Medium Range, High Quality Zoom.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Thanks Geoff and Dai, though I think I may have given the wrong impression that I need a long lens. I have the Sigma 50-500 which does me fine for the long end of things and I have a Sigma 105mm for macro. So the lens I'm looking to buy here is to essentially cover 105-200mm (I think the Sigma is effective at 300mm). I can't foresee myself getting tangled up in extension tubes and/or converters, just the lens on its own.

I've found somewhere where I can get a f/4 with IS for little over £760. Is the F/4 with IS going to be much different to a f/2.8 without?

Why is it so hard to make decisions

It's not easy Nick!

I had the same problem deciding between the Sigma and Tamron 70 - 200 f2.8

I ended up tossing a coin only to change my mind when it came to pressing the buy button

Bought for portrait / wedding photography ... and wildlife (when not using the Bigma!) using the x1.4

Only you can decide in the end ... but I would really think about how, why and when you would use it!!

John

PS No results yet I'm afraid ... I'm still under doctors orders

[NickCantle]

Hope you feel better soon John!

I was browsing one of the 'Uk' sites that ship from asia (this particular one ships from Honk Kong) and I found a new 70-200mm f/2.8 for under £800. The thing is, I now face the same dilemma as when I bought the Bigma. Do I buy in the Uk and pay about £200 more, or do I buy there and hope nothing is faulty?



I get the feeling that £789 is pretty good (free shipping) for a new f/2.8.

[NJP87]

£789 is a good price, but i would pay the extra for the peace of mind.

Nick

[NickCantle]

From what I read in various places, the f/2.8 IS is the one to have, and I can't afford it, nor justify the price.

I don't think I am ready for that sort of commitment. After all, that is an incredibly vast sum for something I'm not sure I would use it for.

Thanks for all input, but I have dissuaded myself from buying any of the 70-200mm's.

[GerryNick2]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

From what I read in various places, the f/2.8 IS is the one to have, and I can't afford it, nor justify the price.

I don't think I am ready for that sort of commitment. After all, that is an incredibly vast sum for something I'm not sure I would use it for.

Thanks for all input, but I have dissuaded myself from buying any of the 70-200mm's.

Probably a wise decision Nick. Like you I have a bigma and a macro lens but my most used lenses for nature and wildlife are the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L (fungi, flowers, reptiles etc.) and the Canon 100-400mm (Birds and larger mammals etc). If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and desperate to get your hands on some L class glass then you may want to consider one of these.

Gerry

[eeyore]

As I said by PM my feeling is that you could do worse than the sigma f2.8 70-200 that has EX glass (essentially the same thing as L) and is somewhat cheaper at circas 500 notes.

Also (as you arent going to be using TCs and already have long glass) you need to ask yourself why you want f2.8 - chances are good that you arent going to use either f2.8 or f4 for portraiture, and you wont be having low light issues if you are working with flash.

There is often a feeling that you "have" to buy the pro kit when the cheaper f5.6 glass would in fact perform as well as you need (remember the adage that "if the minimum wasnt good enough it wouldnt be the minimum" ) My walking arround lens is a sigma 18-200mm f4-f5.6 and that does nearly everything that i'd ask of it. On the occasions when i really need a f2.8 lens - covering gigs, big sports events etc I hire a 70-200 (either canon or sigma).

[Fourwings]

Originally Posted by eeyore

As I said by PM my feeling is that you could do worse than the sigma f2.8 70-200 that has EX glass (essentially the same thing as L) and is somewhat cheaper at circas 500 notes.

I'd second that opinion, the Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX DG is an awesome lens, I have borrowed one a few times and its next in line on my "to buy" list.

Have a look at one Nick, I think you'll be very pleasantly suprised at the image quality and as its a Sigma EX series lens its built like a tank and handles beautifully.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I just picked up the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX DG Macro last week, Jessops had a sale on and it was £340 new.

I've taken it for a trial to a local park and I'm very pleased so far :-



neil

[Fourwings]

Very nice image, and a very nice price for a quality lens.

[FungiJohn]

This is not the Mk II version but it's a cracking deal at that price.

I still haven't tried mine out yet

John