Suggestions for a Telephoto lens for Canon

[Kaeman]

So I am a semi Beginner Photographer and I want to buy a Tele photo lens and I was wondering what would be best for Canon XSi $500 would probabley be my max budget and maybe a little over.

[inkista]

What do you want the telephoto lens for? What do you want it to do?

[Kaeman]

Originally Posted by inkista

What do you want the telephoto lens for? What do you want it to do?

I want to do mix of everything.

[inkista]

Ok, let me be more specific. Do you plan to shoot with it indoors or at night? Do you plan to shoot sports? Wildlife? Portraits? Landscape? Do you plan to shoot with it handheld all the time? Do you plan to shoot small wildlife like birds? Or large wildlife like deer? Or wildlife that comes closer, like your dog/cat?

[Kaeman]

Mostly landscape and Wild life big and small. some potrait shots like if I am at a concert.

[inkista]

A 70-300 IS USM will handle the landscape and larger wildlife. It's about $550. Your budget's too small for the smaller wildlife (supertele, >300mm lens) and the concert photography (f/2.8 max. aperture zoom) in different lenses, let alone the same lens.

You can do the concert photography with a different lens, a fast prime, like the 50mm f/1.8 II ($110), or the 85mm f/1.8 USM ($440). Going longer will be more expensive.

[Kaeman]

What is a Tele-Photo lens good for because maybe I am not wanting a Tele photo.

[Quo Fan]

Telephoto lenses are good for bringing your subject "closer" to you. Think of it like using binoculars for your eyes. You will get the same effect.

[Quo Fan]

Also be aware of a telephoto lens's minimum focus distance. I have the Canon 100-400L, and the minimum focal distance is switchable between 1.8 meters and 6.5 meters.

[andrewdt]

Do me a favour and explain to me in what conditions you switch between the two minimum focus distances. On my Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS L lens there are two (i forget them offhand I don't have it in front of me), the lower I think is 4.6ft. It always sits on the lower of the two, as I am unable to see the benefit of it being on the other.