Which Goodie Should I Get Next?

[velvet4269]

I'm still using my old E-500 (read: NO IS at all), and my lens selection right now: 14-45mm, 40-150mm, and Sigma 105mm Macro lens (which almost never leaves my camera).

I'm thinking of taking a trip, and have been debating getting the 70-300mm, but in my search, I came across a couple of other options: the Sigma 50-200mm (if I can find it) and/or adding a teleconverter (Olympus now has a 2x teleconverter and a 1.4x teleconverter).

I can't seem to make up my mind! Of course, I also have "external flash" on my list of "camera toys I need to buy," but I'm thinking a lens will come first.

I mostly do a lot of macro/close-up work, but I'd like to branch out a bit, and if I'm visiting places with lots of birds & alligators, I'm not getting too close ). And I also hand-hold most of my shots. Since I'm traveling light, it's unlikely the tripod will come with me; I'm also a manual focus person ("my camera has autofocus? what's that?"), so auto-focus issues aren't too much of an issue for me, but with my vision (read: virtually blind as a bat w/out contacts), I have difficulty focusing on stuff in the distance (hence, my preference for macro work).

Does anyone have experience with any & all of the above? I've wandered through a few of the threads in this topic, but I'd like to hear/see all of the options. I wish I could just 'test drive' them all for a few weeks, until I make up my mind

So, again, the options I'm looking at are:

Olympus 70-300mm lens
Sigma 50-200mm lens
Olympus 2x teleconverter
Olympus 1.4x teleconverter

Thanks!

[macromike]

Im also using the E500. I have that zuiko 2x teleconverter (EC-20). I mostly use it with the Zuiko 50mm macro f2. Its a very sharp lens ! Im vary happy with it,except for the price of it lol... You lose 2f stops though.....

[velvet4269]

Originally Posted by macromike

Im also using the E500. I have that zuiko 2x teleconverter (EC-20). I mostly use it with the Zuiko 50mm macro f2. Its a very sharp lens ! Im vary happy with it,except for the price of it lol... You lose 2f stops though.....

Yeah, I'd considered that - my "fastest" lens is my macro lens at f/2.8 wide open, so 2 stops shouldn't hurt me too badly with that lens - and doubling my 105 to 210 isn't too shabby.

[NaturalWoman]

Originally Posted by velvet4269

I'm still using my old E-500 (read: NO IS at all), and my lens selection right now: 14-45mm, 40-150mm, and Sigma 105mm Macro lens (which almost never leaves my camera).

I'm thinking of taking a trip, and have been debating getting the 70-300mm, but in my search, I came across a couple of other options: the Sigma 50-200mm (if I can find it) and/or adding a teleconverter (Olympus now has a 2x teleconverter and a 1.4x teleconverter).

I can't seem to make up my mind! Of course, I also have "external flash" on my list of "camera toys I need to buy," but I'm thinking a lens will come first.

I mostly do a lot of macro/close-up work, but I'd like to branch out a bit, and if I'm visiting places with lots of birds & alligators, I'm not getting too close ). And I also hand-hold most of my shots. Since I'm traveling light, it's unlikely the tripod will come with me; I'm also a manual focus person ("my camera has autofocus? what's that?"), so auto-focus issues aren't too much of an issue for me, but with my vision (read: virtually blind as a bat w/out contacts), I have difficulty focusing on stuff in the distance (hence, my preference for macro work).

Does anyone have experience with any & all of the above? I've wandered through a few of the threads in this topic, but I'd like to hear/see all of the options. I wish I could just 'test drive' them all for a few weeks, until I make up my mind

So, again, the options I'm looking at are:

Olympus 70-300mm lens
Sigma 50-200mm lens
Olympus 2x teleconverter
Olympus 1.4x teleconverter

Thanks!

the 70-300 really is an excellent lens. i just sold mine and yeah it stung a little, but it's not often i needed that much reach - however i do want an 2x (later on) for my 50-200. for some reason the 70-300 did not like my e520, but when i slapped that thing on my e620 my mouth dropped. it was sweet. thing about this lens is it needs to be used in the right environment = light. however even when i didn't have a lot of light, when coupled with my flash, that baby shined. when i didn't use it with a flash, i used a longer shutter speed and a tripod and still, it was fine because i had time to wait and set up the shot. if this lens is used properly and sometimes with patience, it's wonderful.

i also could not hold the 70-300 on my 520 easily, but now that i have the 620, it was a lot easier.

so if you need something for outside, macro, reach, get the 70-300. it works inside as well, just make sure it's given what it needs to get the most out of it.