Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

Jdub82,
I have also been looking at the Tamron 18-400 and 150-600 as options. I am not sure if the 150-600 works with a C sensor or not. Still trying to find that data.

Thanks for recommending the options.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

Yes, the 150-600 Tamron for Canon will work with your APS-C camera. A Canon full frame lens will also work on a crop sensor Canon camera.

Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

JimH123,
For the most part here in the Puget Sound (Seattle area). We see them sort of slow cruising which makes it a bit easier. I do like your suggestion of zooming in after finding the target. Sure is something to think about.

Thanks.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Yes, there is no problem with the 150-600 on a crop sensor. I use the 150-600 on both my full frame and my APS-C with no problems.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Ah yes, a Nikon owner telling the Canon Rebel owner the problem isn't the lens, it's the camera. I wonder if the response would have been the same if the OP had a 60D. Get a Nikon D500 is the solution. NO, that's a bad expensive solution. With an increase of less than 3 megapixels, I don't really see how this is a good solution. So, a D500 at roughly $1600 and a Nikkor 200-500 at roughly $1300 comes to roughly $3000 with tax and or shipping. A Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens is roughly $1000 with tax and shipping and it will work just fine on a EOS T3i; a savings of around $2000 over the Nikon solution. Which solution makes better sense?!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Wasn't that real fracking special, and helpful also.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

You may want to consider Nikon P1000. Its far less expensive and will provide more reach than and tele lens for you camera. Take a memory card to a camera store and try one. You might just fall in love.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Be careful, the guy from LA may not like how you spelled "it", "on".

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

You certainly may suggest it but from my personal experience I'd suggest not using a $100 teleconverter on a 400L prime on an EOS T3i.

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

You are at a point where you can decide on a lens, then get a camera to best complement it. Your nearly 9 yr old EOS t2i is very likely unrepairable anymore. This is pretty much the situation with digital cameras. So, it begs the question, if you were to replace the body in the next year or so, what would you buy? You may want to consider this when you select a lens.

The long lenses are typically intended to work on both full frame and crop sensors. So getting a Canon 400 F5.6 or a 100-400 F5.6 II, is a great idea - one that will work for you today and into the future. Other non-Canon lenses that represent an excellent value for what they deliver are the Sigma Sport 150-600 and the Tamron G2 version.

If you end up replacing the EOS t2i with a 7D MkII or whatever the current flavor is at the time you do it - you ought to be able to still use any of these lenses. If you decide to get a full frame 6D Mk II, you can still use these lenses.

On the other hand, I am a Nikon guy, so I can't avoid mentioning the competition - the D500. It is one of the fastest handling crop sensor cameras I have ever used. It has a huge buffer, delivers 10 frames per second, like the 7D Mk II, but the buffer never really fills up. Autofocusing is fast and accurate, has dual card slots, highlight protected metering mode, etc. Truth be told, in a direct comparison of images taken with each, you can't tell which were taken with a Canon and which were shot with a Nikon. Both companies produce excellent products - and you can't go wrong either way.

You should pretty much ignore any advice that suggests a consumer grade wide angle to telephoto zoom might be a good option. It isn't. These lenses are usually at their weakest at the long end, and not particularly strong at other focal lengths, and will not work that well on full frame cameras.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

A Coolpix P1000 costs around $1000 I believe. Sigma 150-600 Contemporary is around $950. The P1000 has fewer pixels on a smaller sensor than the EOS T3i. Doesn't sound like a better solution at all.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

You made a good point when you stated that you are really sorry. You could have added "rude" as well.

wildweasel

I would not hesitate to recommend the Tamron 150-600 G2 zoom. It's a great lens for the money, You might also look at the G1 version of this lens and you should be able to get a really good price on one of those.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

If you're strictly shooting whales, you might consider a 500mm 'Mirror' lense (spelled that way on purpose) w/adapter as an inexpensive telephoto option. Some good ones like Tamron or Tokina can be purchased at very reasonable prices on eBay (~$100)...just a thought

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

If you are serious about reaching out and really touching distant creatures is the Tamron 150-600mm G2. It is a very good lens and won't break the bank.
Anything else is an also ran.