Archmikus
Member
Hi, I'm am amateur/intermediate photographer looking to expand my lens collection. I'm looking for a nice zoom tele lens that won't break the bank (i.e. a few hundred dollars or less is great). Anyone have some recommendations?
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Which "budget" Zoon Telephoto lens for D60?
- Thread starter Archmikus
- Start date
Jeffrey Lazo
Senior Member
I do not mean to sound rude, I also do not advise buying all L glass. But...why put a cheap piece of glass in front of you 2000.00 body when the lens is the most critical component of the entire system? You will not be happy with sharpness, contrast or color, all of which are elements of a good lens and merely capture by the body.
Look into some good primes if you want to go cheaper, or Sigma's EX line. Here is a site I put together on lens info.
--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Gallery listing-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/galleries.html
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
Look into some good primes if you want to go cheaper, or Sigma's EX line. Here is a site I put together on lens info.
--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Gallery listing-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/galleries.html
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
M
Michael Thomas Mitchell
Guest
Fortunately, Canon offers some good quality lenses that won't break the bank. For a tele zoom, you might appreciate the 75-300 IS. For it's range, it's lightweight, not too large, and the image stabilization will go a far way to improving the quality of handheld images than $1500 glass. You can pick it up at B&H for ~$450. For a couple of hundred more, you can get the 70-200 f4 L, a nice piece of L glass that doesn't have the fancy stabilization or the brightest aperture, but offers great image quality. If you shoot with a tripod alot, or need rugged quality, it's a sure bet. For handheld, the stabilization will save more photos than any other optical qualities.
Good luck
M
Good luck
M
Glenn Haley
Senior Member
For a "couple of hundred bucks" you can buy a Canon 28-105 (I paid $205 new). It's a good, sharp lens that is light and easy to handle. You can check Photodo.com for comparisons.
Archmikus,
What kind of range are you looking for, what do you have now, and what is the actual budget?
Favorite Quote: 'Never let the quest for the Perfect become the enemy of the Excellent'
What kind of range are you looking for, what do you have now, and what is the actual budget?
--
- Woody -
Favorite Quote: 'Never let the quest for the Perfect become the enemy of the Excellent'
Well Sigma 100-300 F4 HSM EX is only $750. For the same price range, you can also pick up a Sigma 50-500 F4-F6.3 HSM. Both are not over $1000 and both yeild incredible result. And for a slightly shorter zoom, why not a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX HSM for only around $580.
--
Phoenix
http://photo.vitsco.com
--
Phoenix
http://photo.vitsco.com
Tory Gyberg
Forum Enthusiast
Best budget zoom is a used Canon 100-300 L. There is one on ebay right now for about $350. The pics I have seen from that lens blow me away!
Tory
D30
24 1.4L
20-35 2.8L
28-70 2.8L
100-400L
http://www.pbase.com/tgyberg
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Tory
D30
24 1.4L
20-35 2.8L
28-70 2.8L
100-400L
http://www.pbase.com/tgyberg
R
Ron Parr
Guest
Because a D60 with a non-L lens is still better than anything else you can lay your hands on (except a D60 with L glass), and there are times when a relatively inexpensive zoom is easier on your back and less conspicuous than a camera bag full of heavy lenses.
--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/
R
Ron Parr
Guest
The 24-85 and 28-135 are popular choices around here.
I have the 24-85. Contrast and color with this lens are really good, IMO, but it's not great wide open.
It's soft compared to my 50mm 1.8, but so is my 28-70L.
I got the 28-80 II from amazon.com because it was so inexpensive and it's fun to play with a throw-away lens from time to time. I wouldn't suggest this (or its 28-90 successor) for semi-serious photography. While the 28-80 does have some focal lengths where it looks quite sharp stopped down, color isn't great and the image can get distorted in some quite alarming ways at wider apertures.
--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/
I have the 24-85. Contrast and color with this lens are really good, IMO, but it's not great wide open.
It's soft compared to my 50mm 1.8, but so is my 28-70L.
I got the 28-80 II from amazon.com because it was so inexpensive and it's fun to play with a throw-away lens from time to time. I wouldn't suggest this (or its 28-90 successor) for semi-serious photography. While the 28-80 does have some focal lengths where it looks quite sharp stopped down, color isn't great and the image can get distorted in some quite alarming ways at wider apertures.
--
Ron Parr
FAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/
Dick Ginkowski
Senior Member
Unfortunately we don't have info on what you are planning to shoot, etc.
I would recommend that you consider Canon's 28-105 USM as an inexpensive alternative. Also the 100-300 USM. I do not advise the 75-300 (regular or IS) due to its slow focusing. Optically the two USM lenses I mentioned are good.
Try one of the following you cannot go wrong for the money:
Canon 28-135 IS
Tamron 24-135 SP (I own this one)
Tokina 24-200 (I sholud have bought this one for the extra range)
Canon and Tamron are approx $380-450 the Tokina is appro. $300-350
I used to own Sigma 24-70 f2.8 and the 15-30. Both were excellent lenses (for my Fuji S1). I have switched to D60 and trying new combinations.
Good Luck
Boris
Canon 28-135 IS
Tamron 24-135 SP (I own this one)
Tokina 24-200 (I sholud have bought this one for the extra range)
Canon and Tamron are approx $380-450 the Tokina is appro. $300-350
I used to own Sigma 24-70 f2.8 and the 15-30. Both were excellent lenses (for my Fuji S1). I have switched to D60 and trying new combinations.
