "F" value of the lens determines the distance that the lens can reach. Is that correct? So, if she wanted to take an up close shot of, say, a flower, a lens with a lower "F" value would be better. For a long distance shot, a higher F value is what you would want. Is that right?

**vroom_skies** · 11-10-2008, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mep916

My wife was discussing a photography contest with me - a MySpace contest - so I asked her about the lens weight issue. She seems to believe that a heavy lens wouldn't be a problem, so I'm gonna eliminate that as a negative, or deciding factor.

The "F" value of the lens determines the distance that the lens can reach. Is that correct? So, if she wanted to take an up close shot of, say, a flower, a lens with a lower "F" value would be better. For a long distance shot, a higher F value is what you would want. Is that right?

That's great to hear.
The F# or aperture setting is one function that determines the amount of light coming into the camera, as well as controlling the depth of field (DOF).

So the lower the F#, the better the lens is for low light shooting. So the Sigma 70-200 2.8 would be the best in that regard. However it doesn't have the extended reach of the Sigma 120-400. If it was up to me, I would say she would benefit more from the 120-400 for the sheer versatility of it, but your starting at 120mm, so you are missing the lower focal length with can be annoying.

**mep916** · 11-10-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vroom_skies

However it doesn't have the extended reach of the Sigma 120-400. If it was up to me, I would say she would benefit more from the 120-400 for the sheer versatility of it, but your starting at 120mm, so you are missing the lower focal length with can be annoying.

Okay, I think I see what you're saying. So, if I got the 120mm lens, she'd begin at 120mm, so, in some situations, that would make real up-close shots difficult? She'd easily be able to take long distance shots, but not as easily with shots where you really need to zoom in? Sorry, you'll have to forgive my ignorance here.

**vroom_skies** · 11-10-2008, 07:33 AM

Ha no problem man,

I'll just steal a link from google:
http://www.digitalartform.com/archiv...oto_and_w.html

Yup, the lens starts at 120mm, so she wont get anything below that.
See if this helps (pretend A-H is a physical distance, say 100 feet across):
A...B...C...D...E...F...G...H

With a lens in the wider focal lengths (lets take 18mm) you'll be able to fit all of A through H in the frame, however with a lens that starts at 120mm, you'll be lucky to fit just one or two letters in the frame. This is with standing at the same vantage point.

I really have no idea why I laid it out like that, just some weird urge. That's why I included the google link, to put pictures to ideas.

Hope that helped,
Bob

BTW- The minimal focal distance for the Sigma 120-400 is 4.9' (1.5 m).

**mep916** · 11-10-2008, 07:43 AM

Many thanks, Bob. I do understand what you're saying, I think. I'll read through the link you provided, and post back with more questions, if necessary.

**vroom_skies** · 11-10-2008, 07:49 AM

Ha, sounds good. I'm going to call it a night here, so I'll be here to help in the morning if no one beats me to it.

**mep916** · 11-10-2008, 07:50 AM

Thanks brotha

logies · 11-14-2008, 08:21 AM

my suggestion is if you want a lens that you don't care much about...theres always Ebay!

**mep916** · 11-18-2008, 12:59 AM

I'm about to pull the trigger on the Sigma.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sigma-120-400mm-...3A1|240%3A1318

At ebay, I can get $200 (25%) cash back with this Live Cashback promotion from Microsoft.

11-10-2008, 06:40 AM	#32 (permalink)
mep916 Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern Cali Age: 29 Posts: 7,744	My wife was discussing a photography contest with me - a MySpace contest - so I asked her about the lens weight issue. She seems to believe that a heavy lens wouldn't be a problem, so I'm gonna eliminate that as a negative, or deciding factor. The "F" value of the lens determines the distance that the lens can reach. Is that correct? So, if she wanted to take an up close shot of, say, a flower, a lens with a lower "F" value would be better. For a long distance shot, a higher F value is what you would want. Is that right? __________________ Core i7 920 @ 2.66 GHz \|\| Cooler Master V8 \|\| Foxconn BloodRage X58\|\| 896MB EVGA GTX 260 (55nm)\|\| 6GB G Skill DDR3 @ 1600MHz\|\| 2X 300GB WD Velociraptors (RAID 0) \|\| 1TB Hitachi Deskstar \|\| Cooler Master HAF 932 \|\| 620W Corsair HX PSU \|\| Windows 7 Ultimate/Vista Ultimate x64/Windows XP Pro FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND:F@H Team 44358 If you own a playstation, join our Social Group!

