Biggest "normal" lens

[enewmen]

Hi All.

I'm looking for a premium lens (fast & long FL).
The first lens I got my eye on is the 300mm F/2.8 - an awesome lens.
But those seem to require a gimbal head and I can't just carry it around my neck - like at the zoo.
So, what will be the biggest lens someone can reasonabily carry around without looking ridiculous or getting attention from authorities ? I am looking for fast and long (I know this means a HUGE lens), so zoom isn't necessary.

ok thanks!

 

[Rashkae]

Fast= large aperture. Long+fast = large lens elements.

The laws of physics and basic math will tell you that you cannot have the best of both worlds.

If you are willing to compromise on aperture, a lot is possible. You can get a 70-400mm, or a 500mm f/8 reflex lens, etc.

 

[willdoang]

200 f2.8L with 1.4x or 2x teleconverter

 

[Rashkae]

200 f2.8L with 1.4x or 2x teleconverter

Yeah but then you have image degradation and you lose the f/2.8 as the converter applies to aperture as well (in terms of loss of light).

So a 200mm f/2.8L with a 2x converter is 400mm f/5.6, and will likely have far worse image quality than getting a normal 70-400 with f/5.6 at 400mm.

 

[enewmen]

It seems a 300 f/2.8 is just too big without getting silly.
A teleconverter (like willdoang said) on a shorter lens may be necessary to get the reach.
I hope a 2x won't distort the image too much. I'll also look at a zoom lens like Rashkae said or a 400 f/5.6 fixed.
Just afraid a f/5.6 is too slow for night-safari.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Rashkae]

It seems a 300 f/2.8 is just too big without getting silly.
A teleconverter (like willdoang said) on a shorter lens may be necessary to get the reach.
I hope a 2x won't distort the image too much. I'll also look at a zoom lens like Rashkae said or a 400 f/5.6 fixed.
Just afraid a f/5.6 is too slow for night-safari.

Thanks for the replies!

Even a 300mm f/2.8 will give you problems in the night safari.

honestly? don't bring your gear to the night safari. Relax and enjoy. Not worth the hassle.

 

[enewmen]

Even a 300mm f/2.8 will give you problems in the night safari.

honestly? don't bring your gear to the night safari. Relax and enjoy. Not worth the hassle.

Yes, I agree and I should stop thinking to much.,
I have other reasons for a good lens other than night safari. But the way this conversation is going, I may just get a zoom lens for casual use. Later I'll get a huge lens & gimbal for when I really need it (birls, astronomy, etc)

 

[daredevil123]

Seriously, these lenses are anything but "normal".

 

[Diluted]

Seriously, these lenses are anything but "normal".

:bsmilie::bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[Diavonex]

Hi All.

I'm looking for a premium lens (fast & long FL).
The first lens I got my eye on is the 300mm F/2.8 - an awesome lens.
But those seem to require a gimbal head and I can't just carry it around my neck - like at the zoo.
So, what will be the biggest lens someone can reasonabily carry around without looking ridiculous or getting attention from authorities ? I am looking for fast and long (I know this means a HUGE lens), so zoom isn't necessary.

ok thanks!

It's better to refer to them as fast 300mm prime lens.

 

[enewmen]

It's better to refer to them as fast 300mm prime lens.

I learn something new every day.

 

[Rashkae]

It's better to refer to them as fast 300mm prime lens.

Yup I agree. A "normal" lens would be 50mm on full frame, 35mm on APS-C crop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_lens

 

[turtle-san]

Biggest lens so you would look intimidating? Oh well.

 

[Ben Ang]

Yup I agree. A "normal" lens would be 50mm on full frame, 35mm on APS-C crop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_lens

or 210mm on 4*5 LF =P

 

[catchlights]

the focal length of a normal lens is equivalent to the length of diagonal of the respective format, so a the focal length of a normal lens for 35mm film or full frame digital camera is 50mm.

or 210mm on 4*5 LF =P

correction, the focal length of a normal lens for 4x 5 camera is 150mm.
and for a 5X7 camera is 210mm.
and for a 8x10 camera is 300mm.


anyway, not sure what TS intend to shoot in the zoo, whether his is carrying a DSLR with 300mm f2.8 or 8x10 view camera with 300mm lens, surely it is not very normal, will get a lot of attention.

 

[Ben Ang]

the focal length of a normal lens is equivalent to the length of diagonal of the respective format, so a the focal length of a normal lens for 35mm film or full frame digital camera is 50mm.

correction, the focal length of a normal lens for 4x 5 camera is 150mm.
and for a 5X7 camera is 210mm.
and for a 8x10 camera is 300mm.


anyway, not sure what TS intend to shoot in the zoo, whether his is carrying a DSLR with 300mm f2.8 or 8x10 view camera with 300mm lens, surely it is not very normal, will get a lot of attention.

thanks! im making my own view camera and was wondering what format i should shoot.. whats 200 on 4*5?

 

[daredevil123]

thanks! im making my own view camera and was wondering what format i should shoot.. whats 200 on 4*5?

That would be a short tele.