Help with purchasing zoom lens: I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price.

holiday1955

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

What do you want to shoot, that cannot be shot with the lenses you have now?
What lenses do you have now?

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

Check out the Nikon Cool/Pix P900

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

While I'm not an expert on lens from other manufacturers, I have owned lens that had a 300mm outer range from Canon, Sigma, and Tamron. Beyond 300, you seem to get into the "longshooter" category, and those lens are more expensive. Canon has a 100-400mm lens, but it's L series glass. Sigma has a 50-500mm, 150-500m, and 150-600mm lens, but they are more expensive than the lower priced lens. Tamron has a similar range. These lens are probably all north of $1,600.00 starting price. Afforable? Maybe. Me, I'm going to purchase the Nikon P900 P&S with a range of 2000m, and less than $600.00. That will become my new longshooter.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

RichardTaylor wrote:

What do you want to shoot, that cannot be shot with the lenses you have now?
What lenses do you have now?

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Really, you need to tell us something about what you are trying to do.

With a zoom, the answer might be a 150-600, a 17-70 or an 18-35 depending on what you want to do.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

You did not say if you are shooting Canon or Nikon, but their lens lineups are similar. I have Canon.

If by new you mean something of a shorter focal length, the 24-70mm F2.8 lens will cover your near-wide angle needs. The Version II is more expensive. Version I may be available for considerably less, yet still give you a great lens.

If you meant something above 300mm, you have two choices:

1. Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 IS. I do not have that lens, but birders swear by it. It sells for $2,199.99 at Best Buy online.

2. Canon 200-400mm F4 IS with built in 1.4X extender. The lens is faster than the 100-400mm, but far more expensive at $10,999.99.

3. Canon 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 IS. This is a single lens that would cover nearly the entire focal range between what you already have and the 24-70MM lens. There is not other single lens that covers so wide a focal range from near wide angle to decent super zoom, but it is rather heavy. It is available at B&H for $2,449.00.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

The best lens for the money will be the Sigma 100-300 f4 with a 1.4X TC - only available used - preferably from KEH.

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

Hello Canon user.
You have only had your camera 6 months? I would suggest renting a few lenses to see what your camera can do before you make a purchase of any kind. Rent a prime lens so you can see the quality your camera is capable of too. You may want to upgrade to L glass instead of getting a bigger zoom.

Canon 100-400mm L lens is a $1600 dollar lens that has many raving reviews here on the hog. I would seriously recommend renting this before considering anything else.
Sigma offers a less expensive 150-500 f5-6.3 for around $730.00 for the Canon. Tamron has a 150-600mm lens for about $1100 dollars and a 200-500mm for about $900.

Quality is a big question. What you are shooting makes a difference as well. f-stop is a big factor in all zooms too. If you are taking evening shots of a sporting event, that f 6.3 is not going to be your friend. Check B&H Photo for pricing and look at used too to save even more money. Please rent first. Good luck.

MarkD Loc: NYC

The next size up from a 70-300 would be an 80-400 or 100-400. Once you go longer than 70-300 you are getting into lenses that cost in the area of $1000 and up. You can save a lot by buying refurbished or used. Try keh.com (the best for used gear), B&H, and Adorama.

Depending on what you shoot you may want to go up to a 150-600. What is the lens going to used for?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

It would make it easier if you mentioned what camera brand and model you are using.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

You might consider getting a 300mm f4 with a 1.4x extender which would then give you 420mm on a full frame or 450/630mm effective field of view on a crop sensor.

Millismote Loc: Massachusetts

SteveR wrote:

You might consider getting a 300mm f4 with a 1.4x extender which would then give you 420mm on a full frame or 450/630mm effective field of view on a crop sensor.

I have the 300 f4 canon, on my 7D it is 300 x 1.6 = 480 and adding the 1.4 extender it would be 460 x 1.4 - 672. The poster didn't say what camera he/she has.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

You need to provide cost, purpose (subject material), and what support you have or are planning to purchase. You need to include $800 or more for a decent tripod and head for longer lenses.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

When you go beyond 300mm, you're getting into big territory. Before you lay out the cash, read reviews and comparisons.

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/lenses
http://lenshero.com/lens-comparison
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx
http://www.lenstip.com/lenses.html
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

holiday1955 wrote:

I have a 70/300 mm lens and want to know what the next size zoom would be after the 70/300mm and where to purchase this lens at a reasonable price. Recommendations on other affordable lens would be appreciated as well.

You don't mention the manufacturer of you current equipment. If it a Nikon or Canon or another solid brand name then you probably have a decent lens now. If you plan on photographing birds, you're in trouble! You have the "Bird too far" disease! No matter what size lens you buy, there will always be a "Bird too far". Your current lens covers a very nice range, are you sure you need a longer lens? That being said ... If you own Nikon equipment, they make a wonderful 200~400 f4 lens. It will accept both a 1.4 and 2.0 telextender ....... for that "Bird too far".