Additional lense to complete my kit

[Purplepixii]

I've recently upgraded my old Canon D60 to a Canon 500D. So my current kit is:
Canon EOS 500D
Canon 28-90mm 0.38m/1.3ft Ultrasonic
Canon Zoom Lense EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III USM
Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro Lense

I am desperate for a lense that lets me get better pictures of wildlife without the need to get so close. I particularly like photographing birds, dragon/damselflies, butterflies. I did get a Canon-fit teleconverter for my birthday 2 years ago but it didn't seem to physically fit my D60 so I returned it and got the Macro lense instead

Would this lense be any good - item number 370318447058 on ebay?

If anyone can recommend what type of lense I should be looking to buy I would be very grateful. I'm a student, so I'm not loaded, therefore as much as the £1,000+ lenses look sexy they are out of my reach

Thankyou

Purplepixii

[tomw]

Hi,
to be honest, after looking at the ebay item, i think you would be dissapointed with its results. It would obviously get you closer without having to get closer, but the image quality wouldnt in my opinion be worth the gain. For the same kind of money as that lens you could get a teleconverter from kenko which I own and that gives pretty good results. However, with the canon lens you own you might still struggle a bit as zoom lenses arnt the most accomodating for teleconverters.

Photographing dragonflies and butterflies would be easier done with your current macro lens, particuarly if you attached a teleconverter to that one, as its already a nice lens.

As for birds its a difficult area. If you want more reach with good quality you generally have to spend a bit more. Therefore the best thing you could do would be to either:
(a) go to places where you can get closer without being seen (bird hides/photo days) or
(b) keep improving your fieldcraft and try to get closer yourself without scaring the subject. thats a difficult one to do but its worth the continued effort.

If you have any other questions I'd be glad to answer them.

[big bill]

Hello Purplepixie I agree with tom about the lens on ebay would`nt go near it ,for some extra savings and if you can afford it why not save up and go for the Sigma 170-500mm lens or the 150-500mm lens I use the 170-500 mm lens and I do not have any quibbles about it gives great results maybe a bit heavy but you have to give something for the chance of getting closer to your subject



some examples

[Mike Jackson]

I had a similar quandary just recently and ended up flogging my 75-300 IS USM lens on e-blag and getting the Canon EF 100 - 400 f/4.5 - 5.6 L IS USM lens.

Cost me £860 second hand but well worth the money. I would stick with your current kit until you can afford the better lens.

These were taken with the 100-400



As for dragonflies and damselflies I find my 100mm macro works admirably.

[Ukwildlifeo]

I'd second the recommendation for a sigma 150-500mm, got some ok shots of some skittish redwings today in poor weather with it.

[david156]

Hi.

I've got the 75-300 canon lens and wanted to upgrade. So was going to get the sigma 150 - 500 as its a good lens at a cheaper price. But as luck goes i got an excellent canon 100 - 400 for about £100 more than the sigma and was glad I did. As mike jackson said "its well worth the money". Now Since then I haven't touched the 75-300 and will sell it or part ex it.

Cheers david

[Purplepixii]

Apologies for the slow reply (things have been manic) and many thanks to all for your suggestions

I'll have to start saving for a good lense I guess

I was thinking the other day though, on all my current lenses I have a filter screwed on the front, just for protection of the actual lens itself. It's a shame they aren't magnified, could be a much cheaper option than a new lens.

Purplepixii

[wizzo]

You can buy screw on lenses for close up work Purple Pixii, so I'm not sure why you can't buy screw in filters to do the opposite - maybe you can. I'm sure one of the tech' heads in here will know why? - Wizzo

[Ukwildlifeo]

On SLRs the teleconvertors (magnifying lenses) that go on the back of a lens, rather than the front, but perform the same function. You can get teleconvertors that go on the front for bridge camera etc so maybe there are some for slr lenses too, but in both cases you loose performance in terms of image quality and max aperture size/shutter speed.

[Purplepixii]

Ahhh ok that makes sense, thankyou.

I think I have mentally ear-marked some of my next student loan payment for that sexy 170-500 lens later this year (seeing as my 1st SL payment bought the new camera body hehehe)