What is the best zoom lens for cost conscious person.

riversen · Apr 9, 2004

I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

austex · Apr 9, 2004

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=8335829

Has a lot of good replies/examples. I asked the original question, because I think a lot of us (especially myself) overlook a lot of the cheaper lenses.

Some complaints about some lenses being soft in the corners go away when you put them on a 300D because of the crop factor as well.

--
Roger, call David. It's been over 20 years.

fisheye · Apr 9, 2004

Hi there

From trawling reviews etc, the Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO Macro II Super seems to give most bangs per buck and yield pretty good results, for around $200.

I don't have one myself, but do have the Sigma 100-300 f4.5 -6.7. Tests rate it pretty poorly, but at $130 it is good value, very light and compact and it turns in results I am happy with, when stopped down a couple of clicks.

Best of luck

Jim

riversen · Apr 9, 2004

Thank you so much. I will look at these and the thread to make the decision. It is funny how a nice piece of equipment and a little zeal and a very small amount of skill gets a person to be the favorite amature photographer for friends and family who do not want to spend a lot of money to hire a professional. I love taking pictures and now more so with my new camera. I am looking forward to this journey.

James Lander said:
Hi there

From trawling reviews etc, the Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO Macro II
Super seems to give most bangs per buck and yield pretty good
results, for around $200.

I don't have one myself, but do have the Sigma 100-300 f4.5 -6.7.
Tests rate it pretty poorly, but at $130 it is good value, very
light and compact and it turns in results I am happy with, when
stopped down a couple of clicks.

Best of luck

Jim

--
Say cheese,
Robert

Povl H. Pedersen · Apr 9, 2004

There are multiple solutions, but if you want best, you must hand over some money.

Good zooms are Canon 70-200mm f/4L ($550), Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX ($739), Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX ($839) unless you want to pay even more.

But there are plenty of other cheaper alternatives. If you intend to use it indoor, you need a fast lens, so something f/2.8 would be preferable, and that means money. If it is outdoor in sunshine, you can go with anything, like the Sigma or Canon 75-300mm lenses. The Sigma 75-300mm APO is considered one of the better cheap zooms.

riversen said:
I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

icmp · Apr 9, 2004

..when considering the Sigma 70-300 Super II APO that you do NOT get the "DL" version of this lens.. all reports are that it is inferior to the Super APO version. Many find this Sigma to be an excellent value.

If you could be more specific about your focal length needs and cost range, other lenses might come into play which are better performers (like the sub-$600 Canon 70-200/4 "L" which is very highly regarded as optically an excellent zoom)

best of luck!

icmp

riversen said:
James Lander said:

Hi there

From trawling reviews etc, the Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO Macro II
Super seems to give most bangs per buck and yield pretty good
results, for around $200.

I don't have one myself, but do have the Sigma 100-300 f4.5 -6.7.
Tests rate it pretty poorly, but at $130 it is good value, very
light and compact and it turns in results I am happy with, when
stopped down a couple of clicks.

Best of luck

Jim

Click to expand...

--
Say cheese,
Robert

GeraldW · Apr 9, 2004

riversen said:
I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

Nobody seems to mention them in this forum, but the Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 with 1:2 macro has done extremely well for me. On the Drebel it becomes a 112-480, so you'll have plenty of reach. Goes for around $150 out of NYC. Just be sure it's the 1:2 macro, not the earlier and cheaper 1:4. If you want even more reach, though it probably won't autofocus, the Tamron 1.4x multiplier matches extremely well and gets you to 670 mm.

Jerry

Painey · Apr 9, 2004

riversen said:
I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

I use a Canon 70-210 USM, this lens is not made anymore but if you can find one it is well worth considering as the lens construction is similar to the 28-135 USM IS and is a better piece of kit compared to present day entry level zooms. As a result this lens focusses faster than the other std zooms (Canon 75-300, Sigma 70-300 and Tamron 70-300) especially when the light starts to drop.

Daniella68313 · Apr 9, 2004

The Sigma 70-300 DL is around 130$ and the Canon 75-300 III USM are both affordable at reasonable price.

riversen said:
I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

--
Minë Corma hostië të ilyë ar mordossë nutië të
Mornórëo Nóressë yassë i Fuini caitar.
Un thoron arart’a s’un hith mal’kemen ioke.
Saurulmaiel

GK124699 · Apr 9, 2004

Sigma IF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 DL Aspherical Hyperzoom Macro Lens for Minolta AF. Excellent lightweight lens for $129

riversen said:
I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

GK124699 · Apr 9, 2004

Sorry about "Minota": I mean Canon

GK said:
riversen said:

I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

Click to expand...

