I know some people don’t like these threads but a similar post about what camera to purchase last year was very helpful to me. Reading everyone’s thoughts and opinions was very useful so here I go again . . . I think I know what the best option is but would very much appreciate the thoughts of others
I’m trying to cover a gap I see in my lens collection. For indoor sports, especially my youngster’s swimming galas and for concert photography I have the following options:-
24-70L F2.8 (original version)
100L Macro F2.8
70-300L
Camera is a 70d
All lenses I’m very happy with but the problem is that the 100 doesn’t have quite the reach and the 70-300L struggles in low light even if it is better than I expected!
So, naturally one of the fast 70-200 F2.8 zooms is the answer I thought. Eventually having read reviews I settled on the latest Tamron lens in that category. Yes, would love to opt for the Canon but it’s out of the price range and living near military bases I don’t fancy being mistaken for a hostile rocket launcher ;D. The Tamron looks relatively discrete.
So job done? Well I happened to notice just how positive everyone was about the 135L F2.0 which gives me a bit more reach than today and a stop more light and is apparently very snappy in the focus department . PLUS, it apparently works well with a 1.4 extender at F2.8. All in for a similar price to the Tamron given the deals that are available to me.
I really like the sound of the 135L, when it’s long enough I get that extra stop of light and it sounds like a killer lens for various uses. I can well imagine it would produce the best indoor pictures that I take over time. And with the 1.4 extender at F2.8 I get pretty much the reach of the Tamron zoom. But the Tamron has decent IS which particularly at the longer end and in concert lighting can be crucial so it’s probably my best bet overall.
Make sense? Are there other options out there that I should consider? I’m happy to listen to all and any advice. Obviously I will refer to Ken Rockwell for the authoritative answer if opinion is evenly split .
One last point, I know some people are going to talk about a full frame camera but bear in mind that even though indoor photography is important to me my main interest is outdoors and needs the reach of the crop camera and my distance issues become more pronounced too on FF. So yes a 6d is a "one day" idea it's not for now I think.
I’m trying to cover a gap I see in my lens collection. For indoor sports, especially my youngster’s swimming galas and for concert photography I have the following options:-
24-70L F2.8 (original version)
100L Macro F2.8
70-300L
Camera is a 70d
All lenses I’m very happy with but the problem is that the 100 doesn’t have quite the reach and the 70-300L struggles in low light even if it is better than I expected!
So, naturally one of the fast 70-200 F2.8 zooms is the answer I thought. Eventually having read reviews I settled on the latest Tamron lens in that category. Yes, would love to opt for the Canon but it’s out of the price range and living near military bases I don’t fancy being mistaken for a hostile rocket launcher ;D. The Tamron looks relatively discrete.
So job done? Well I happened to notice just how positive everyone was about the 135L F2.0 which gives me a bit more reach than today and a stop more light and is apparently very snappy in the focus department . PLUS, it apparently works well with a 1.4 extender at F2.8. All in for a similar price to the Tamron given the deals that are available to me.
I really like the sound of the 135L, when it’s long enough I get that extra stop of light and it sounds like a killer lens for various uses. I can well imagine it would produce the best indoor pictures that I take over time. And with the 1.4 extender at F2.8 I get pretty much the reach of the Tamron zoom. But the Tamron has decent IS which particularly at the longer end and in concert lighting can be crucial so it’s probably my best bet overall.
Make sense? Are there other options out there that I should consider? I’m happy to listen to all and any advice. Obviously I will refer to Ken Rockwell for the authoritative answer if opinion is evenly split .
One last point, I know some people are going to talk about a full frame camera but bear in mind that even though indoor photography is important to me my main interest is outdoors and needs the reach of the crop camera and my distance issues become more pronounced too on FF. So yes a 6d is a "one day" idea it's not for now I think.