11-10-2008, 07:33 AM	#35 (permalink)
vroom_skies Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 2,574	Ha no problem man, I'll just steal a link from google: http://www.digitalartform.com/archiv...oto_and_w.html Yup, the lens starts at 120mm, so she wont get anything below that. See if this helps (pretend A-H is a physical distance, say 100 feet across): A...B...C...D...E...F...G...H With a lens in the wider focal lengths (lets take 18mm) you'll be able to fit all of A through H in the frame, however with a lens that starts at 120mm, you'll be lucky to fit just one or two letters in the frame. This is with standing at the same vantage point. I really have no idea why I laid it out like that, just some weird urge. That's why I included the google link, to put pictures to ideas. Hope that helped, Bob BTW- The minimal focal distance for the Sigma 120-400 is 4.9' (1.5 m). __________________ My Photography Website My Flickr Winner of the photography tournament theme: Flowers, Sunsets, Water Scapes, Blurs 2.0, Lightning/Fireworks, Vivid, Flowers in an Abstract Art Form, Waterways, PC Inurds, Most Confusing Image, Fire, Artificial lighting & Rocks. Last edited by vroom_skies; 11-10-2008 at 07:36 AM.

11-10-2008, 07:43 AM	#36 (permalink)
mep916 Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern Cali Age: 29 Posts: 7,744	Many thanks, Bob. I do understand what you're saying, I think. I'll read through the link you provided, and post back with more questions, if necessary. __________________ Core i7 920 @ 2.66 GHz \|\| Cooler Master V8 \|\| Foxconn BloodRage X58\|\| 896MB EVGA GTX 260 (55nm)\|\| 6GB G Skill DDR3 @ 1600MHz\|\| 2X 300GB WD Velociraptors (RAID 0) \|\| 1TB Hitachi Deskstar \|\| Cooler Master HAF 932 \|\| 620W Corsair HX PSU \|\| Windows 7 Ultimate/Vista Ultimate x64/Windows XP Pro FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND:F@H Team 44358 If you own a playstation, join our Social Group!

11-10-2008, 07:49 AM	#37 (permalink)
vroom_skies Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 2,574	Ha, sounds good. I'm going to call it a night here, so I'll be here to help in the morning if no one beats me to it. __________________ My Photography Website My Flickr Winner of the photography tournament theme: Flowers, Sunsets, Water Scapes, Blurs 2.0, Lightning/Fireworks, Vivid, Flowers in an Abstract Art Form, Waterways, PC Inurds, Most Confusing Image, Fire, Artificial lighting & Rocks.

11-10-2008, 07:50 AM	#38 (permalink)
mep916 Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern Cali Age: 29 Posts: 7,744	Thanks brotha __________________ Core i7 920 @ 2.66 GHz \|\| Cooler Master V8 \|\| Foxconn BloodRage X58\|\| 896MB EVGA GTX 260 (55nm)\|\| 6GB G Skill DDR3 @ 1600MHz\|\| 2X 300GB WD Velociraptors (RAID 0) \|\| 1TB Hitachi Deskstar \|\| Cooler Master HAF 932 \|\| 620W Corsair HX PSU \|\| Windows 7 Ultimate/Vista Ultimate x64/Windows XP Pro FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND:F@H Team 44358 If you own a playstation, join our Social Group!

11-14-2008, 08:21 AM	#39 (permalink)
logies Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 30	Telephoto Lens Recommendation my suggestion is if you want a lens that you don't care much about...theres always Ebay!

11-18-2008, 12:59 AM	#40 (permalink)
mep916 Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern Cali Age: 29 Posts: 7,744	I'm about to pull the trigger on the Sigma. http://cgi.ebay.com/Sigma-120-400mm-...3A1\|240%3A1318 At ebay, I can get $200 (25%) cash back with this Live Cashback promotion from Microsoft. __________________ Core i7 920 @ 2.66 GHz \|\| Cooler Master V8 \|\| Foxconn BloodRage X58\|\| 896MB EVGA GTX 260 (55nm)\|\| 6GB G Skill DDR3 @ 1600MHz\|\| 2X 300GB WD Velociraptors (RAID 0) \|\| 1TB Hitachi Deskstar \|\| Cooler Master HAF 932 \|\| 620W Corsair HX PSU \|\| Windows 7 Ultimate/Vista Ultimate x64/Windows XP Pro FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND:F@H Team 44358 If you own a playstation, join our Social Group! Last edited by mep916; 11-18-2008 at 01:04 AM.

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