Canon Telephoto - Cheap

[occxlr8ed]

Cousin is coming down to visit in adelaide and parents/grandma want to buy him a graduation pressie.

Budget - $500-600ish.

Has to be new. Atm all he has is a superzoom, he travels alot but a wide angle aint really in the budget. His dad says he's been hinting on wanting a telephoto so yeh! Whats a cheap alternative to a 70-200mm/2.8 haha.

Cheers.

[FB008]

something from sigma or tamron perhaps? won't get f/2.8 at that price, that's for sure.

[{icebox425}]

You obviously won't get anything like a 70-200 f/2.8 cheaply. However, you can get a 70-300mm IS USM for ~$500-600 second hand or $850 new.

Please don't confuse this lens with the 75-300 as it's a totally different beast.

There's a review here and this site is normally pretty harsh.

You could also look into a 70-200mm f/4L which I think can be had for around $850 second hand. This lens is supposed to be the best quality of the 70-200mm L lenses, just obviously without the IS and larger aperture.

[occxlr8ed]

Originally Posted by {icebox425}

You obviously won't get anything like a 70-200 f/2.8 cheaply. However, you can get a 70-300mm IS USM for ~$500-600 second hand or $850 new.

Please don't confuse this lens with the 75-300 as it's a totally different beast.

There's a review here and this site is normally pretty harsh.

Yeah the 70-300mm IS came to mind, but tis a bit pricey new. Don't really want to give a 2nd hand lens for a present if u know what i mean.

Probs will have to look at sigma/tamron non f/2.8 zooms. Anyone have recommendations?

[{icebox425}]

Yeah, no worries...I was wondering about that.

It's such a bad time to buy new camera gear unfortunately, with the dollar and all!

[Athiril]

You should see if you can get a whole bunch of other family members to chip in as well.

If you could do that, you can get the Sigma 120-400mm OS (f/5.6 @ 400mm) for about $1k.

depends on type of telephoto he wants, but for surfing, wild life etc, the 400mm would be pref.

[adamadam]

Give him one of yours

[afrikajeff]

Brand new: Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6, or Canon 55-250 IS f/4-5.6.
2nd hand (with a little on top): Canon 70-300 IS f/4-5.6, or Canon 70-200 L f/4

[sgtraven]

Originally Posted by {icebox425}

You could also look into a 70-200mm f/4L which I think can be had for around $850 second hand. This lens is supposed to be the best quality of the 70-200mm L lenses, just obviously without the IS and larger aperture.

not to be picky or anything but the IS F4L is actually supposedly the Sharpest out of the 4 in that range not the Non IS.

in any case on a 1.6 crop camera 200mm is a fair bit of reach

[^catalyst]

sgtraven : I think you'll find it the other way round.

[[kane]]

Go for the 75-300 f4/5.6 kit? its like $200 max new

Anyhow for that price, you will find it hard, the 70-200 f/4 was $895 before Christmas 08 ;(

The Sigma 18-200 is a nice lens also.

Good luck.

[MatterHorn]

Originally Posted by sgtraven

not to be picky or anything but the IS F4L is actually supposedly the Sharpest out of the 4 in that range not the Non IS.

in any case on a 1.6 crop camera 200mm is a fair bit of reach

Originally Posted by ^catalyst

sgtraven : I think you'll find it the other way round.

I'm with sgtravren, I thought it was the F/4 IS that was the sharpest of the 70-200's (if only just).

[phreeky82]

If you find yourself considering 2nd hand 70-300 IS is at the upmost of your range.

Otherwise 55-250 IS plus some other bits and pieces. Maybe with a 50mm F/1.8.

It's a tough call because if you get him say the 55-250 he might not be too impressed and will just want to upgrade it. Plus he already has a superzoom so he'd have ~200mm covered already I'm guessing, and you would probably not be giving him some great upgrade over that range.

You mention UWA, Teds had the Tamron 11-18 for only $499 not long ago, bugger that deal has vanished. Maybe try walking into one and mentioning it, seeing what they can do.

Gear prices really have shot up putting them well outside of typical gift/present range.

edit: The Tamron 17-50 is only $680 @ Teds, surely you can find someone to throw another $80 in? It's not an UWA or Telephoto, but it's certainly an upgrade over a typical superzoom.

[baar01]

Originally Posted by phreeky82

Otherwise 55-250 IS plus some other bits and pieces. Maybe with a 50mm F/1.8.

I personally think that for the money that would be a perfect present for a beginner. He will have some reach and something for low light.

[Fatmantan]

If can stretch it out another $100 or so, the tamron 17-50 f2.8 or 28-75 f2.8