[purplepleaser]

Hello

I have had my Canon 350d for a while. It came with the standard bundle lense. I have been slowly learning how to use some of the camera's features.

I will be trying to photograph wildlife(WWT)and general bits and bobs. I will try and learn more on Macro too.

I am thinking of buying the following two lenses=

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM

I hope they fit and work with my camera.

I am wondering if these are a good choice in terms of performance and fit my requirements, with the outstanding money from my budget what other type of lense would be good to look out for which would cover other areas of photography.

I would love a Canon 100-400 L lense, if feel that trying to get three lenses for the price of one is the sensible thing to do.

If there is any other lenses or combinations i should look at please give me a list.

Thanks for reading and i hope you can help.

Lee

[Sonsey]

Originally Posted by purplepleaser

I am thinking of buying the following two lenses=

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM

I hope they fit and work with my camera.

Yep, they will work fine with your camera. The 350D is compatable with all EF and EF-S lenses.

Originally Posted by purplepleaser

I will be trying to photograph wildlife(WWT)and general bits and bobs. I will try and learn more on Macro too.

I am wondering if these are a good choice in terms of performance and fit my requirements, with the outstanding money from my budget what other type of lense would be good to look out for which would cover other areas of photography.

I would love a Canon 100-400 L lense, if feel that trying to get three lenses for the price of one is the sensible thing to do.

Personally I found that 300mm wasn't long enough for birds and wildlife which is why I pushed the boat out for the 100-400L IS, allthough many are satisfied with 300mm for what they want to photograph.

Unfortunately going for the 100-400 will blow most/all of your budget, saying that you can find them 2nd hand in the £750-800 range or import them new for around £850-900. If you managed to get one 2nd hand then you could possibly still go for a Macro lens as both the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 and the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lenses are highly regarded and can be had a good bit cheaper than the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro, especially if you import it through Onestop-Digital or somewhere simular.

However if you don't fancy trying that then I'm sure you find both the Canon 70-300IS and the 100 macro great lenses to use, with the 100mm macro being particularly excellent

If you do go the way you originally intended and would like to add a 3rd lens to the list then in the walkabout/portrait range I can reccommend the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 XR DI (at around £250), quite light and very sharp with only build quality letting the side down a little. If build quality is very important to you then the Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 (at around £275) is highly thought of in the same range, allthough it may not be just as sharp as the Tamron.
Another option would be to go for an ultra-wide angle lens for those big landscapes, if you'd be interested in that then I can highly reccommend the Sigma 10-20mm (at around £300).

Hope this help's a bit, and don't forget to have a look round the Equipment Reviews section for reviews on the above aswell as other options.

[stepheno]

I concur with everything Sonsey has said. I can add that I did have the 70-300 IS and , for the price it is a great lens and the upgraded IS is just the job. I only got rid because I bought the 100-400L, like Sonsey I wanted the extra 100mm. An alternative to the 100-400 is to buy the 70-30 and a Kenko 1.4 teleconverter (only £99) which would give you 420mm. You will lose one stop with the Kenko but the IS will give you some compensation.

I do have the 100mm macro - an astounding lens. Build and image quality is superb and it has internal focusing so it wont hit the bugs in the face. A good and cheaper alternative macro lens is the Tamron 90mm. Apparently it has superb IQ but the build isn't as good as Canon, plus it extends when focusing. Bear in mind that Sonsey and I both shoot Canon so you might get input about other third party lenses from other members. HTH.

[purplepleaser]

Hi

thanks for the replies,

I keep looking at the 100-400L, it would be perfect for wildlife, its just soooooo much money.

I am not fixed on getting Canon lenses, it would be nice i suppose.

I have not been to Martin Mere yet(rubbish weather) so i am unable to judge how long a lense i really need, i realise bigger is always better.

I am only just getting to grips with the camera and my thinking is if i could get 2 or maybe three lenses then really learn the art of photography-then go for the uber lense in the next couple of years.

I will have the money in the next month so i will get round the camera shops and get a feel for the kit.

Cheers for the information

Lee

[purplepleaser]

Hi again,

I have being browing Onestop-Digital and i have a couple of questions.

It says that some equipment comes with the international warranty, does this mean i could get it fixed in the UK if it was to develop a fault.

Also has anybody used Onestop-Digital.

Lee in Manchester

[Dave]

Originally Posted by purplepleaser

Hi again,

I have being browing Onestop-Digital and i have a couple of questions.

It says that some equipment comes with the international warranty, does this mean i could get it fixed in the UK if it was to develop a fault.

Also has anybody used Onestop-Digital.

Lee in Manchester

Yep & Yep Quite a few members have used them with good feedback, including ,myself 3 times

[purplepleaser]

Hi Dave

Cheers

Looks like a 100-400L is a possibility, even the Canon EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM
is a great price too

Just have to wait for the money first

[Sonsey]

Originally Posted by purplepleaser

Also has anybody used Onestop-Digital.

Yep, another user here, twice. Delivery time is normally about a week for me allthough it could be a bit quicker for you as you live in mainland UK.

There is also a chance that you could get charged an import tax when the item's are delivered, you will need to pay that upfront but not to worry, just keep the reciept and email a copy to Onestop and they will refund any fee's you may have incured.

[abirkill]

Another recommendation for One-stop here too!

[Charlotte]

Just had a quick look at onestop-digital ... I am impressed with their prices

[summitphotographics]

I know I'm going to get flack from everyone in this room, so take this for what it's worth...I have worked for the AP and haved operated my own stock imagery firm for the last twelve years and have received this question hundreds of times. Although I, personally, am a Nikon believer (one of the few), I always ask amateur photographers to take a good, hard look at Sigma's "Bigma" (50-500mm). Granted, it's big, bulky, a tinsie more expensive than what you were looking for, and has no IS, but I have found it's optical quality to surpass ALL superzooms, including the 100-400L, and it's range is unmatched.

For example, just last year I travelled to Zambia to shoot wildlife. Seeing it was endlessly sunny, I mounted the Bigma on my primary body, a 70-200 VR on my secondary (again, a nikon), and took along two spares (50mm 1.8 + 300mm 2.8 VR). I shot 1500 pictures - all but 125 of them with my Bigma. It's definetely not a lugging around type lens, but if you plan on being relatively stationary (i.e. vehicle, bird photography), please consider.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by summitphotographics

I know I'm going to get flack from everyone in this room, so take this for what it's worth....... I always ask amateur photographers to take a good, hard look at Sigma's "Bigma" (50-500mm). Granted, it's big, bulky, a tinsie more expensive than what you were looking for, and has no IS, but I have found it's optical quality to surpass ALL superzooms, including the 100-400L, and it's range is unmatched.

Dave runs for cover from the beloved Canon "L" lens lovers on the site

It's always good to hear of alternative views on subjects