Hi All, After having spent the weekend in Aberdeen, I realised that an 18-55mm doesn't quite cut it for things at a small distance. I had seagulls about 20m away and couldn't get in close enough, so i'm looking for a lens that can get in nice and close (feathers!) with good image quality and preferably image stabilisation. My camera is an 1100d. Budget is £100 but i can stretch to £140ish if needs be. Any recommendations? Thanks, Betty
I'd look second hand for that price.. My Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS does that distance nicely and I got it for £150 over a year ago.
To be honest, if taking pictures of birds is your thing, you may wish to save your pennies and get something a little more powerful. 200mm is okay if you're already close, 300mm means you can stand back a bit, 400mm upwards should allow you to get in close whilst still giving you enough time to leg it should the dorm room's occupants call the cops (again.) The real secret is having a good pair of running shoes and... oh, you're talking about avian birds. Second hand: (Always try to phone first and ask about the condition of the lens if buying second hand.) http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Secondhand-Search/ http://www.parkcameras.com/article/88/Used.html http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/c-used-camera-equipment.htm http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/g/34/Used-Equipment.html http://www.amazon.co.uk/
Don't spend £150 on a sigma lens. At least get the 55-200 VR Nikon lens here; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-55-20...1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1337178397&sr=1-1-catcorr Very highly regarded as far as being a real corker for the money. I'd get that if I were you.
LOL, sorry man totally forgot xD In that case, I know it's a bit over budget, but this; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EF-S-...49MK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337180707&sr=8-1 I've bought used four times, each time something was off with the lens, despite the sellers not mentioning it. Seriously do yourself a favour and save longer to buy new. Lenses last for years, bodies come and go.
took delivery of that lens last Saturday. check out a few shots on my Flickr, including a shot across my garden capturing a blackbird standing on the tree. edit: hum, it's not on it. the cat photo is with the 55-200mm, and a few of the sunset photos.
For a quick starter for 10 tele lens have a look at: http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us...0-300mm-f/4-5.6-apo-dg-macro,-canon-ef-fit-1/ You can probably get it a little cheaper than mbp (possibly for that price new maybe) - not a bad lens, obviously there are better out there but maybe ok as a starter. (FWIW used to have the non-APO version of that lens, was decent enough, nothing spectacular but it was ok as an entry level zoom)
I have the Sigma 70-300 APO, but it's got to be my most least used lens. Partly because I like using manual zoom (walking up to things, because landscapes don't run away) and partly because I'm a little wary of the colour and resolution of the lens compared to my old Pentax FA 70-300. It's not bad, and it is cheap, and I guess it gets results. I'd try one in a camera shop before purchasing second hand, online or whatever. The non-APO version, I've heard some bad things from other users about it. Mostly bad copies of the lens where the AF had broken after relatively little use, but YMMV. I have tried it with a Kenko 1.4 TC, but results are sketchy at best.
I used a sigma 70-300 dg macro (the non APO version) for years, tagged here is it the best, sharpest and great colour handling lens? no, but its ok for the price, I finally upgraded for a tamron 70-300 vc which is great but way out of your budget at £330.
