canon t3i (Page 3): There are several good choices for your t3i. I have been using the Tamron 18-270 for nearly 3 years and like it very much. There are four hoggers whose opinions I...

oldgeezer3 Loc: SoCal

dlay wrote:

I am thinking about getting a canon EF-S IS f/3.5-5.6 is standard zoom lens for my canon t3i for carry around use. I shoot scenes, people, wildlife, etc. Is this a good choice?

There are several good choices for your t3i. I have been using the Tamron 18-270 for nearly 3 years and like it very much. There are four hoggers whose opinions I value: Linda from Maine, Regis, Sharpshooter, and MT Shooter. You might private message one or more of these. Good luck to you.

dlay Loc: Maynardville, tn

mwsilvers wrote:

That depends on what you mean by better choices. The Canon STM kit lenses (the 18-55 STM and the 55-250 STM) are sharper and have better IQ than either of those lenses. Don't take my word for it. Check DXOmark and various reviews.

This is what I have now, you all have convinced me to same my money and use and change what I have, thanks..

dlay Loc: Maynardville, tn

mwsilvers wrote:

That depends on what you mean by better choices. The Canon STM kit lenses (the 18-55 STM and the 55-250 STM) are sharper and have better IQ than either of those lenses. Don't take my word for it. Check DXOmark and various reviews.

I have these lenses, from all this I will better off just changing lens more often and saving my money for something else.

ggab Loc: ?

Shoeless_Photographer wrote:

1. I find it a bit funny that we've only heard fr... (show quote)

No disrespect meant, however you may want to get your Tamron checked out.
As a matter of understanding and info exchange, what F/stop are you shooting at 300mm? My sweet spot at 300mm is F/11. I also turn IS off and bump up the shutter speed.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

ggab wrote:

No disrespect meant, however you may want to get your Tamron checked out.
As a matter of understanding and info exchange, what F/stop are you shooting at 300mm? My sweet spot at 300mm is F/11. I also turn IS off and bump up the shutter speed.

Maybe you got lucky and got a good copy. This guy also must've gotten a bad copy like mine.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=757&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=4&LensComp=1077&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=4

ggab Loc: ?

Shoeless_Photographer wrote:

Maybe you got lucky and got a good copy. This guy also must've gotten a bad copy like mine.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=757&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=4&LensComp=1077&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=4

Your pictures show a much worse "softness" than the test image in the review you site.

I just ordered the Canon lens, I work for them and they were offering a very good employee discount.
When it arrives I will take some test chart copies and compare them.
Test charts aside, I like my Tamron. I expect I will also like my Canon.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

ggab wrote:

Your pictures show a much worse "softness" than the test image in the review you site.

I just ordered the Canon lens, I work for them and they were offering a very good employee discount.
When it arrives I will take some test chart copies and compare them.
Test charts aside, I like my Tamron. I expect I will also like my Canon.

Maybe I should get it checked. Any idea what they might charge me?

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

ggab wrote:

Your pictures show a much worse "softness" than the test image in the review you site.

I just ordered the Canon lens, I work for them and they were offering a very good employee discount.
When it arrives I will take some test chart copies and compare them.
Test charts aside, I like my Tamron. I expect I will also like my Canon.

Are you getting the "new" 70-300 with nano USM? That thing has amazingly fast focusing. I like the Tamron's VC because you know when it's locked in; it's not subtle like the Canon lens. Based on one test I did recently, though, the new Canon still outdid it on locking in the image. This was in low light, too. Let me know what you think of the Canon when you get it. See how its sharpness compares to your Tamron, too. I'm curious.

ggab Loc: ?

Shoeless_Photographer wrote:

Maybe I should get it checked. Any idea what they might charge me?

I really don't know.
Give them a call, they are up near Melville N.Y.

ggab Loc: ?

Shoeless_Photographer wrote:

Are you getting the "new" 70-300 with nano USM? That thing has amazingly fast focusing. I like the Tamron's VC because you know when it's locked in; it's not subtle like the Canon lens. Based on one test I did recently, though, the new Canon still outdid it on locking in the image. This was in low light, too. Let me know what you think of the Canon when you get it. See how its sharpness compares to your Tamron, too. I'm curious.

Yes, getting the new lens. Bought a package that included a filter to shoot the solar eclipse this August (EF 70-300mm IS II USM Solar Eclipse Kit).
The Lens, Filter and Adapter came in just over $500.00 shipped.

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
HOYA PRO ND100000 67mm Filter
Stepping Ring 58-67mm

I should have it next week.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

ggab wrote:

Yes, getting the new lens. Bought a package that included a filter to shoot the solar eclipse this August (EF 70-300mm IS II USM Solar Eclipse Kit).
The Lens, Filter and Adapter came in just over $500.00 shipped.

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
HOYA PRO ND100000 67mm Filter
Stepping Ring 58-67mm

I should have it next week.

Nice! What's the difference between that filter and a stack of ND filters? I have two 3-stop and one 9-stop ND filters.

What's the stepping ring for? 18-55mm kit lens?

ggab Loc: ?

Shoeless_Photographer wrote:

Nice! What's the difference between that filter and a stack of ND filters? I have two 3-stop and one 9-stop ND filters.

What's the stepping ring for? 18-55mm kit lens?

From what I understand (I have never done it before), in order to photograph a solar eclipse you want a 100,000x Filter Factor, 16.6 Stop,.
Your stack comes in at roughly 15 Stop. I expect the shutter speed will be in the range of your camera with the stack however.
I would suggest composing using live view, then shutting live view off to save the sensor.
I don't know if there would be an IQ difference shooting with a stack vs single filter.

Not sure why the stepping ring.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

ggab wrote:

From what I understand (I have never done it before), in order to photograph a solar eclipse you want a 100,000x Filter Factor, 16.6 Stop,.
Your stack comes in at roughly 15 Stop. I expect the shutter speed will be in the range of your camera with the stack however.
I would suggest composing using live view, then shutting live view off to save the sensor.
I don't know if there would be an IQ difference shooting with a stack vs single filter.

Not sure why the stepping ring.

I suspect there would be some degradation of the image using three filters vs. one. I'm not sure there would be any real difference between my current setup and your future setup for photographing the eclipse since I use mine to photograph the sunspots.

ggab Loc: ?

Shoeless_Photographer wrote:

I suspect there would be some degradation of the image using three filters vs. one. I'm not sure there would be any real difference between my current setup and your future setup for photographing the eclipse since I use mine to photograph the sunspots.

What lens do you use to shoot solar flares?
How do you set the camera up?
Sounds like something to practice prior to the eclipse.

Shoeless_Photographer Loc: Lexington

ggab wrote:

What lens do you use to shoot solar flares?
How do you set the camera up?
Sounds like something to practice prior to the eclipse.

Sunspots, not flares. Don't have that much magnification!

I just use your standard 70-300 lens with a 9-stop ND filter (or stacked with another 3-stop or two filters). Depending on how clear the sky is (easier when the sun is low in the sky), I can vary the aperture from maybe as low as f/11 up to f/32 as needed to keep the image from being too bright to see much.

Shutter speed as fast as it'll go: 1/4000

All done in manual mode.

If you're lucky, you can catch a plane flying in front of the sun!