which arsenal will u buy

user111 · 11th December 2004

hey dudes, over some time i have consolidated $5k to throw on long lenses. (yeah it was hard work to get this far, dont ask me how nor flame me for allegedly trying to show-off, i just wanna hear what lenses u folks will choose with that pile of cash) below are the choice of arsenal; if u were in my shoes which would u buy:

1. EF 300/2.8L @$3900 - the one on TCW's display

2. EF 70-200/2.8L grey @$1650 from TCW plus EF 400/5.6L non-grey @$2000 from john3:16

3. any other L combo (pls specify)

just wanna get other opinions to ponder thru (there's a chance i may not spend all too), thanks

nickmak · 11th December 2004

Originally Posted by user111

hey dudes, over some time i have consolidated $5k to throw on long lenses. (yeah it was hard work to get this far, dont ask me how nor flame me for allegedly trying to show-off, i just wanna hear what lenses u folks will choose with that pile of cash) below are the choice of arsenal; if u were in my shoes which would u buy:

1. EF 300/2.8L @$3900 - the one on TCW's display

2. EF 70-200/2.8L grey @$1650 from TCW plus EF 400/5.6L non-grey @$2000 from john3:16

3. any other L combo (pls specify)

just wanna get other opinions to ponder thru (there's a chance i may not spend all too), thanks

What do you wanna shoot? If I had $5000 to throw around, I'd get myself a Sigma EX 500mm f4.5 for the money, because I know its a good alternative to the other birding lenses...

agape01 · 11th December 2004

If you are using a 20D, I would recommend the 300/2.8L USM. However, there are only two things that you have to take note of if you decide to buy that lens. The two things are that it weighs about 3kg and doesn't have got IS. That might be difficult for most people.

But if you aren't using that camera, I would recommend the 70-200IS. That is really good for most photography work. Except sports, wildlife and nature shoots.

user111 · 11th December 2004

Originally Posted by nickmak

What do you wanna shoot?

oh ya forgot about this, thanks nick..mmm i take pix of anything under the sun..alot of hobby art, public events where we can shoot from the sidelines, friends/buddies informal gatherings, help frens/relatives cover actual day wedding alongside the appointed pro, company functions, got frens here and there who are fulltime photogs and once a while i chip in help them here and there (they use canon so i aso use canon.. easier, hehe!) basically a lot of mixbag stuff . yups..like what agape mentoned..the sheer weight of the 300mm...even though i am fit enough to carry it and use it to shoot about for a whole day, its still kinda deterring me for quite a bit cos its like i have n problem charging around the jungle in FBO but would rather go about the misson n SBO only

ST1100 · 11th December 2004

Maybe you want to tell us what you already have...? So that the suggestions will complement instead of duplicate.

user111 · 11th December 2004

-one 17-35/2.8L ("sold" to my close friend but bought back from him again

)
-body still deciding..
-"550 EX" : the seller may call me up next week to deal, if not can hunt slowly for it

theITguy · 11th December 2004

Sigma's 120-300/2.8 with Canon's 1.4x and 2x extender? Heard some good thigns with this len but support can be a problem with newer cameras (who knows what Canon might do to stop you using it with their cameras).

AntZ · 11th December 2004

I second to sigma 500/4.5 if it's really below 5K. If you can cary 300mm/2.8, I dont see any reason why you cannot carry 500/4.5. Plus 1.4x, AF could be faster than 300/2.8+2X.

szekiat · 11th December 2004

i'd look around for a used 400mm f2.8 with a 1.4x converter. Should be around 5.5k, only a bit more. I just tried the sigma today over here and its not as great as so many ppl claim. The AF is rather sluggish. DO NOT GET THE 800mm f5.6. It is so soft at anything below f11. Not even center sharpness. Was trying out the 2 lenses today.

xl1 · 11th December 2004

get 200mm f/1.8, u will happy with the result, i stack with 1.4 or 2x tele, result is still brilliant!

300mm at TCW have some optics problem at the middle i think, buy at ur own risk.

nickmak · 12th December 2004

Originally Posted by szekiat

i'd look around for a used 400mm f2.8 with a 1.4x converter. Should be around 5.5k, only a bit more. I just tried the sigma today over here and its not as great as so many ppl claim. The AF is rather sluggish. DO NOT GET THE 800mm f5.6. It is so soft at anything below f11. Not even center sharpness. Was trying out the 2 lenses today.

