[nilanjanray]

The new Nikon 300mm f/4 seems to be revolutionary! Will wait for sample images.

I wish they would hurry up with a D400 or D7200.

Regarding the Canon lens discussion above: I don't have any personal experience with these lenses, but as wildlife shooter, I do know that some lenses are considered exceptional vfm (e.g. the Nikon 70-300mm vr, Canon 100-400mm old lens). Other cheaper telezooms: they are starting lenses that any serious user outgrows pretty fast.

[govigov]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Can someone suggest a cheap zoom lens for my Canon 600D?
I need it as I am going to Tadoba soon. But I dont have budget for additional lens now. So need something reasonable and cheap. Thanks!

Originally Posted by condor

Ren the one that you want to buy ! That is what Ampere is trying to tell you - Renting gives you the chance to use the lens without actually buying the lens. In my own experience, I have purchased a lens and then regretted it - had to sell it at a loss. No single lens can satisfy SLR owners. There are many reasons why you may not like a lens, hence rent the one that you intend to buy - use it, and if you liked it, then buy a new one from any retailer.

Agreed, please rent. check out http://www.toehold.in/rentals/ for same.

Originally Posted by ampere

Regarding Zoom lens for Canon:

55-250 is not a range for birding. Its a mid range telephoto. For that range the best one in 70-200 F4 IS L. I know its expensive, but its worth saving for. 70-300 IS (non-L) is the most basic one you need. But agains its image quality does not stand in front of 70-200. The glass is just too good. But of course 70-200 wont give a range which a 70-300 can give. I did not want a lens for wild life, so I went with 70-200 F4 IS. Did not repent one bit. If you know for sure, you are looking for wild life alone, then the lens to buy is the 300mm prime. Primes are the best ones for wild life. (Again extremely expensive). Then there is also the 100-400 L. But if you are looking at the starting order, with a zoom, look for the 70-300 IS. Its not a constant aperture though.

Again agreed.

To add: Budget permitting, the tammy 150-600 seems excellent for wildlife. It gives better range than the canon 100-400 mk1.

To emphasize: 55-250 is pathetic, it is slow and noisy and will hunt for focus if the subject is not well lit.

IS will not stop a moving object and hence slower aperture will work against it. Wide open aperture can freeze panes, and add bokeh too.

The 55-250 will already be at 5.6 at 250mm and if the animal is in shade, you would need sizeable shutter open time to get a good exposure. At 250mm end, a shutter speed slower than 1/250 or 1/125 can induce motion blur and you would need atleast 1/30 at at f5.6 ISO 100 to get an EV of 16. Increase in ISO can be done, but the subject may be at shade at and you would loose another 4 EV points there.

End point: If the subject is well lit and you are using 5.6, you may get good images. The 55-250 is not for night shooting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value

Most people will initially buy this lens and soon grow out of this lens. I have had a few good shots from this lens.

If you are must in getting this lens, get one pre owned. If you can borrow / rent one, please do so. It is a good learning experience on how to work in different conditions. Do not let this lens put you off photography.

Can you please let us know what lens you are currently using with the 600D? Do you have a backup in case the 55-250 does not work as expected?

May be you can look at a rental just as a backup?

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by govigov

To add: Budget permitting, the tammy 150-600 seems excellent for wildlife. It gives better range than the canon 100-400 mk1.

The 55-250 will already be at 5.6 at 250mm and if the animal is in shade, you would need sizeable shutter open time to get a good exposure.

Two issues with the Tamron:
1. Such a long lens take a little while to get used to, if one hasn't used long telezooms earlier. And if one is going on a trip, and renting, one might not have enough time to practice. Moreover, one would have to shoot at highish ISOs to avoid shake at the longer focal lengths. .
2. The Tamron is not easy to rent. Almost always prebooked.

Re: f/5.6 lenses:
Many many folks use f/5.6 lenses when shooting wildlife. E.g. the Canon 100-400mm and 400mm f/5.6 folks, the Nikon 80-400mm and 70-300mm folks. I personally feel that a f/5.6 lens is fine for shooting wildlife in Indian conditions. Or you need to be ready to spend a LOT on gear.

