Which is a good and affordable long lens?


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Tamron 55-200mm is excellent. Sharp and very vibrant colors. Focusing slow but very accurate and consistent. Also amazingly small and light for the range well suited for street candids.
 

Cyanwater

if you're starting out with telephotos, I'd recommend the Canon 75-300mm USM II.
The focusing is fast, and you should be able to get one for about $300. it dosn't break your bank, isn't that good optically, but focusing is speedy enough for my needs

it's a good beginner lens.

You should be able to get the Non USM version of the lens for about 200 odd dollars. Forget
the non USM version. ;)

With regards to the IS variants.

if you can, skip the 75-300 IS. It just ain't worth it. I went for the 70-300mm IS and i'm quite happy with it. It sucks for indoor shoots without flash ( hunts in dimly lit areas ), but is tack sharp when shooting moving targets from a car travelling at about 50 kmh. ;)


If i had issues with the 7
 

JimmyH said:
Tamron 55-200mm is excellent. Sharp and very vibrant colors. Focusing slow but very accurate and consistent. Also amazingly small and light for the range well suited for street candids.

How much is the Tamron?
 

tmfwy said:
Cyanwater

if you're starting out with telephotos, I'd recommend the Canon 75-300mm USM II.
The focusing is fast, and you should be able to get one for about $300. it dosn't break your bank, isn't that good optically, but focusing is speedy enough for my needs

it's a good beginner lens.

You should be able to get the Non USM version of the lens for about 200 odd dollars. Forget
the non USM version. ;)

With regards to the IS variants.

if you can, skip the 75-300 IS. It just ain't worth it. I went for the 70-300mm IS and i'm quite happy with it. It sucks for indoor shoots without flash ( hunts in dimly lit areas ), but is tack sharp when shooting moving targets from a car travelling at about 50 kmh. ;)


If i had issues with the 7

Now is like Sigma 70-300 VS Canon 75-300 USM. Price range about the same, right? Canon is faster. The Sigma is sharper? Sigma has macro... though not important but is a plus point? :dunno:
 

fWord said:
in Singapore, I reckon most people don't want to have their photo taken.

The Sigma is a very nice lens, especially for the price. And it handles larger macro shots well too. I strongly recommend that you try it out and over time, develop a preference for a particular focal length and then get a more specific lens from there.

That's why I prefer one that covers up to 300mm.

So the Sigma or Canon USM? :think:
 

all affordable lens are not good
all good lens are not affordable
hehehe
i recommend the 400/f5.6L USM
 

upz for sigma 70-300 mm....if i hav the money for a 70-200 f4 L ...i would still go for the $320 sigma
 

You might want to consider the non-USM version instead.. Think it's going for about $300 or less at most shops? I don't supposed you're going to shoot any sports events with this lens anyway so no need for the USM.. And you might outgrow this lens pretty quick, and resale value for USM and non-USM are not that far off (as compared to new prices..).. I suggest you get a 2nd hand relatively new EF 75-300mm, should be in the range of about $150 and quite regularly there will be pple selling, 'cos like I said, most pple outgrow this lens pretty fast :)

cyanwater said:
Ahhh... so it's not that slow afterall.

Hrmm... how much does the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM cost?
 

cyanwater said:
That's why I prefer one that covers up to 300mm.

So the Sigma or Canon USM? :think:

Heheh...well, I reckon you will know better than me. I'm no street-shooter but tend to go more for nature, architecture and animals...basically, things that scream at me to shoot them and are not too camera-shy. :bsmilie:

If I were you, I'd take the Sigma lens, but ultimately it is up to you.
 

cyanwater said:
Thank you all so much for the advice. :)

I'm planning to use more for street photography. Easily noticeable? Thought I can shoot discreetly from afar with 300mm range.

The Canon is of course what I wish to own eventually but the price difference is really a lot. Sigma seems the most affordable right now but is it really that crappy? :confused:

to shoot discreetly at 300mm x1.6, u will need to shoot under relatively bright sunlight, probably 2hr before and after noon. dont think u will get a fast enuff shutter speed after 5pm... which unfortunately is the best light of the day.
 

I owned the sigma 70-300, and I find the lens quite nice. Auto focus is a little bit slow I agree, but I seldom use auto focus, because sometimes it wont focus and I can't take a pic, even though I was shootting under the afternoon sun.

If you plan to use it for street-photography, I think it is easily noticeable. Because when you use above the 200 range. The lens will extend until about 20-21 cm. I once tried to use it on the street, and I heard some people mumbling behind me "wa lao, such a long lens." and then whenever I pointed my lens somewhere, some people's heads will follow :sweat:
 

arantha said:
I once tried to use it on the street, and I heard some people mumbling behind me "wa lao, such a long lens." and then whenever I pointed my lens somewhere, some people's heads will follow :sweat:

Reminds me of the thing that some kid said when he saw my camera at the zoo today, 'That is a humongous camera!'

Young caucasian kid...what a humorous comment. :bsmilie:
 

user111 said:
all affordable lens are not good
all good lens are not affordable
hehehe
i recommend the 400/f5.6L USM

:sweat:
 

Thank you all for the valuable advice! ;)
 

so most of u advice sigma 70-300 vs the canon ?
how abt the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD ? there is one for sale in B&S
is it a good lens compared to the other 2?
 

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