Where'd you test the Sigma 500mm f4.5?

Virgo · 12th December 2004

For your purpose, I think the 70-200 2.8 L IS U is more than sufficient for you. Save the rest for other things.

Originally Posted by user111

oh ya forgot about this, thanks nick..mmm i take pix of anything under the sun..alot of hobby art, public events where we can shoot from the sidelines, friends/buddies informal gatherings, help frens/relatives cover actual day wedding alongside the appointed pro, company functions, got frens here and there who are fulltime photogs and once a while i chip in help them here and there (they use canon so i aso use canon.. easier, hehe!) basically a lot of mixbag stuff . yups..like what agape mentoned..the sheer weight of the 300mm...even though i am fit enough to carry it and use it to shoot about for a whole day, its still kinda deterring me for quite a bit cos its like i have n problem charging around the jungle in FBO but would rather go about the misson n SBO only

nickmak · 12th December 2004

Originally Posted by user111

oh ya forgot about this, thanks nick..mmm i take pix of anything under the sun..alot of hobby art, public events where we can shoot from the sidelines, friends/buddies informal gatherings, help frens/relatives cover actual day wedding alongside the appointed pro, company functions, got frens here and there who are fulltime photogs and once a while i chip in help them here and there (they use canon so i aso use canon.. easier, hehe!) basically a lot of mixbag stuff . yups..like what agape mentoned..the sheer weight of the 300mm...even though i am fit enough to carry it and use it to shoot about for a whole day, its still kinda deterring me for quite a bit cos its like i have n problem charging around the jungle in FBO but would rather go about the misson n SBO only

Since you do those type of photography, the best combo IMO is the 24-70L and a 70-200L (IS or non-IS). Those focal lengths will get you 98% of your shots. Or you could go for the 2nd generation 28-70L which is still a great lens.

Or...

Get a body, a walkabout lens (28-135 IS USM perhaps? Or 24-70L) and use the rest of the money to use on lots of memory cards and a nice dinner with your friends and family?

szekiat · 12th December 2004

nickmak: I'm in the uk, so thats where i tested it.
If you're only gonna shoot events and stuff, i'd go for the 70-200 and a 16-35. It'll cover most of what u need. If u still have spare cash left over, go get a 1.4x and a 50mm f1.4 and you're set!

user111 · 12th December 2004

hmm. alot of ideas now. good advise dudes. thanks!

lhjz · 12th December 2004

300/2.8 stacking 2x or 1.4x or double stack still looks good...
handheld at 1/90 is not a problem at all ... tack sharp

hav tried it on 10D and D30.... results is excellent

sequitur · 12th December 2004

dudes.. i believe he did say he's more inclined for events.. i seriously don't think anything above 200mm is useful for a wedding or any event.. you may have $5k to burn, but i will still advice you to think wisely of what you need and what you want first. no point saving $5k and spending money on a 500mm lens that will be sitting in the drybox all the time and you'll never use. (or rarely use, for that matter.)

some lenses are probably like "good to have" but seldom used. for me that would be the 70-200 range - good to have, seldom used, esp if you're using the 10-series dSLRs - with a 1.6x crop the range is good for reach, but when you're up close you're missing lots of stuff. however it's the kind of range that when you definitely need something in the range of 70-200, it will perform, for e.g. stage events. (and yes it will perform well.)

as for anything above 300mm, unless you're a wildlife shooter and all, and you know that you will be using anything above that range, fair enough, go for the extra range. bear in mind that with current IS technology, it's more reasonable to get a lens with IS than without, probably just a way to get more keepers. of course good handholding technique is a must, but i'd say even a strong man would find problems holding a 5kg lens for too long.

my advice (since you sound as if you haven't got a body), get a dSLR body and get used to the crop factor first before you plunge too deep into lenses. if you already have one, then decide what you really need to shoot, then spend money on it. unless you derive satisfaction from owning a long lens, that's a completely different issue (yes i'd probably derive satisfaction from owning a long white lens too, but financial status and practicability overrides a lot of these thoughts.)

all the best !

