Nealxs
member
Reged: 11/12/2005
Posts: 137
Loc: Cambridge
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Right, I'm saving and have been for some time for a replacement to my cheap and cheerful Sigma 70-300mm lens. What are alternative replacements? What I'd like:
- Sharp images
- IS would be preferable
- Quick focus
Price wise: Looking for between £500 and £1000 which should cover most of the top end stuff.
I've looked at the Canon 100-400 IS lens but it's only f.4 which is a shame. The Canon 70-200 is obviously a favorite of many, but I'd like something that goes up to the 300+ range preferably but still have the 70/100mm range as well.
I'll be using the lens for sports photography as well as some nature work. Would really value comments on what people have used. Anyone used the Canon 28-300 IS lens? Seems too good to be true...but then not at £1500!
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9541
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Fastest lens you are probably going to get for that budget is something like the Sigma 100-300mm f4... Anything faster is going to set you back rather a lot more I'm afraid...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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weasley
addict
Reged: 11/01/2006
Posts: 507
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I have said lens in Nikon AF fit - it is not bad but isn't always the sharpest (and no IS).
A friend of mine swears by his 70-200 f/2.8 - you could always add a 1.4x converter for extra reach?
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Nealxs
member
Reged: 11/12/2005
Posts: 137
Loc: Cambridge
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What effect on the aperture does a 1.4x converter have? I've never used one and so want to check out the down sides. It is a possibility though, thanks.
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 38306
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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One stop.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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nspur
enthusiast
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 311
Loc: Derbyshire
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I use the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (not the current one but its predecessor in 2004) with a 1.4x TC and the results are excellent. Since the Sigma is f2.8 throughout the one stop penalty of the TC doesn't really matter. I've also used the lens with a Kenko 2x TC but the results aren't so good.
An alternative (and don't laugh) is to get a used Panasonic FZ-50. This has a Leica-designed 35-420mm f2.8-3.7 lens with IS. I've used this on Safari because it's much much lighter than a DSLR with a good telephoto lens. I also picked up an Olympus 1.7x teleconverter for £40 that extends the range to > 700mm but it's very difficult to use that combination with an electronic viewfinder.
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jeallen01
Reged: 16/07/2002
Posts: 71
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Quote:
I use the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (not the current one but its predecessor in 2004) with a 1.4x TC and the results are excellent. Since the Sigma is f2.8 throughout the one stop penalty of the TC doesn't really matter. I've also used the lens with a Kenko 2x TC but the results aren't so good.
I have just acquired the same generation of that lens - so which 1.4X TC have you used with it?
(I have the basic Kenco 1.4x, not their high quality one or the Sigma one)
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 38306
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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I use the oldest 70-200 f2.8 EX with the Sigma EX 1.4x, and it is indeed a decent combo. I wouldn't use a lesser convertor, though.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9541
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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I've used my 70-210 f2.8 APO with the standard Teleplus 2x and TBH I couldn't tell which I took with the converter from those without...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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Nealxs
member
Reged: 11/12/2005
Posts: 137
Loc: Cambridge
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It all does seem a lot of cash for one lens which is my main concern. The 70-200IS 2.8 is over a grand and then add on the tele converter and...well that's a large chunk of a new car! Surely there must be an alternative that as gives good, sharp results from 100-300 or similar?
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9541
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX DG APO HSM is £599.99 at WarehouseExpress and the Sigma TC's are £135 & £164.
I honestly doubt you'll get anything like the image quality at the same speed for the price - unless it's Tamron's version...
Generally if you want fast apertures and top quality you pay top dollar.............and the longer the lens the more top that dollar is going to be.
The only other way to get maximum bang for your buck is the used market... Eg Mifsuds have a 70-200/2.8 non IS for £649.
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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Nealxs
member
Reged: 11/12/2005
Posts: 137
Loc: Cambridge
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Smashing, thanks for the link to Mifsuds, that'll be a useful site to have in the bookmarks, sure I had it!
As for the Sigma version, is this comparrable to the Canon 70-200? I'm assuming not with it being half the price. If I were to get the F.4 lens, does the lack of wide aperture realyl effect at long range? Just weighing up if the price difference is worth it for sports/nature photography.
Edited by Nealxs (26/06/2008 16:20)
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nspur
enthusiast
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 311
Loc: Derbyshire
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Quote:
Quote:
I use the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (not the current one but its predecessor in 2004) with a 1.4x TC and the results are excellent. Since the Sigma is f2.8 throughout the one stop penalty of the TC doesn't really matter. I've also used the lens with a Kenko 2x TC but the results aren't so good.
I have just acquired the same generation of that lens - so which 1.4X TC have you used with it?
(I have the basic Kenco 1.4x, not their high quality one or the Sigma one)
I use the Sigma APO EX 1.4 TC which matches the lens. The Kenko 2x TC that I sometimes use is the Teleplus MC7 and there's a significant difference in quality between that and the Sigma 1.4
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 38306
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Actually, optically the Sigma is very much comparable to the Canon lens - their performance is very similar. Perhaps the Canon is a touch sharper at f2.8, but that's about it.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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jeallen01
Reged: 16/07/2002
Posts: 71
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Quote:
The only other way to get maximum bang for your buck is the used market... Eg Mifsuds have a 70-200/2.8 non IS for £649.
Mifsuds is where I got my earlier non-IS 70-200mm F2.8 Ex a few weeks ago after seeing a first listing of one on a Saturday when AP arrived - I was on the phone that day and I paid £399 + P&P! 
Edited by jeallen01 (26/06/2008 19:44)
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