Jersey guy Loc: New Joisey

Just finished reading the thread about "white lenses" at a Philly baseball game, (thanks for the humorous interlude, folks) which brings to mind a serious question. I have crop sensor camera with a 15-85 Canon lens. Sharp as a tack and permits me to make some tight crops on the original image that hold up so well that I almost don't need a tele for the region above 85mm to, say, about 150mm.

So...what i would like is some input about some recommendations for a zoom lens around 300mm or greater at the top. Yes, there are some great 200mm's out there but they wouldn't give me much of an advantage over the 85mm I enjoy now, so I have discounted them.

I await your expert counsel with bated breath (not "baited" breath).

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

GREAT (reasonably priced) lenses for you:

70-200 f4 L W/ Tamron SP 1.4X

Sigma 100-300 f4 (used only)

Canon 300 f4L

Tokina ATX 100-300 f4 II - has great reviews -IF- you can find one (used only)

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

You couldn't do better than the Canon 200-400 F4 - but see a mortgage consultant first.

The Sigma 100-300 F4 - just be careful, there are many versions of this lens - the earliest will not communicate Fstop information to the camera, and later versions have issues with some cameras and focusing in live view. The latest one is the one to get - it doesn't have the issues, and most importantly, Sigma still has repair parts - which they don't have for the earlier versions.

Canon's 300 F4 is great, works beautifully with a Canon 1.4X TC, and you can keep both your arm and your leg until the next GAS attack.

I have no experience with the Tokina 100-300, but I've seen images taken with one and they look really good.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

And, get some one to carry it for you !

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Take the suggestions and look at the pricing at KEH.com for an EX or EX+ rated used version. The best way to go.

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

It's "just" 8 lbs for pete's sake!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The Canon 100-400 L VRII is outstanding. A friend of mine has one and takes outstanding wildlife photos with it. She also uses a Canon crop camera. No need to go to full frame.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Yes, the Canon 100-400ll would be great but at less than half, look for a good 100-400 mkl. There are still millions of them in daily use with no plan for an upgrade.
For me, for general tele work like nature, especially birds etc, the 70-200 is just too short!
But at not much bigger than your 15-85 is the 70-200 f4 non IS. It can't be beat for portability and being very small and lightweight lens!! Good luck
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

WIMPS!!!!!
Mothers carry babies that weigh twice that much all day long!!!
SS

Jersey guy Loc: New Joisey

W-O-M-A-N!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jersey, YOU tell'm!!!! LoL
Now, I'll be SOOOO disappointed if you don't get one!!!!
SS

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Sorry, Shooter, but I'd have to say that the VRII is worth the extra investment in the long run. My friend, a member on UHH, traded up from the VRI to the VRII. She's traded up in lenses but has still stayed with crop cameras, which really suits her type of photography.

Haydon

The VII of the 100-400 is in a different class to the V1. Also the V1 had way too many class variations compared to the new v2.

https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2015/02/canon-100-400-is-l-mk-ii-teardown-best-built-lens-ever/

Jersey guy Loc: New Joisey

Good Grief! I just viewed that article about the Canon 100-400 IS L MkII. I am atounded at the technology that is packed into that lens. And the mechanical engineering that makes the thing work.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Sorry Steve, I'm gonna disagree with you!! LoL
I'm not even remotely saying that the new mkll is not a better lens. I'm saying that the mkl is a damned GOOD lens. And for anybody that thinks that $2200 is a we bit more than $900, the mkl is still definitely a VERY good alternative.
The average shooter out there is not a retired old man with a fat pension, only here on the fat Hog!! LoL
If you consult the Canon MTF charts as opposed to your friend, you will see that the biggest IQ gains in the mkll are in the edge to edge(e2e) sharpness. NOT to discount e2e, but I personally and many others simply don't shoot a lens like that using e2e sharpness. I usually shoot with a fair amount of shallow DoF. ALL of the e2e IQ is lost in the Bokeh!
For those with the MONEY, sure, pass on the mkll and go directly to the 200-400!! BUT for the extra $1200 a few pretty nice primes or a VERY nice FF camera can be added to the camera bag.
Below are 2 examples of what I'm talking about. Both shot with the mkl and both award winning shots!
Have your friend, since she is a member here post two shots she/you think are $1200 sharper than these 2. These are also only probably 1500x1200 files which means that the high rez files have gobs more sharpness!
Sorry Steve, but I disagree with your friend!!!
SS

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