Advice please, I really don't want to take several lenses to the zoo, I am
looking at buying the Tamron 18 - 270mm lens?
Is this a good 'all' round lens to use, as this is an expensive hobby I would very much appreciate your advice. As hubby brought me a year zoo pass to London zoo I really want to make use of it and try and get some amazing and fantastic shots.
My camera is Canon 600d and my budget is around £400/500
Thank you all so much.
Two general thoughts - The glass is what most impacts the quality of your image. You can't make a picture taken through bad glass any better. There are times that I wish I had waited to add a bit more money to what I could afford so that I would have purchased a better lens. Although, there are lenses that are quite good for a "decent" price (depending, of course, on each person's idea of "decent") And two ... over time, you will find you always want a lighter and faster lens. It just is what it is. Based on these two thoughts ... buy the best quality, and lightest lens you can afford. And if you still need to narrow it down. buy the fastest.
I'm with @amyamoeba the Sigma zooms are incredibly good. I have the 150-500 and it has never let me down! Half the battle is how you set up the shot once you have the lens. Fast shutter speed and wide aperture for shallow dof is the key, and try to focus on the animals eye or the end of its nose.
@bizzibeme for that kind of money I'd be looking at a canon 70-200 F4L.
you can pick one up for about £450 new and even cheaper second hand :)
It will give you much better image quality than the Tamron lens
@pixiemac Hi Sarah thank you, I have a kit lens 75-300 that came with my canon 600d but do you think I would have better shots by purchasing the 70-300 canon lens?
@bizzibeeme Because your using a crop sensor camera it will zoom plenty enough, I'd go out to a few shops and try one on your camera, if you think it's not long enough then my next suggestion would be the Canon efs 55-250mm lens, it's a fantastic lens that punches way above it's price :)
Also take a look at the sigma 18-250. I have it and use it for lots of animal photography and have no complaints. I bought it about a year ago after lots of research. The reviews were excellent.
I use Nikon and my 70 - 300 lens is perfect for the zoo, either on my crop sensor of full frame. The only advice I'd add to that above is to rent a lens if you can, before buying it especially if you think it might be heavier than you'd want to use hand-held. My only mistakes in purchasing equipment was from not trying it out in advance - even though something was rated highly, it might not feel right to me and then I end up not carrying it. At least try it out in the store to see about it's weight and balance for you.
I have that lens and use it on a Nikon D7000 with perfectly good results. Make sure you have the anti-camera shake turned on when you use it at full extension - like all long lenses you need to hold it very still if you're not using a tripod
70-300mm will be ample as has already been mentioned, consider weight as the bigger you go it becomes relative to the weight. I also did some of these to get some professional feedback as well as tips. http://www.wildarena.com/home.php
Someone mentioned hiring, again brilliant idea, I hired the Canon 70-300L for 3 days for less than £50
I'm with @emmapenny - I've got two friends with the 70-200 F4L and it's superb. You will not do better for the money. On a crop, the 200mm shouldn't really be an issue. Plus you get the sexy Canon L off-white finish...
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And 2nd What budget are you working with?
you can pick one up for about £450 new and even cheaper second hand :)
It will give you much better image quality than the Tamron lens
Someone mentioned hiring, again brilliant idea, I hired the Canon 70-300L for 3 days for less than £50
Thank you all so much for replying to my thread very much appreciated.