I have an average quality 55-250mm lens that was thrown in with deal as part of a sale package when I bought my camera. I want to get closer to my subjects than this lens allows. Is it worth it to upgrade to a higher quality 70-300mm? A woman at a local camera shop said if I’m going to spend the money, I should just jump to a 400mm, but the price difference is huge! Any opinions?
get good glass as said above if you do that you can crop to get the distance you need try sigma 70-200 f2.8 this can be used with extension tubes & still is f4 all the way through
I have the 70-300mm VR Nikkor lens (I think it's $500-600) and it is one of the sharpest lens I have, and on the crop sensor it's really a 450mm lens. Only drawback is the 3.5-5.6 aperture, which is why I also have a 80-200mm f/2.8. Definitely enjoy the 70-300mm when I have the available light, I've shot a ton of motorsports events with it, it's lighter to carry than my 80-200mm, and because it's not DX it works on my film bodies, too. So it was worth the money to me.
Don't listen to people at camera shops. They're there to make money. It's almost as bad as listening to people on the internet...
I sold my 70-300mm DO lens a couple of years ago, but it was magic for motorsports and the like. As most everyone has said though, go for quality over focal length. No point getting cheap glass.
@steveh@Pillango35@spthorne@cookie123@hmgphotos@jinximages@hown@bobfoto Thank you for the information and advice. I bought my first DSLR a few months prior to starting this project with no prior experience with anything but a simple P&S. I've done a lot of reading on technique, but I still need a deeper understanding of lenses. I would like to be able to take photos of birds and animals that I can crop in enough to see the detail and still have a good quality picture. Given that my current lens was added to my kit for a fairly price, I do believe my issue with it proabaly relates to quality rather than focal length.
Thanks again. The information you've given me is invaluable.
Hi
This may help you this was taken on my Sigam EX 17-50 f2.8 @ 50mm & cropped hard
If you invest in good lens quality & use low ISO with a good sensor then you can do this
I regularly use my 50-200 & crop close also
I got my 50-200 Sigma f4/5.6 for £99.00 do there are dome good bargains about if you look
Taken 50mm EX as above
This was my 50-200 hard crop
Hope this helps i use a Nikon D7000 16.2 MP body if that helps
Cheers
Si
@spthorne It helps immensely. I'm glad I asked the question because I didn't realize how much the difference the quality of a lens can make. I think I've decided to go for a higher quality 70-300mm. I am definitey a newby so my camera is a Canon Rebel T1i. I want to buy lenses that can be used if I should decide to upgrade my camera in the future. Thanks again
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Don't listen to people at camera shops. They're there to make money. It's almost as bad as listening to people on the internet...
What are you shooting that prompts the purchase?
Thanks again. The information you've given me is invaluable.
This may help you this was taken on my Sigam EX 17-50 f2.8 @ 50mm & cropped hard
If you invest in good lens quality & use low ISO with a good sensor then you can do this
I regularly use my 50-200 & crop close also
I got my 50-200 Sigma f4/5.6 for £99.00 do there are dome good bargains about if you look
Taken 50mm EX as above
This was my 50-200 hard crop
Hope this helps i use a Nikon D7000 16.2 MP body if that helps
Cheers
Si
However as i am a big Sigma fan try this one as an option
http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/70-300mmOS.htm
Cheers
Si