bird photographer wannabe!
Hi everyone, please send me your advice. I will be buying my very 1st $$$$ camera and would like to make the sale prior to June 5th when the Canon rebates expire. I thought 7D and to start EF-S 18-135 IS lens and EF 70-300mmf/4-5.6 IS USM, all for $2300.00, authorized canon dealer. Is this a good start? What else would you recommend. I could spend only up to 3K, please advise me. thank you
NEED help plz buying for 1st time
Hi everyone, please send me your advice. I will be buying my very 1st $$$$ camera and would like to make the sale prior to June 5th when the Canon rebates expire. I thought 7D and to start EF-S 18-135 IS lens and EF 70-300mmf/4-5.6 IS USM, all for $2300.00, authorized canon dealer. Is this a good start? What else would you recommend. I could spend only up to 3K, please advise me. thank you
Looks good nice package, it depends on your photography voice. For example, I shoot only birds and everything I have relates to that genre. So in my case I would suggest a 100-400 or 400MM 5.6 and a tripod instead of those lenses. But for landscape, mammals and walk-around stuff those work fine IMO.
I might add a flash (Canon 580 Speedlight) and tripod/nice ball head to the list and see where that puts you. Remember Christmas is just around the corner.
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 05-27-2010 at 12:42 PM.
Agree with Jeff; an idea of your subject matter would be helpful to advise you better about your purchase.
The 7D is a wonderful camera but. if you have strict budgetary issues, you might consider spending a bit less on the camera and sinking more into your glass (lenses) as that will make the initial bigger difference in your images. I echo the comments of those above -- a lot rests on what you are planning to shoot.
If you're looking to photograph birds, try and get a 400mm lens or the 300mm f4 plus teleconverters. 300mm is a bit short for bird photography and the one you list won't perform well with teleconverters.
Last edited by Jeff Parker; 05-27-2010 at 02:31 PM.
Lacking any specific needs that would point you to different lenses, your proposed combination, based on the 7D is a wonderful setup. I use a 7D for all my bird and wildlife photography. It should serve you well for many years.
I would also consider the 50D Body as it is $600 cheaper and i would then buy the used 400mm f 5.6 lens offered under Buy, Sell and Trade Photography Gear Forum for $1100. That is an excellent lens for bird photography. I think it is much better than the 100-400 zoom. The 400mm lens will autofocus faster. You should still have money left over for good tripod and head, particularly if you buy the 50D.
coming from experience I would not recommend the 70-300 for birding its to short unless your in a good area, maybe in Flordia it would be ok as you can get close but for me it was not even remotely close to long enough
the 18-135 I cant imagine you would use often (if ever) for birding I have never used anywhere near that range
I agree on getting a 400 5.6 or the 100-400L, and also on the good tripod / head
Assuming the title of your post, "bird photographer wannabe," expresses your intended photographic subject matter, here's another vote in favor of the 400 f/5.6 over the 70-300. This lens is your first priority; the body is secondary. A low cost (~ $150) tripod works with this lens. However, since you are going to get hooked and have a supertele someday, you might want to buy a supertele-capable tripod from the get-go.
I also recommend the 400/5.6 over the 70/300mm. You will need a good tripod with the 400mm.
Again assuming the title of your post is correct the 70/300 is too short for birds.
I started with this lens and quickly realized I would have to go longer if I wanted to continue with birds.
The other thing to keep in mind and your budget is that cameras are changed as upgrades come available and money comes available. Suitable lenses are kept.
So you may want to consider a good used camera such as a 50D.
This is just my opinion. I think the 400 mm is a good choice but I don't think you need a tripod. Especially if you are shooting BIF(birds in flight). You just need to keep a fast shutter speed and you will be ok. When you get a tripod you will not want to scimp on a low priced one and for BIF on a tripod it is best to have a gimbal type head and they are not real cheap.
Bill
How about 7D + 400mm f5.6? That is a great combo, and light weight.
I'll go with the 400 5.6 and 7D suggestion Later on you can get a 70-200 !! Can't go wrong !!
70-200 f/4, from what I heard and read, it is one of the best lenses, and a lot cheaper than the 2.8 version.Originally Posted by Alfred Forns
I wish Nikon has 400mm f5.6 :)
Another vote for the 400 f/5.6 & 7D - for birding - great combo. I use them both and can honestly say, if there are any issues it is me - not the rig.
Otherwise see my earlier comments.
Last edited by Jeff Cashdollar; 06-01-2010 at 01:26 PM.
new 7d buyer, help w lenses
Thank you all very much for your help. Would you please comment on the following: Since I am new at an EOS then would an 18-135 lens be a good start lens for me? Then, how bout a 100-400 rather than prime 400? I'm thinking I would have more versatility to start if I opt for the 100/400. Thanks
You've never told us what you'll be shooting, so it's hard to suggest anything wrong with a 18-135/100-400 lens combination. The suggestions for the 400mm f/5.6L prime assumed bird photography; however, I'm sensing that you really don't know how you'll be using your lenses. Given that, then covering 18 to 400mm is hard to fault. A 7D has good high-ISO performance, so there's no need to go for expensive, large aperture lenses, unless you tell us that you're going to shoot lots of indoor sports or concerts.
It depends what you plan to shoot. For general photography the 400mm or 100-400mm are fairly large lens to carry around vs the 70-300mm or 75-300 mm. If you are interested in general wildlife i would suggest the 100-400mm lens. If you are specifically interested in bird photography I would suggest either the 400mm f5.6 (which will not work with the 1.4 extender on automatic), but an excellent "inexpensive lens" compared to the 400mm f4 DO lens which will work with the 1.4 extender on automatic. The 100-400mm does not autofocus nearly as fast as either of the 400mm lens. Fast autofocus is very important for bird photography.
Oh I will be shooting birds and anything inbetween to cut my teeth, this is my first $$$ camera/lenses. So I have chosen the 2 lenses as 18-135 and 100-400, do I need filters? thanks
For birds, you generally won't need filters. For landscapes and other wide angle subjects, you may occasionally wish for a polarizing filter, or a graduated neutral density filter or a UV filter.
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