need lense advice

[jwsciontc]

so my xsi is on its way, but i am looking at zoom lenses to go with it. I will be using it to shoot marching band, soccer games mostly, maybe some beach things in the summer.

Iwas first focused on the 55-250 but have steered away from its "kit lense quality". I then looked at the 70-300 and felt it it was just a tad better than the 55-250. The most recent focus has been the 70-200 f4l non is lense. the price is a tad steep, but used is just under 500. However, i am worried that the zoom will not be enough?

Basically I am asking you guys to recommend a zoom lense for under $600, basically in between the 55-250 and the 70-200 f4 quality wise. Keeping my eye on the 70-300 4-5.6 is AF lense though

 

[Sw1tchFX]

if you can swing the L lens, do that.

 

[jwsciontc]

from all the reviews i have read thus far, the 70-200 is used more for wildlife and stuff liek that, and the 70-300 for sports, which is my main thing. the extra 100mm is also very convincing. I'm an amateur at best, so i'm thinkin an L lense isn't really necessary right now.

I've been shopping around, and there are a handful of 70-300's on ebay for great prices

 

[Overread]

the 70-300s have a longer focal range yes which is better for sports and wildlife (they have very similar requirements) but they are more budget line lenses - which means although your getting 300mm, your not getting high end results which can mean when pushed with longer distance shooting the weaker lenses just don't hold up.
Now a 70-200mm is really a bit short for proper wildife, but the 70-200mm f4 L (heck the whole 70-200mm L line) is a very sharp lens. In time get yourself a 1.4* teleconverter which will work with the 70-200mm, giving you something-280mm range (almost a 300mm) and also with almost no loss of quality to shooting without the teleconverter.
I find my 70-200mm a great lens for zoos and such where you can eliminate the range problem with much of wildlife and also the changing sizes and distances at a zoo favours zoom lenses. After that I intend to get a 300mm prime (an f4 or f2.8 is good - I aim for the f2.8) which will be the main wildlife lens proper.

 

[jwsciontc]

yeah im on a pretty tight budget. 500 max i wanna say

 

[Do'Urden's Eyes]

i believe the 70-300mm is actually a pretty expensive piece of glass. definately more then 500.

Edit: in american dollars its about 500, canada its around 600 or 700.

 

[uplander]

If budget is a really big concern I would not hesitate to get the EF 70 - 300 f/4.5-5.6 IS USM. For the money it is a very sharp lens when you do your part, its limitation would be that it is a slow lens ( aperture).
here are some examples of its capabilities.
FWIW I still have mine even tho I have better lenss in that range. I keep it because it does well when you want something light for travel.

Examples

Sharpness

A fast moving object example

Moving object in a low light situation

Again under rather poor lighting and cropped which will really show flaws

Full frame

Cropped

If these are ecceptable to you ...go on and get the 70-300

 

[jwsciontc]

nice nice, i think i can settle with those, are any of those at full 300mm?

 

[uplander]

most except the first
here is the exif for the eagle

File Name: Eagle066.jpg (rename) .jpgok cancel

File Size: 278 kb
Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 10D
Date/Time: 2007:07:07 14:19:47
Resolution: 534 x 800
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 476...
CCD Width: 22.67mm
Exposure Time: 0.0056 s (1/180)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO Equiv.: 400
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix

 

[Village Idiot]

The 70-200 f/4 is amazing. I've used one and the files came out a bit crisper than my 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Plus it has the USM focusing motor. It's fast enough for me to track motorcycles flying by at 90mph on a 30D, so it should do what you need it too.

 

[jwsciontc]

how does that motor compare to the 70-300's? i heard the 70-300's is pretty slow

 

[Village Idiot]

how does that motor compare to the 70-300's? i heard the 70-300's is pretty slow

Yes.

70-300 will probably focus about as quick as the kit lens. Unless you've used a lens with USM/HSM/whateverSM, then you're not going to know what you're missing out until you do.

Believe me, when I say fast, I mean fast. Whenever my 70-200 is hunting, it can go from one extreme to the next and back quicker than it takes something like the Canon 50mm f/1.8 to go from near focus to far focus.

 

[jwsciontc]

the 70-300 is USM

 

[uplander]

The 70- 300 is USM the difference is that the L lenses employ the piezo electric ring type which is as far as I can tell a bit faster than the Micro motor type found in the less expensive EF models. both are pretty damn fast.

If you need motre reach I would suggest the 70-300 if not the 70-200 f/4 is a killer lens for roughly the same bucks.

The 70 -200 f/2.8 IS USM is an awesome lens that should be in everyone kit if they have the funds. The uses for this lens is incredible!

 

[jwsciontc]

now i am focusing on the new tamron 18-270, ive seen shots at full focus and they are incredible. goes for 600. guess this means selling some of my drum equipment