Budget zoom lens for a Canon Xt - tips please ..

[nikovich]

Hi guys, I'm almost ready to take the giant leap into DLSR photography having had tremendous success with a Fuji point and shoot super-zoom, now the time has come for more quality and faster response times...

I'm more or less 99% happy with my choice for a small , lightweight camera for Wildlife photography to use in the field , and have settled for the Canon Xt , as I don't have the budget for anything more expensive than that right now.

So, my question is - could someone please recommend me some half-decent budget lenses for this camera , including a compatible tele-converter/extender .
Say a , 300mm lens and 1.4 teleconverter to get me started.

I value everyone's opinion on this Forum , and look forward to seeing the replies.

Thankyou !

Nick

[tjsimonsen]

Hi Nick,

Good choice re camera (have the same myself).

Now, you don't say what 'budget' means to you. But the Sigma 135-400 is aparently a quite decent lens (more so regarding the price tag):
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_135400_4556/index.htm
You will get 400mm without adding a TC, which could be a probelm on a xx-300 zoom (some get good results, some don't).
A step up (especially in optic quality) would be the Canon 70-300 IS, but it's off course a bit shorter:
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_70300_456is/index.htm
The Tamron 200-500 is a further step up, both in price and reach:
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_200500_563/index.htm
People definitly get good results with that one.

Thomas

[tjsimonsen]

I see you live in Canada too. Have a look at this site:
http://www.cameracanada.ca/

Thomas

[nikovich]

Thankyou Thomas - some interesting choices there ...

My budget really is only about $300

[mike from ebbw]

I use a sigma 135-400mm on my 300d.I am delighted with it and it only cost me 100 GB pounds S/H.You cant get much cheaper than that.I took the attached pic with it yesterday.

[tjsimonsen]

Hi,

You should be able to get a 70-300 for that amount. But you will be hard pressed to get a TC as well.
In the film days I had a Sigma 70-300 APO macro and was resonably satisfied. Perhaps the newer models are better?

Thomas

[Modular]

Hi,

You should be able to get a 70-300 for that amount. But you will be hard pressed to get a TC as well.
In the film days I had a Sigma 70-300 APO macro and was resonably satisfied. Perhaps the newer models are better?

Thomas

You could get the Canon 75-300 USM III for your Budget ...
http://www.cameracanada.ca/eNet-cart/product.asp?pid=6473A003
I could'nt see Canada selling a Canon 75-300 USM III "IS" ... For less than $300 ...
Cheapest i seen One in Canada for the "IS" Version is nearly $700, So "IS" would be
out of your Budget ... As for Teleconverter's ... Go for the Kenko DG Pro 300 1.4, Don't consider a 2x ... You lose too much quality,
http://www.cameracanada.ca/eNet-cart/Product.asp?pid=KEP14AFC&type= , ... You can get these much cheaper else where
than on This Canadian Site ... Try Ebay etc
Best deal on a TC your going to get ... Good glass in this One too,
I have the 75-300 plus Kenko and it work's fine,
Good Luck,
John,

[nikovich]

Wow - some great info there - thanks a million guys .

And Mike - that Wagtail photo is gorgeous. Is that 400 mm lens still for sale ?

[mike from ebbw]

Hi Nikovich.Sorry but I had the last one.The only reason he sold it to me so cheap was that he said it needed to be chipped to work with a digital body.I took my 300d body into the shop to try it out and found out it worked fine.It had already been chipped!Needless to say I said nothing to the shop assistant except "oh go on I will have it anyway".

[nikovich]

No problem Mike :-)

I just ordered a Kenko Pro 1.4 tele . Now all I need is the camera and lens !

[oldgiteggy]

Hi Nikovich.Sorry but I had the last one.The only reason he sold it to me so cheap was that he said it needed to be chipped to work with a digital body.I took my 300d body into the shop to try it out and found out it worked fine.It had already been chipped!Needless to say I said nothing to the shop assistant except "oh go on I will have it anyway".


Ah ha, I found another one in Swansea Camera Centre. £150 and £34 to have it chipped. Any use..a long way from Canada, though?:h?: