Lens question - Off to Alps and a lot of racing . . .

[Johno]

So you've got a new DSLR, Canon 450D.

You've got the kits lens, which is good enough for general use.

The limit is 2 lenses for the trip, due to budget (no more than £300) and space.

I want to be able to capture the stunning landscape shots with the car's in them and without them. I also want to catch some longer range shots as well.

The trip also includes the WSB round at Nurburgring and the longer lens would be used at all the BSB rounds in '09, WSB Monza & Donington, MotoGP at Donington and Le Mans . . .

So what should I buy. Budget is tight so L series lenses are not on the cards. IS would be great but for panning shots it turns off anyway. Is USM focussing that much faster than standard servo's and therefore worth the extra.

I'm considering whether to have a 18-200 walkaround type zoom as this covers the most of the requirements and then perhaps a short lens for the landscapes etc . .

Thoughts appreciated, as said, I'd love prime L series lenses in all the right lengths but it ain't gonna happen this year

All suggestions welcomed.

Edited by Johno on Tuesday 30th December 12:58

[Gemm]

Focal length of the kit lens is perfect for landscapes etc, so what about 70-300 IS? And definitely go for USM.

Edited by Gemm on Tuesday 30th December 13:18

[Johno]

That's also where I was ending up, the kit lens is certainly short enough and good for exactly what it's intended, general purpose.

The 70-300 IS USM was the next on the shopping list, although going to need to find a sencond hand one as cheapest I can find new is £350+ currently . .

[kybo]

I think PhotoPlus did a review of the 70-300 IS and the 55-250 IS and they reckoned the 55-250 was a better lens all round although, IIRC, it doesn't have USM. The IS was better on the 55-250 as it automatically changes mode to cater for panning and turns off automatically when used with a tripod.

If you want something for sport a second hand Sigma 70-200 F2.8 might be better (much faster) but it depends how much reach you need.

I am after a lens for similar applications but will definitely be favouring F2.8 over IS (but, this 'being on a budget' lark is killing me too!)

Scott

[kybo]

Some 'alternatives' that may be worth consideration:

Canon 75-300mm USM MkIII @£140
Canon 90-300mm USM @£199
Canon 100-300mm USM @£215
Canon 28-200mm USM @244

None offer F2.8 or IS but are all within budget.
Values are average interweb prices so could be sourced cheaper I would imagine.

S

[Gemm]

kybo said:

Canon 100-300mm USM @£215

That's a very good lens (the one with ring USM - non-rotating front element). I used to have one and the AF speed and image quality were both great. Reasonably well built too.

[Johno]

Have to say I'm attracted by the USM but not so bothered about the IS due to a lot of shots being taken panning with the camera probably and as said it turns off when doing so. I appreciate it's abilities, but ho much would it actually be doing ?

I like the idea of 70-200 F2.8 as can't always gaurantee the weather when racing and 200mm should give me enough reach for most of the British circuits and it covers a range the kit lense doesn't with starting at 100mm +, I can miss the 55-70 range . .

[kybo]

Johno said:

I like the idea of 70-200 F2.8 as can't always gaurantee the weather when racing and 200mm should give me enough reach for most of the British circuits

I've been looking for quite some time on ebay for one of these and they're never going for much less than £350

However, there is one on ebay at the minute with a jammed MF ring. Description says its auto focus works fine though. Will go cheaper than normal but depends if you wanna risk cash on a defective lens. I put a test bid in but I won't be following it, myself.

Scott

[kybo]

Johno said:

Have to say I'm attracted by the USM but not so bothered about the IS due to a lot of shots being taken panning with the camera probably and as said it turns off when doing so.

Sorry, I probably threw in a red-herring with the 55-250mm. Despite its performance being better than the 70-300 IS (according to the review) its probably not worth knowing that at all if;

1/ IS isn't too important,
2/ USM is.

I believe there's also something called micro USM (which I think the 70-300mm IS lens has). I stand corrected on all of this but I don't think it is as good/fast as full USM (I wouldn't mind being properly informed of this myself, plz)

Scott

[malc350]

Guys, for Canon lens tests you may find these sites rather helpful. Apart from the reviews they will also tell you what lens has what kind of AF and whether the front element rotates and all that kind of stuff!

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

Malc

[SamHH]

kybo said:

I believe there's also something called micro USM (which I think the 70-300mm IS lens has). I stand corrected on all of this but I don't think it is as good/fast as full USM (I wouldn't mind being properly informed of this myself, plz)

Scott

There are two types of 'USM', ring and micro. Micro is the cheaper of the two and isn't as fast or quiet. Also, most of the micro USM lenses cannot be focussed manually in autofocus mode.

The lenses are listed here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/lens/EFLensChart....