i want a big lens - which one ??

[cheapaschips1]

Hi,
I got my sony alpha 500 a few weeks ago, picked up the tamron 70-300 with it on the jessops deal. since then i've picked up a 50mm F1.7 prime and a 35-70 mini beercan. had some super photo's from it, but want to try my hand at wildlife and birds so want something longer than a 300.
i've bee nscouring ebay and it seems sigma's are readily available, but what flavour do i go for and whats the right price ?
400 prime? or 135-400 or spend a wodge and try for a 500 ? i'm not looknig to spend more then £200 unless i reall wont get what i'm after.
i was originally planning to get a 70-210 beer can. are they really that good?
also would a proper teleconverter with my 300 do a better job than a 400 prime or zoom ?

thanks for any advice

cheap

 

[ncmoody]

Good glass is generally expensive.
If you can live without AF and want a very long lens of pretty good quality I suggest you have a look at
eBay item no 170570667954
Also this thread
http://www.avforums.com/forums/digital-photography/1364642-650-2600mm-high-def-lens-269-a.html

 

[weetsie]

also would a proper teleconverter with my 300 do a better job than a 400 prime or zoom ?

no

good teleconverters are expensive but even they degrade image quality and with a 1.4x converter you would be looking at an already soft lens at 300mm, even softer for using a TC and at 420mm you will be forced to shoot wide open (soft) due to F/8 aperture most of the time.

tc are most useful on fast lenses IMO.

 

[cheapaschips1]

thanks for the swift responses,
with the M42 fitting, do the adpotrs work well then ? is there a better adaptor?
i've seen some with AF chips on them.

Thanks

 

[weetsie]

thanks for the swift responses,
with the M42 fitting, do the adpotrs work well then ? is there a better adaptor?
i've seen some with AF chips on them.

Thanks

correct me if im wrong but all the AF chips do is focus confirm when you manually focus.

if you buy a none AF lens however you may find they are quite nice to use, unlike AF lenses where manual focus is very much a secondary thought.

 

[shotokan101]

correct me if im wrong but all the AF chips do is focus confirm when you manually focus.

if you buy a none AF lens however you may find they are quite nice to use, unlike AF lenses where manual focus is very much a secondary thought.

Spot on Ryan - the chipped adapters just allow AF confirmation to show in viewfinder/LCD and some will "beep" too - also remember you will be shooting in full Manual mode for exposure too

Shhoting in auto at over 300 "just isn't cheap"

Jim