Airliners.net

Hello I need some help choosing a lens for my Canon AE-1 Program. Should I buy a new Phoenix brand lens or a used Canon lens. A zoom would be better.

Thanks!

Stay away from anything named "Phoenix."

Have a look at the Sigma EX glass, what size are you looking for?

Aa7E7,

Give us an idea of what you are looking for. Price range, zoom length. Personally I would get a used 100-400mm IS, but who knows how much you can afford? Let us know, we'll be more useful.

Bill

I am looking at a zoom lens with anywhere between 50-220mm focal length. As for price range nothing more than $250.

Thanks

You can buy a Canon 75-300 USM, new, for $189.00: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=169269&is=USA

The version with IS is $200.00 more, but you may be able to find a used version in your price range.

A lot of photographers on this site use this lens.

I would look for good used Canon FDn zoom- or tele lenses like 80-200mm 4L, 70-210mm 4, 300mm 4L, 300mm 5.6 or 100-300 5.6L.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=3018&al=321_2644%2C0&bl=8&pn=2

Anders

Is the camera in question an FD mount, rather than EF? If so, disregard my post above.  

You'll need an FD mount lens, which pretty much rules out buying a new lens these days.

The good news is that there are some real bargains on 2nd hand FD glass to be had, and this can be very good indeed. Zooms in the 70-200 range should be readily available at a good price. I would avoid zooms with a greater range than this, because the design technology simple wasn't up to it in the FD era, however, long primes are worth looking at

Cheers,

Colin

Thanks for all your help guys.

Colin

How about a Used Canon Fd 100-300mm f/5.6 lens. Is this something you would avoid?

Thanks!

[Edited 2004-08-23 16:45:33]

The 100-300 is certainly worth looking at - in referring to the range of the zoom I really meant the range of focal lengths covered. 100-300 is a fairly modest 3x range, and in an "easy to design" focal range. Lens ranging beyond 3x get a bit dodgy.

F5.6 is a little on the darkside by current standards, but this is offset by smaller size and price.

Having said all that, if I were re-equipping with FD glass, I think I would go for the 70-210 zoom, and look at a prime 300mm or 400mm - Sigma made some excellent long primes for FD, and these should be a real bargain second hand.

This is an area where scanning the local smallads can reap rewards - I've often seen entire FD outfits being sold for stupid prices (probably the result of an attic clearout by a non-photographer).

Cheers,

Colin

Thanks for the help Colin!