Good Luck
Boris
L
Lee Rothman
Guest
I'd likely say Sigma 24-70 2.8EX DG and the 70-200 2.8EX HSM. Both will offer top notch performance on a tight budget and at least give you something budget equipment is not known for, fast autofocus and lower light performance. It will at least spoil you and get you ready for the day you get hit with the "L" disease. If you don't know what that is than just be prepared......
R
Rich
Guest
Ron
Hmm, I thought you were leaving for Australia. I have to agree with you about the lenses, I also think that as the price of used d30s keeps dropping there is going to be more and more of a demand for affordable but good consumer lenses for digital-slrs. I liked your comparison site with the 24-85 vs the 50 1.8, I tested the same pair out last evening. I couldn't see all that much difference in sharpness in the center of the image, but the 50 was far better in the corners. The 50 also had slightly better color. I can't wait to try out the old 28-70 3.5-4.5 II when it gets here. Love all your input here by the way, it's really helpful.
Rich
Hmm, I thought you were leaving for Australia. I have to agree with you about the lenses, I also think that as the price of used d30s keeps dropping there is going to be more and more of a demand for affordable but good consumer lenses for digital-slrs. I liked your comparison site with the 24-85 vs the 50 1.8, I tested the same pair out last evening. I couldn't see all that much difference in sharpness in the center of the image, but the 50 was far better in the corners. The 50 also had slightly better color. I can't wait to try out the old 28-70 3.5-4.5 II when it gets here. Love all your input here by the way, it's really helpful.
Rich
R
Rich
Guest
Archmikus
I've been going through the net trying to find the same thing. Depending on what zoom length you need it does seem like there are some lenses that are standout choices. For the 28-70 range the old canon 3.5-4.5 II is supposed to be good, it's also very cheap (just over $100) used in the States. The Tokina and Sigma 2.8 lenses are also supposed to be good for the price, a sort of low budget alternative to canon's 28-70L. Unfortunately the old 28-80L is kind of high used, I see them at about $500.
A lot of people here (myself included) use the canon 28-105 or 24-85 or 28-135 IS, they're all supposed to be reasonably sharp. I would imagine there are some 3rd party lenses that are about this good also.
Beyond the standard zooms it seems there is less to choose from. As someone mentioned the 100-300 5.6L is a bargain, keh had one in good shape for $286 last week but it's gone now. The Sigma 80-200 2.8 is supposed to be good, I think the newer HSM one is kind of expensive (+ - $600) but there are some older ones that go for less. But for that price you could get a 70-200 f4 L from Canon, everything I've heard says it's an outstanding lens.
Can someone help with some lenses in the 70-200 range that are more affordable? I've heard OK comments about canon's old 70-210 3.5-4.5, and better things about Sigma's old 70-210 3.5-4.5 APO macro but have seen few comments here. Is anyone using these on a d30/60?
BTW here are some links I've been using for comparing lenses:
http://www.cmpsolv.com/cgi-bin/output.cgi
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=50-200+canon+L&start=10&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=60.7144.5522.0N1E2A8B%40canrem.com&rnum=12
(I used the above to find some info on the old 50-200L lens, note that it's from a message in 1995 so many newer lenses won't be there)
http://www.photozone.de/ (go to the canon eos faq, lots of interesting articles about lenses)
http://akson.sgh.waw.pl/~dpituc/obiektywycanontest.htm
http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/lenstest.html
Hope that helps some, it's a lot of info to sift through
Rich
I've been going through the net trying to find the same thing. Depending on what zoom length you need it does seem like there are some lenses that are standout choices. For the 28-70 range the old canon 3.5-4.5 II is supposed to be good, it's also very cheap (just over $100) used in the States. The Tokina and Sigma 2.8 lenses are also supposed to be good for the price, a sort of low budget alternative to canon's 28-70L. Unfortunately the old 28-80L is kind of high used, I see them at about $500.
A lot of people here (myself included) use the canon 28-105 or 24-85 or 28-135 IS, they're all supposed to be reasonably sharp. I would imagine there are some 3rd party lenses that are about this good also.
Beyond the standard zooms it seems there is less to choose from. As someone mentioned the 100-300 5.6L is a bargain, keh had one in good shape for $286 last week but it's gone now. The Sigma 80-200 2.8 is supposed to be good, I think the newer HSM one is kind of expensive (+ - $600) but there are some older ones that go for less. But for that price you could get a 70-200 f4 L from Canon, everything I've heard says it's an outstanding lens.
Can someone help with some lenses in the 70-200 range that are more affordable? I've heard OK comments about canon's old 70-210 3.5-4.5, and better things about Sigma's old 70-210 3.5-4.5 APO macro but have seen few comments here. Is anyone using these on a d30/60?
BTW here are some links I've been using for comparing lenses:
http://www.cmpsolv.com/cgi-bin/output.cgi
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=50-200+canon+L&start=10&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=60.7144.5522.0N1E2A8B%40canrem.com&rnum=12
(I used the above to find some info on the old 50-200L lens, note that it's from a message in 1995 so many newer lenses won't be there)
http://www.photozone.de/ (go to the canon eos faq, lots of interesting articles about lenses)
http://akson.sgh.waw.pl/~dpituc/obiektywycanontest.htm
http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/lenstest.html
Hope that helps some, it's a lot of info to sift through
Rich
Jeffrey Lazo
Senior Member
--
--
Jeffrey Lazo
-Check out my D60 Galleries-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj
-Gallery listing-
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/galleries.html
-Newbie Lens Information/Prices -
http://homepage.mac.com/lazoj/lenses/lenses.html
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