Recommendation for a lenses for an EOS 70D - for hostile outdoor environment

NZ Paddler wrote:

Hi everyone,

(1) I am after a single lens that I can use with my EOS 70D for a remote kayak photography trip around an uninhabited island in the middle of Pacific. The lens will be used mainly for taking shots of flying and nesting birds from a moving kayak.

Because of the hostile environment (swell / big waves / salt water), it will not be possible to change lenses during the day - so one lens has to do. These are my criteria:

• The camera and the lens needs to be compact - so I can balance it with one hand and fit inside a big Dicapac waterproof camera bag
• Lens need to support continuous focus in video recording mode at the maximum zoom
• It need to get a sharp close up of birds from up from 100 meters.

Based on my research in here, I was thinking of getting the following combination:

• Canon EF 2x III Extender
• EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

(2) I am also after a second lens for underwater filming of marine life for the same EOS 70D camera. I was thinking of the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Lens.

I am pretty new to DSLR photography - and any help / suggestion will be appreciated

Thanks in advance

Tim

There aren't any single lens solutions that will fit your criteria, I think. For shooting birds you need a long focal length. Without knowing how close you'll be to the birds, I'd venture to guess that you'll need 200mm or more. The 18-135 will not autofocus with a 2x extender , so that's out as a single-handed solution. The VF will also be very dark, so it will be difficult to focus manually. It also won't be all that light.

The only lightweight lens that comes to mind would be the Canon 55-250. It won't be very convenient to use in a Dicapac bag.

I agree with the first reply, you may be better off with a superzoom camera that can get you 600mm or more equivalent in a much lighter package.

Mark