Tony SD · Apr 9, 2004

GK said:
GK said:

riversen said:

I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Thanks in advance!

--
Say cheese,
Robert

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I can recommend both the Canon 55-200, and the Sigma 55-200 which take over nicely from the kit lens. Lightweight and both capable of sharp results, but not fast. I find the Sigma just a tad better than the Canon, but YMMV.
--
TonySD

riversen · Apr 12, 2004

Absolutely and my apologiies for not providing more details. I am a novice by far, but I am enjoying the process of learning all that I have been learning. I would like to spend less than $200 right now on a descent zoom lens. I have been looking at eBay to see if I can pick up any good deals. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you in advance for everyone's help!

icmp said:
If you could be more specific about your focal length needs and
cost range, other lenses might come into play which are better
performers (like the sub-$600 Canon 70-200/4 "L" which is very
highly regarded as optically an excellent zoom)

best of luck!

icmp

riversen said:

James Lander said:

Hi there

From trawling reviews etc, the Sigma 70-300 f4-5.6 APO Macro II
Super seems to give most bangs per buck and yield pretty good
results, for around $200.

I don't have one myself, but do have the Sigma 100-300 f4.5 -6.7.
Tests rate it pretty poorly, but at $130 it is good value, very
light and compact and it turns in results I am happy with, when
stopped down a couple of clicks.

Best of luck

Jim

Click to expand...

--
Say cheese,
Robert

Click to expand...

--
Say cheese,
Robert

wes_scantlin · Apr 12, 2004

riversen said:
I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

I initially bought the DRebel with the kit lens. I then bought the 550EX (with a Stofen Omnibounce) to add FEC without a hack. Then I bought the 50 1.8.

I was at the zoo this weekend and decided to pick up a cheap zoom on the way home. I got the Canon 75-300 USM (non-IS). We went back to the zoo the next day. In short, while I've only had one day's use of it, this will likely turn out to be be the most exciting purchase I've made so far. Despite being a terrible photographer, I managed to get some absolutely stunning shots. In fact, virtually every single shot was decent (at least to me). My friends were blown away.

There may be better choices than this out there, but FWIW, I can tell you that I am very pleased with this lens.

As an aside, one shop was very high on the Tamron 75-300 LD. They insisted that it was significantly better than the Canon in a number of different respects. I wanted to keep everything Canon so the decision was easy for me. You may wish to check that lens out though, if you don't mind straying from Canon.

These are just some random comments from a rank novice. Keep that in mind. I'm sure other, more experienced photographers would disagree with me.

riversen · Apr 12, 2004

Thank you. I will check these and others out as well. I like the lens in the $129 to 139 range very much, so they may have precidence. Does anyone know how much the 55-200 Canon one goes for (or should go for)?

wes_scantlin said:
riversen said:

I am looking for a 2nd lens that affords me a bit of zoom for
sporting events and other activities (I have the 18-55 mm lens
now). What do you all recommend for a person such as myself who is
cost conscious? Basically, what is the best zoom lens for least
amount of money?

Click to expand...

I initially bought the DRebel with the kit lens. I then bought the
550EX (with a Stofen Omnibounce) to add FEC without a hack. Then I
bought the 50 1.8.

I was at the zoo this weekend and decided to pick up a cheap zoom
on the way home. I got the Canon 75-300 USM (non-IS). We went back
to the zoo the next day. In short, while I've only had one day's
use of it, this will likely turn out to be be the most exciting
purchase I've made so far. Despite being a terrible photographer, I
managed to get some absolutely stunning shots. In fact, virtually
every single shot was decent (at least to me). My friends were
blown away.

There may be better choices than this out there, but FWIW, I can
tell you that I am very pleased with this lens.

As an aside, one shop was very high on the Tamron 75-300 LD. They
insisted that it was significantly better than the Canon in a
number of different respects. I wanted to keep everything Canon so
the decision was easy for me. You may wish to check that lens out
though, if you don't mind straying from Canon.

These are just some random comments from a rank novice. Keep that
in mind. I'm sure other, more experienced photographers would
disagree with me.

--
Say cheese,
Robert

Search

What is the best zoom lens for cost conscious person.

riversen

Senior Member

austex

Leading Member

fisheye

Leading Member

riversen

Senior Member

Povl H. Pedersen

Leading Member

icmp

Senior Member

GeraldW

Veteran Member

Painey

Well-known member

Daniella68313

Forum Pro

GK124699

Active member

GK124699

Active member

Tony SD

Senior Member

riversen

Senior Member

wes_scantlin

Well-known member

riversen

Senior Member

Keyboard shortcuts