Upgrading from EF-S 18-20mm.

Hi,

I wish to upgrade from my existing 18-200mm lens to something better and before everyone starts raving about the 70-200 F2.8 II I would like to stop you there. I know its a great lens but its not in the budget.

I am a very casual photographer with a 60D and going pro is not on the cards. I use my camera to take pics of my family and that's pretty much it. I use the 17-55 indoors but i need something for the outdoors with a bit of a reach. the 18-200mm is fine but wanna upgrade to something that is optically better.

In terms of the budget...I can stretch MAX up to price range of 1200(with a lot of explaining and convincing the Mrs. and including whatever i can get for the 18-200) Cheaper options would be great.

Thanks

If 200mm is as long as you need/want, the 70-200mm f/4L IS is in your budget and is a versatile and excellent lens (optically pretty much equivalent to the 70-200/2.8L IS II). If you just need 200mm, the 200mm f/2.8L II is also an excellent lens, and a great value.

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

If 200mm is as long as you need/want,

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Thanks for the reply.
Range over 200mm should be fine as long as it does not degrades image quality for the extra reach.

The problem is getting over 200mm will exceed your budget, at least for a new lens (the exception being a 200mm f/2.8L II plus a 2x TC, which is optically not as good, although still likely more than a match for your 18-200mm).

However, if you're willing to buy used, you can likely find 100-400L within your budget - and it's a great lens, although not quite as good optically as the 70-200/4L IS (really, the differences are minor, and that lens at 400mm will be a lot better than a shot at 200mm cropped to the 400mm FoV.

Where would you be ordering from? From what I understand, $1200 doesn't go very far in Australia.

I'm assuming you want the versatility of a zoom, so a sharp prime like the 135mm f/2, or 200mm f/2.8 are out. Both would be super sharp, work in dim lighting, give you access the the high precision f/2.8 focus points, and fit in your budget. Only you know if they'd fit your shooting style.

I'd ask if you felt you needed the full 200mm, but once you choose a telephoto zoom, that's pretty much the short end. I think the 18-200mm is one of the optically better non-L lenses, so I don't think you want any of the non-Ls. That brings us to the cheapest L telephoto zooms.

Based on US pricing:
The 70-200mm f/4L (non IS) should be well within your budget. Not quite as sharp as the IS version. Not sure how it compares to the 18-200mm. At the very least it should focus better and faster, and is a bit of a faster lens. This might be the only thing in budget at Aussie retail pricing.

The 70-200mm f/4L IS is within your budget based on US pricing, and is nice and sharp in addition the the focus and aperture bonuses the non-IS had.

The 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS is just out of budget based on US pricing (Grey market is like $1240). If you find 200mm a bit short for your needs, maybe you'll want to save for that instead. It's a super-sharp fantasic lens. I've posted before about how the variable aperture doesn't matter much. It's only a full stop slower well past 200mm. You'd be 2/3s of a stop slower on the last 45mm (f/5.0 from 155-225mm), but if you're spending a lot of time at or near 200mm, you might prefer going to 300mm over the f/4 vs. f/5 difference.

Don't forget the used market! If you weren't completely invested in EF-S glass, I'd say look for a used 5D mk 1 (They were going for $500 over the summer) as an alternative option. I love my used full frame (1Ds mk II). The 7D doesn't get out much these days.

Thanks for the reply. there are quite a few options contrary to what i assumed.

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Originally Posted by DavidEccleston

Where would you be ordering from? From what I understand, $1200 doesn't go very far in Australia.

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I can't buy S*** even if wanted to when buying Retail in Australia. I use DWI Camera based out of HongKong (Grey Imports)

The 70-200mm F4 L IS costs around $1050 (Retail $1500).
The 70-300 L also falls within the range as it it costs around $1170 (Retail : $1700)

The 70-200 f/L IS or, of you can stretch it, the 70-300L. Both are optically excellent. The 70-200 has the edge in size, weight and aperture through 200mm. But it's not contest from 201-300mm :)

I've owned both. Sold the 70-200 for the 70-300 for the extra reach. For my purposes, I've never looked back. I love love the 70-300L.

Given that the 70-300L is in your budget, I'd recommend that over the 70-200/4L IS...

70-200 f/4 L USM is an excellent lens. Test charts are test charts, but in practice using my 60D I can't tell much difference between that lens used at f/4 or the 135L used at f/4.

Plus, it is relatively cheap! I picked up mine for $559 USD about a month ago.

I rented the 70-300L once and thought it was a great lens although a lot more expensive. It's very sharp, has a great range, and has a 4-stop stabilizer.

Dave