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Canon 20D and 75-300 lens (1 Viewer)

R

Rob Williams

Well-known member
I have been planning to buy the 20D for a while now and am more than satisfied that it will meet my requirements. However, does anyone think that I will not be able to get good results with the above combination?

With regards to the lens, I suppose it will be worth paying the extra to get the USM IS, rather than just USM?

Thanks in advance.


Rob
 
Hi Rob,

I have both the 75-300 USM and a 100-400 IS, I always hand hold and Im amazed at the results with IS, but this is at 400mm, so I guess at 300mm, it may not be too bad in the difference, especially with how small and lightweight the 75-300 USM is. Im not sure on the price difference, but if you have the money, why not! Though Im so impressed with my 100-400 IS if you've looked at that at all? Brilliant lens, compact too. Though my 75-300 is ok for general photos, I'd only use my 100-400mm lens for serious bird photography

all the best
 
James,

Thanks for that. I thought someone would say that...I'm not sure if I've got the money the money for the 100-400.

Where's that piggy bank?


Rob
 
It's the Canon 100-400mm USM IS lens. I bought one about three weeks ago along with the 20D and am starting to get the hang of things. There's some learning curve if, like me, you've never used a DSLR before. In fact, all of my SLRs up to now have been manual so I'm still figuring out the bells, whistles and whirligigs. However, I think this combination will be well worth it in the long run. I'm having fun!

Good luck with your decision.
Ingrid
 
Hi Rob,

Like Ingrid said its the Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens. Its on their website somewhere, as I looked at it myself, brilliant lens, can't recommend it enough for a travelling birder like myself.

Wheres the piggie bank?! Its in that big overdraft account! I was passing through Singapore this year on my way to birding in Indonesia and picked one up for under 700 pounds! I'd never buy british when it comes to cameras. In America its even cheaper, orgainsing my canon 20D being brought over at the moment, though it can be a hassle, hopefully it'll be worth it in the end though!

all the best
 
Yes, thank you all. I eventually found it, on someone else's website. What with buying my camera it's going to be outside of my budget at present. I may have to buy the camera and 75-300 and then start saving! There's an old fashioned word if ever there was one. Or will it be a bank loan...?


Rob :C
 
Rob: don't get too down. You'll have a great camera and a good lens. You'll be out seeing lots of neat birds, honing your skills. You'll make some terrific photos and have fun doing it. I have a friend with a D100 and a Nikon 75-300. He gets some beautiful shots with that set-up and with the 20D you'll be able to do even better.

Re: savings. I've taken to eating lunch at my desk. Saves me about $40 per week, which means another lens in about six to seven months!
Ingrid
 
Rob Williams said:
James,

Thanks for that. I thought someone would say that...I'm not sure if I've got the money the money for the 100-400.

Where's that piggy bank?


Rob
Click to expand...

Yeah the 100-400 is pricey but as they say you'll only cry once with that lens. Have you thought of buying a 2nd hand 10D plus a new 100-400? There are loads about now the 20D is out and I'll be happy with mine for a couple of years at least.

All my stuff at http://www.pbase.com/clive_temple/birds was taken hand held (or propped on the car window) with a 10D/100-400 and almost always with a 1.4 multiplier (I'd thoroughly recommend one). The Black Redstart was taken with all of them, handheld at about 10m. The biggest advantage I have though is I live in the sun and shoot at 400 ASA for hand and 200 when propped......even at 800 you'll struggle to see any difference on the web.

For more info try http://www.dpreview.com/ the best DP site on the web IMO.
 
Thanks all, especially Ingrid. I've taken the plunge and ordered the camera plus the 75-300 lens. I've decided to give that a go, working on the assumption that, whatever happens, the 75-300 will be a very good everyday lens for all sorts of things. At the same time I will save seriously towards the 100-400 for specialist work. I decided against the 10d, because I really wanted the 20 and like the extra features which I think I will use and value. As Ingrid said I will still be able to get good shots with this combination.

Can't wait for the post now!


Rob
 
Rob, you sound alot like the situation im in. Looking at my options too, second hand 10D or new 20D. Gashead made me smile with the 'you'll only cry once' comment. That point makes the decision seem a lot simpler...;)

I'll look forward to seeing some results from you. Should be fun..... :t:

Tom
 
Best of luck with your new camera and lens, Rob! The 20D will give you the "wiggle room" to crop images but still get reasonable quality. You'll have a nice compact kit and best of all, you'll be out photographing, honing your skills and having a grand time. When the 100-400mm comes, it'll be like icing on the cake, a nice thing to look forward to.

Please post to this thread when you upload pix from your new outfit.

Ingrid
 
7dayshop are doing the canon 400 5.6l for £800 best price i can find, if yo've already got the 75-300 zoom you wont need the 100-400 and the 400 5.6L is a far better lens.Hope you like the 20d.
 
Graham, Mike and others,

Thanks for the best wishes. I had noticed the 400, and have decided to see what results I get from the 75-300. 7dayshop is where I've ordered the camera and lens from. The memory card has come from digitaldepot. In the future I may see if I can trade in my Fuji Finepix 4900, which has been a great camera, but not suited to this type of work. It might help me get the bigger lens quicker. Importantly though, it was the camera that persuaded me to go digital 3 years ago.


Rob
 
Well, the camera, 18-55mm lens and memory card have arrived, but not the 75-300, yet.

The battery is charged up, the manual is partly read, some of the buttons mean something, I'm nearly ready to go!


Rob
 
Ragna said:
7dayshop are doing the canon 400 5.6l for £800 best price i can find, if yo've already got the 75-300 zoom you wont need the 100-400 and the 400 5.6L is a far better lens.Hope you like the 20d.
Click to expand...
Graham,
I was looking at 7day shop.com and noticed that the D 20 was going for £999 do you know if its a grey import?

John
 
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