Crazy Bimmer

^ Im gonna try that, thanks!

Yes i did rent extension and those are even harder to use. Seems like you need to be at the exact distance otherwise its gone to shit.

Its fun to experiment with and i might actually keep this stuff longer than 3 days. Guess i was thinking it would be an easy shoot and thats it. Nope.

jupitersolo

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=447378

slobeatz

I recently picked up a Sony A100 with the kit lens (17-80mm f3.5-5.6). I am currently trying to decide what additional lenses I should buy. So far I'm thinking of:

Minolta 50mm f1.7 ($155 used)
Sigma 70-300mm DG APO w/Macro f4-5.6 ($219 new)

Are there any other combinations that may be better than the above. I was also thinking that a 28mm f2.8 wide-angle lense would be a good addition to the kit lens.

I've done alot of research on the lenses themselves, but I'm a little confused on what would be a good set to have for most occasions. Hopefully you guys can shed a little light.

MrChad

http://www.marcuskarlsen.com/in_the_bag.htm
This guy has some reviews of some great Minolta glass.

The Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 was a lens shared between Minolta and Tamron at one point. Tamron may also have a verion of their well received 17-50mm XR Di/2.8.

You may want to wait on the tele; Sony has a new 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM on the way, just announced at PMA.

Sony is going to have a big lens lineup coming on board you may want to wait and see what they have going down the road...

Mizouse

hmm....

do you think its possible to sell my 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM + hood for $500?

if so come march 1st if my paycheck is big enough, new tele for me

MrChad

You own some Minolta or Sony gear?
http://www.popphoto.com/photonews/50...om-lenses.html

Mizouse

sorry, that was supposed to be a completely different topic, i own a Canon Rebel XTi

slobeatz

I ended up buying a used beercan lens (minolta 70-210mm f4). Seems to be a pretty popular lens. I'm on a limited budget, so I'm trying to get the best bang for my buck. Thanks for your help!

moeronn

Still OOS at B+H and there are only 5 days left before the instant rebates are gone. I should have bought one last time they had them in stock.

Mizouse

im glad then i got mine in before the whole OOS deal

moeronn

You mean before THIS OOS deal. It was OOS the first time you posted about it.

moeronn

Well, there goes most of my state refund.

Mizouse

jupitersolo

Most of...? You need to make an additionally choice.

moeronn

You're right. I forget to get a hood (actually, I thought it would come with one).

Any recommendations for a hood for this lens? The Canon hood is $50 and Adorama has their own for $25. Any other suggestions?

jupitersolo

I not tried Adorama generic products, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to things like this. You can always give it a try and see how well it works. I pose this question over at POTN and see what comes up.

Mizouse

how is the website buydig.com? seems to have pretty good reviews on pricegrabber.. just wondering cause if i can save like 30bux over BH and its a good site i might order it from them.

jupitersolo

I have heard a lot of people using buydig without any problems.

moeronn

The 17-55 just arrived. If the weather is good, I might take it out to Disneyland tonight. The hood will take another week or so, since I went the ebay route (<$12 shipped). If it sucks, then I'll spring for the Canon hood.

Billiam

I've ordered from buydig.com twice with no issues whatsoever. On the first order I did with them (24-70 f/2.8), they did a call back to verify I was actually the person placing the order . Uncommon and added an extra day, but certainly nothing to complain about.

Billiam

Huy Jup, does the autofocus on your new 300 f/4 sound peculiar at all to you? I've had that lens for more than two years and while the autofocus has worked just fine, I've always thought that it's distinctly louder and much more "clunky" sounding than my other lenses.

jupitersolo

There is a thread over at FM about this. It is the noisiest lens that I own. I use it the first time during the lunar, pretty quite everywhere but the lens. Pretty sharp but it makes some noise.

Mizouse

looks like i wont be getting the 70-200 2.8 until the end of march

srika

what's the closest thing Canon has to Nikon's 18-200? asking for a friend who has a 20D. I think there is a Canon 18-135 but I'm having trouble finding more about it, for some reason. Not sure if they actually make it.

Dan Martin

Canon doesn't make one, but Tamron, Tokina, and Sigma all do..

Mizouse

stupid parking services on campus

srika

ok - thx

Billiam

Well I succumbed to temptation and ordered the 180mm f/3.5L macro this morning.

srika

that looks like a killer lens.

Dan Martin

It's a great lens!

moeronn

Congrats Billiam. Throw a 1.4 extender on there and you will definitely be able to shoot a gnat's a$$

jupitersolo

srika

i want a macro lens...

MrChad

Can I come over on a play, I live near by.

Good lord, what on earth do you do with a Macro that larger, how fricken small are the flowers you are shooting?

My 100mm is way longer then I need some days

jupitersolo

This is one of the best lenses Canon makes, not just for macro.

MrChad

Perhaps I should list the glass I own, can't recall if I ever did that in this thread...

Own currently:
10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 EFS (USA)
17-55mm f/2.8 EFS IS
24-70mm f/2.8L
70-200mm f/2.8L
100mm f/2.8 Macro

Owned but sold:
10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 EFS (Grey)
17-40mm f/4.0L
18-125mm DC Sigma
24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM EF
28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM EF
50mm f/1.8 Mk1 (1987 date)
70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM EF
420EX
580EX
Canon Eos D30 3.3MP
Canon Eos Digital Rebel 6.2MP
Canon Eos Elan 7N [35mm]

Currently using an Eos 30D; 40D and Canon Elan 7e [35mm] bodies w/ 580EX II flash.

Billiam

For me it's not about the size of the subjects as much as how much further away you can be from them and the resulting freedom of movement and tripod setup that extra distance can give you.

MrChad

Ever use one? For anything other then Macro this lens is heavy and slow to AF compared to say a 200/2.8 or even a 70-200/2.8. And f/3.5 is a bit slow for anything beyound macro as a wide open lens, especially since an F4 would be a lot smaller lens. Even the 100mm/Macro is faster in all regards.

The f/3.5 is moot for Macro b/c one most folks use a tripd and second at close macro distances the effective aperture darkens making the shutter speed needed slower anyhow. And at 180mm you will have seperation, maybe even at f/16

This is a hard core Macro lens. I heard somewhere once it was developed with dental/medical photography in mind as a primary need.

The other downside is most commonly affordable macro light kits don't fit this lens. You can't thread a nice 58mm Macro ring light on this puppy. :P I use strobes anyhow, but some don't.

I would also hope this is being used on a FF camera to fully take advantage of glass like this. Why waste 40% of the lenses potentail on a crop body.

jupitersolo

No have have not use this lens. I have a 100mm macro, this is a lens that I covet. I can't find the webpage but here's a few of what I'm talking about.

MrChad

No doubt it takes great photos, never doubted that - but it's a $1200 macro lens :P


I really like my 100/2.8 Macro as well, but it was under $400 on rebate

I think Tamron and Siggy both have 180mm as well, for far less if you are serious about macro but your wallet isn't. :p

I see the min focus spec for the lens is 1.5' wonder how close a Canon 70-200mm could get with an extension tube? It's 3' normally I think.