11th December 2004	#1
user111 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,719	which arsenal will u buy hey dudes, over some time i have consolidated $5k to throw on long lenses. (yeah it was hard work to get this far, dont ask me how nor flame me for allegedly trying to show-off, i just wanna hear what lenses u folks will choose with that pile of cash) below are the choice of arsenal; if u were in my shoes which would u buy: 1. EF 300/2.8L @$3900 - the one on TCW's display 2. EF 70-200/2.8L grey @$1650 from TCW plus EF 400/5.6L non-grey @$2000 from john3:16 3. any other L combo (pls specify) just wanna get other opinions to ponder thru (there's a chance i may not spend all too), thanks

11th December 2004	#10
xl1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Under the Son Posts: 2,598	get 200mm f/1.8, u will happy with the result, i stack with 1.4 or 2x tele, result is still brilliant! 300mm at TCW have some optics problem at the middle i think, buy at ur own risk. __________________ www.ubans.com

12th December 2004	#16
lhjz Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: homeless Posts: 888	300/2.8 stacking 2x or 1.4x or double stack still looks good... handheld at 1/90 is not a problem at all ... tack sharp hav tried it on 10D and D30.... results is excellent __________________ www.jzsfotografix.com

11th December 2004	#3
agape01 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Somewhere Out There Posts: 2,269	If you are using a 20D, I would recommend the 300/2.8L USM. However, there are only two things that you have to take note of if you decide to buy that lens. The two things are that it weighs about 3kg and doesn't have got IS. That might be difficult for most people. But if you aren't using that camera, I would recommend the 70-200IS. That is really good for most photography work. Except sports, wildlife and nature shoots.

11th December 2004	#5
ST1100 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Singapore, Bedok Posts: 1,801	Maybe you want to tell us what you already have...? So that the suggestions will complement instead of duplicate.

11th December 2004	#7
theITguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In this small world Posts: 2,042	Sigma's 120-300/2.8 with Canon's 1.4x and 2x extender? Heard some good thigns with this len but support can be a problem with newer cameras (who knows what Canon might do to stop you using it with their cameras).

11th December 2004	#8
AntZ Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 280	I second to sigma 500/4.5 if it's really below 5K. If you can cary 300mm/2.8, I dont see any reason why you cannot carry 500/4.5. Plus 1.4x, AF could be faster than 300/2.8+2X.

11th December 2004	#9
szekiat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 2,378	i'd look around for a used 400mm f2.8 with a 1.4x converter. Should be around 5.5k, only a bit more. I just tried the sigma today over here and its not as great as so many ppl claim. The AF is rather sluggish. DO NOT GET THE 800mm f5.6. It is so soft at anything below f11. Not even center sharpness. Was trying out the 2 lenses today.

12th December 2004	#17
sequitur Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,831	dudes.. i believe he did say he's more inclined for events.. i seriously don't think anything above 200mm is useful for a wedding or any event.. you may have $5k to burn, but i will still advice you to think wisely of what you need and what you want first. no point saving $5k and spending money on a 500mm lens that will be sitting in the drybox all the time and you'll never use. (or rarely use, for that matter.) some lenses are probably like "good to have" but seldom used. for me that would be the 70-200 range - good to have, seldom used, esp if you're using the 10-series dSLRs - with a 1.6x crop the range is good for reach, but when you're up close you're missing lots of stuff. however it's the kind of range that when you definitely need something in the range of 70-200, it will perform, for e.g. stage events. (and yes it will perform well.) as for anything above 300mm, unless you're a wildlife shooter and all, and you know that you will be using anything above that range, fair enough, go for the extra range. bear in mind that with current IS technology, it's more reasonable to get a lens with IS than without, probably just a way to get more keepers. of course good handholding technique is a must, but i'd say even a strong man would find problems holding a 5kg lens for too long. my advice (since you sound as if you haven't got a body), get a dSLR body and get used to the crop factor first before you plunge too deep into lenses. if you already have one, then decide what you really need to shoot, then spend money on it. unless you derive satisfaction from owning a long lens, that's a completely different issue (yes i'd probably derive satisfaction from owning a long white lens too, but financial status and practicability overrides a lot of these thoughts.) all the best !