Lenses for Piggybacking

[barx1963]

Thinking of doing a little piggybacking with the 400D. I gather I need a telephoto lense, but there are sooo many different types, and I am still grappling with the technical language.

Any suggestions, preferably ones that don't involve second mortgages, selling of firstborn etc etc!

[[1ponders]]

First and foremost, the Nifty Fifty canon 50mm f/1.8 @ around $140. 85mm f/1.8 or you could check out this thread here. ;)

Which widefield lens on a budget. (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=21245)

[barx1963]

Ta Paul
Got a birthday coming up o that may go on the list for the SWMBO. Then save a few $$$ for something a bit fancier!

Thanks again:thumbsup:

[barx1963]

The SWAMBO said go ahead and order it on her credit card so the nifty 50 lense is on its way!

Ah the joy, that oughta break the drought once the clouds gather!

[[1ponders]]

Thanks for ordering that but could you please order the 135mm. We need a bit longer with no cloud up this end of the country. ;)

Nice start by the way. Could be the beginning of a fabulous collection. :)

[barx1963]

lol!!:rofl::rofl:

Wait til I order the HEQ6, then we'll see some clouds!

[bojan]

Nifty-fifty is not as good any more.. have a look at this thread.

[[1ponders]]

Which thread bojan?

[bojan]

Sorry mate, I was trying to find a link and you were too quick :-)
Not many people awake so early..

It is here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=41657

[bojan]

Taking into account the facts presented in that thread, it seems the older Canon lenses will be much better performers (my own experience with Canon 50mm F1.4 FD (which I modified to fit directly on my 400D, without additional optical adapters, which is normally required to reach focus with EOS cameras).
It seems that the standard kit lens (18-55mm) is better than those two particular nifty-fifty's mentioned in the thread.
And older lenses are not plastic..
Well, 400D is plastic... and plastics per se are not bad materials.. but it depends who is using them and how well the molding process has been controlled....

EDIT: And of course, all depends on manufacturer QC. Perhaps it is not always implemented properly, cutting corners may save a few bucks in a short run...

[[1ponders]]

Cheers for that, looks like I got one of the good newer ones then.

[Octane]

Whilst being a cheap lens, the 50mm f/1.8, when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4 will give very acceptable results.

A lot of my early imaging was done with the sturdier 50mm f/1.4 stopped down. Both will exhibit horrible coma and spherical aberrations out at the edges, but, you can always crop that out. :)

If/when you can afford it, go the L-series route. The 200mm f/2.8L II USM would be your best bet. Although, for the price you'd be able to pick yourself up an ED80 and an ST80 for autoguiding.

Regards,
Humayun