Almost all wildlife shots here were shot with f/5.6 lenses: https://500px.com/nilanjanray

[govigov]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Two issues with the Tamron:
1. Such a long lens take a little while to get used to,

Re: f/5.6 lenses:

Yes, very true that you will have a hard time getting the subject in frame considering that you have a very small field of view. It was even funny at times. Had to zoom out and then zoom in to get the subject in focus, and if the subject was walking it was hell.

It is a fact and that it holds true while looking at any lenses with f5.6. 250mm at 5.6 is very different from 400mm @ 5.6. I think it is acceptable to have 5.6 at anything over 300mm. The focal length part of it and its comparison to f stops was indeed missed by me, considering that both the canon 100-400 and tammy 150-600 has 5.6 as max aperture at max focal length.

[nilanjanray]

I had rented the 70-200mm f/2.8 vr2 last month. Just to play around with it. As I had mentioned earlier, I won't be buying it - doesn't suit my style and genre of photography. But was fun trying it out on a Sunday.

2 legged wildlife


Edit: low res photo, appears oversharpened when I view it here.

[M35]

Originally Posted by govigov

tammy 150-600 has 5.6 as max aperture at max focal length.

Nope. It's a f/6.3 lens from around 410 to 600mm.

[sachinj12]

Please suggest some good batteries for flash usage (Nikon SB-600). The Uniross 2700mAH batteries I have has conked off. Are there any better batteries available? Sony/Godrej/Panasonic?

[adimicra]

Ok, I have almost decided on the Canon 55-250 STM IS lens ..getting at a price of 23000/-. Any other suggestions within 30K?
I plan to purchase in the next couple of days.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Ok, I have almost decided on the Canon 55-250 STM IS lens ..getting at a price of 23000/-. Any other suggestions within 30K?
I plan to purchase in the next couple of days.

Great. Do share the experience of 55-250 STM with us.
I am keen to know what is so great about STM.

Regards,
JLS

[govigov]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Ok, I have almost decided on the Canon 55-250 STM IS lens ..getting at a price of 23000/-. Any other suggestions within 30K?
I plan to purchase in the next couple of days.

Canon 85mm 1.8. Do read up on this lens.

[adimicra]

Originally Posted by govigov

Canon 85mm 1.8. Do read up on this lens.

Sorry but I am looking for a basic telephoto lens.

[govigov]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Sorry but I am looking for a basic telephoto lens.

I thought you had already bought the 55-250 and is now looking at another lens.

What lenses do you currently have on your canon?

[adimicra]

Originally Posted by govigov

I thought you had already bought the 55-250 and is now looking at another lens.

What lenses do you currently have on your canon?

Actually I ended up buying the basic 55-250 IS lens (non-STM) as it was available so cheap at 8K.

I currently have the 18-55 kit lens and the 50 mm prime lens.

I don't intend to have a large collection of lenses but in the near future, I do want to replace the 18-55 with a better general purpose lens.. I am thinking about the 18-135 (STM one is 25K, non-STM in 21K) or the 15-85 (45K) or may be a 17-50 from Tamron or Sigma etc.
Please do suggest. Incase you are not aware, my camera is 600D

[ampere]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Please do suggest. Incase you are not aware, my camera is 600D

17-55 Canon is a fantastic lens to replace. Much much better than Tamron. But its costlier too. But if you need general purpose walk through lens, 15-85 is ideal one to have. In fact I would also suggest the 24-105 F4 IS L. Its the perfect all rounder lens. Good portraits and constant F4 add to the utility

[Rajvir Bains]

Hello guys,
I am on a lookout for external flash for my canon 550d for indoor portraits at night. I want flash for taking pictures during family gatherings only. I checked out canon 430ex2 which is expensive arnd Rs 17000. Is there any good alternative to canon 430ex2 ? I checked the net and found nissin di622 and sigma 610 dg st to be cheaper than canon. Read some of the reviews about both but could not decide.
So can you guys guide me and provide me tips to getting a value for money flash system.
Please note i just want pleasing portraits during low light conditions, i am not a proffessional, but open to spending 17k if its really worth it.
Thank you