Recommendation for a Zoom Lens w/ 300mm max?

[ChrisAdval]

I'm in need Zoom lens that has a maximum of 300mm, of course an L lens would be fantastic but it’s not first L lens I would like to add as my first L lens I plan on getting is the 24-70mm f/2.8... So I was browsing around B&H and found the following, tell me what you guys think and recommend to get. Current budget on one is about $700 or less of course.



Canon 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III USM Autofocus Lens 6472A002 B&H



Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Autofocus Lens 2044B002 B&H Photo



Canon 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Lens 6473A003 B&H Photo



Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Lens 2578A002 B&H Photo Video

Any other recommendations from the above please ensure to use either amazon, adorama, or B&H online retailers and provide working links. I don't really want a 200mm but I listed one of them because I'm assuming its the highest quality lens listed above, I wouldn't mind a 250mm, but would prefer 300mm.

[RichardTaylor]

I own all the lenses above.

If you want 250-300mm and your budget is $US700 then I wouldn't get any of them

I would get the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. (I own this one as well).

If 200mm is enough then the 70-200 F4 L runs rings, both mechanically and IQ wise, around the other lenses. I also own one of these.

Check out the reviews here:
Canon & Nikon Digital SLR Camera & Lens Reviews

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I own all the lenses above.

If you want 250-300mm and your budget is $US700 then I wouldn't get any of them

I would get the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. (I own this one as well).

If 200mm is enough then the 70-200 F4 L runs rings, both mechanically and IQ wise, around the other lenses. I also own one of these.

Check out the reviews here:
Canon & Nikon Digital SLR Camera & Lens Reviews

so you recommend the last one on my list -the L lens-?

or get the 70-300mm you recommended? - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._4_5_6_IS.html

[RichardTaylor]

It all boils down what you want to use it for.
If 200mm is long enough, and given your budget, then yes..

I mostly use the 70-200 for covering events like parades etc in reasonable lighting and as a backup lens when shooting track side at some motor racing tracks (not in the spectator area)
It is much too short for most wildlife.

I use the the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM mostly as my vacation tele (except if I was specifically going to shoot wildlife) as it is not very large or heavy, but has some reach and can be a good starting point for some wild life.

What do you want to use the new lens for?

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

It all boils down what you want to use it for.
If 200mm is long enough, and given your budget, then yes..

I mostly use the 70-200 for covering events like parades etc in reasonable lighting and as a backup lens when shooting track side at some motor racing tracks (not in the spectator area)
It is much too short for most wildlife.

I use the the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM mostly as my vacation tele (except if I was specifically going to shoot wildlife) as it is not very large or heavy, but has some reach and can be a good starting point for some wild life.

What do you want to use the new lens for?

How many feet can you see with the 200mm?

I want to use it for wildlife eventually but as a hobby only really, and don't plan on traveling to anywhere that has much wildlife but my own area in the north east area of PA. But honestly the primary use I needed a longer lens is for candid photography of people, and not strangers. More just a service I want to offer is candid photography to general people, and make it easier for them not to see me instead of them "pretending" I'm not there. So yea, candid people photography would be lovely to do and a longer lens would let me do what I'm trying to do in this area. And down the road I would love to do as a hobby some wildlife photography.

[RichardTaylor]

Re "How many feet can you see with the 200mm?"

See the dimensional field of view calculator here:
http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htmmm

For the semi "candid" stuff, and within your budget the 70-200 would be your best bet.
The only thing is that you cannot get the super thin DOF like you can with a F2.8 lens (but then you are looking at a lot more weight and $$$)

Here are some "candid" examples taken at a motor racing event earlier this year.
All available light hand held with a 40D and wide open.

(1)

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 168 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Subject Distance 4.55 m

(2)

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 149 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV
Subject Distance 3.41 m

(3)

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 1/4000 sec
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 131 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV
Subject Distance 19.1 m

(4)


Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV
Subject Distance 4.55 m

[ChrisAdval]

Looks good!

The link isn't working though - I assumed you had too many m's at the end and tried this - http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm and worked :-)

anyways I did google m to ft and got 1 meter = 3.3~ feet ; but whats the max in meters the 200 can go? 200mm is only a few feet so I didn't get that part...

I'll get this lens it looks great thanks a lot for the help!

[RichardTaylor]

That's it.

Just plug the numbers in.

eg at 200mm and a shooting distance of 80 feet on a 1.6 crop camera you will get 9 feet x 6 feet.


The 70-200 will focus to infinity and minimum focussing distance is just over 47" or 1.2m

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Glad to help out..