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Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Stephanie M. Stevens 		 

Thinking about a lens


I recently purchased a Canon Digital Rebel XT, and I want to get another lens for it. I was thinking about the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM Autofocus Lens. Anybody have that one? what do you think of it? Is diffractive optics worth the extra money? I'll be using it for mostly wildlife and landscapes.


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June 06, 2006

 

John P. Sandstedt 		  What lenses do you presently have/use?

I just bought the Canon 30D, expecting to be able to use my Canon and Tamron lenses with EF mount. Oh, I knew about the 1.6 lens factor . . .but, I was sure all would be well.

To my chagrine [a testimony to my own stupidity] I was now stuck with 1.6X28 = 47 mm as my shortest focal length. So, I bought the 17-85 mm IS zoom - a very nice, but expensive lens. I'm not sure whether I'd have done bebetter with the new Tamron 17-??? [equivalent to the film related 28-300.]

I can certainly see why you'd want a tele-zoom for wildlife - don't want to get to close to wild animals. But, I wonder whether you might do better with a shorter focal length for landscapes. Just a thought.


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June 13, 2006

 

Stephanie M. Stevens 		  I got the kit with the, I dont know, 18-55mm? anyway, a nice wide angle, so I've got that covered.


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June 13, 2006

 

Oliver Anderson 		  Hey Stephanie, I always buy the most expensive lens because then people think I'm cool...JK Remember you'll always have the lens even when you upgrade the camera as you just did to the Rebel. If you've got a quality camera store near you can rent the lens for the weekend and try it out. I rented the 70-200 2.8IS before buying it at $30 a day. Put my ex-wife up as collateral and kept the lens, she hasn't bothered me since...


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June 13, 2006

 

Stephanie M. Stevens 		  :) Thanks!


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June 14, 2006

 

Craig m. Zacarelli 		  I dont have it but I hear the DO line of lenses are kinda on the soft side... meaning the sharpness isnt what youd expect... As I said, I dont know how true this is. Do a search on one of the review sites to see actual user pics and reviewes on it.
Craig-


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June 14, 2006

 

Bob Chance 		  Hi Stephanie:

Use of Diffraction Optics allows lenses to be designed so that they are shorter and lighter than comparable refractive optical systems. That doesn't neccessarily mean they are sharper. And you pay the price for that technology too. According to BH photo, the lens you inquire about cost over $1000.00.
Likewise, the standard IS lens is only about half the cost and it's a half stop faster. However, as far as size and weight:

70-300 f/4-5.6 IS = 5.6"@ 1.4Lbs.
70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO = 3.875"@1.6Lbs.

So, even though the lens is shorter, it's actually tad heavier than the non DO lens.
The only other lens that I know of in the Canon line-up utilizing DO is the 400mm f/4.0 and that's over $5000. Given an unlimited bankroll, for my money I would spend the extra grand and get the 400mm f/2.8L.
I currently shoot with the 100-400mm which is an 'L' sereis lens, meaning it uses special glass to correct aberations. However, it's not a particularly fast lens at f4.5-5.6 and it can be a bear to handle at 7.5" at it's short focal length and 3 Lbs. It's length almost doubles when you zoom out to 400mm. But it is an awesome lens for wildlife.

Bob


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June 14, 2006

 

Bill Davison 		 
 
 
Hi,
I just joined-so please bear with me. I to recently bought the canon rebel xt w/ efs 18-55mm lens. in addition I bought a Tameron AF55-200mm macro. This is working fine for landscapes/portrait type shots. I am looking for something that will get me as close as possible. Someonre warned that close up filters will not work on the 18-55mm lens --does anyone have any sugeestions. I am trying to shoot close-ups of florals-Thanks


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June 15, 2006

 

Oliver Anderson 		  Bill you want to buy a Macro lens. I have 2 that are great if you look under my equipment list. the Canon 180MM Macro and the Canon 100MM Macro, you'll need a tripod to use either because they are big and heavy(of course the photos will also be much sharper with the tripod as well).


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June 15, 2006

 

Bill Davison 		  Thanks Oliver,
I am really glad I joined BetterPhoto- I have been shooting in the dark when it scome to equipment. I am going to take a close look at the 100mm. Another question. I do alot of bicycling/walking and was wondering if a monopod is sufficeint. They seem lighter and more manauverable?
Nice site by the way


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June 15, 2006

 

Oliver Anderson 		  I have been shooting in the dark when it scome to equipment

You should buy a flash.JK

I have a CF Monopod and CF Tripod if you're photographing flowers you'll need a tripod. You can't hold a monopod still long enough to really gain an advantage. I use my monopod with my (IS) lens(es) and at motorsports events the tripod I use for most modeling shoots and evening shoots. Don't know your budget but carbon Fibre is super light.


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June 15, 2006

 

Bob Chance 		  Bill:

I'm not familiar with the XT but I think it uses the APS-C sensor, which is smaller than full frame 35. If so, a third option in the Canon macro lens is available to you. They also make a 60mm f/2.8 lens. This is an EF-S lens so it will only fit on the models using the smaller sensor. It's a little smaller and cheaper than the lenses Oliver mentioned and will still give life size (1:1) magnification without the aid of a converter.
I see no reason why close up filters won't work on you 18-55mm other than you may have to focus manually. However, close-up filters will not give you near the sharpness and detail that a true macro would.
Another option, if your finances aren't ready for a new lens, would be an extension tube. Canon makes them in two different sizes 12 & 25mm and both are fully compatible with all thier lenses and camera models, as far as I know.
It's basically a tube, complete with the electrical contacts between body and lens. By installing this between the camera and lens, you affectively reduce the lenses minimum focus distance. This may not neccessarily give you a great boost in magnification, but it will give you some without compromising image quality by shooting through a filter.
In my gallery is a shot of a pussy willow bud. The bud was too far away to shoot with my short lens and get full frame shot and yet too close for my big zoom. By installing a 25mm extension tube between my 100-400mm lens and the camera, I was able to get the shot. And it is sharp.
So there are several options for you to consider.
The reason behind the longer focal length lenses that Oliver suggested is that they can acheive life size images without having to get so close to your subject. There are some subjects out there that may feel intimidated if you go poking a lens only a few inches away from them. Like BEES! But these lenses generally cost more.
Canon also makes the more modest 50mm f/2.5 macro lens, but this will only give you half life size, unless you buy the optional life size converter. The two of them together cost almost as much as the the 60mm EF-S lens which is going for $369 at BH.
The 100mm is $469 and the 180mm is over a grand.
Now if you really want to get close, for around $800 you can get the Canon 65mm macro which magnifies to 5X life size. However, because there is no focusing mechanism, extreme macro is the only thing this lens would be good for. It simply has a zoom ring that would let you vary the magnification for 1x to 5x. Focusing would be acheived by adjusting the distance between the camera and the subject. More suited for macro work in the surgery or dentisty field, than for shooting flowers.


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June 15, 2006

 
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