Some background: Many years ago, in the days of film and paper, I was a good pro-am photographer. I had a few photos featured in magazines, calendars, even did a commercial spread. Then kids and life intervened, and I haven't really done any serious photography since. I am now in Glacier NP in Montana for the next 8 months, and I want to see if the old spirit is still there. There are bears and mountain lions and wolves, and I will be a backcountry guide so I have full access to the park. I have access to a Canon Rebel and a Canon 80d, and I'd like to get a 300-800-ish lens. Here's the catch: I am not sure if the spark is there, and I don't want to drop $3k+ on a super lens. Then again, I am really not anxious to buy a $200 lens off Amazon that's a no name knock off. I can get a Sigma for right around $1K, but even that is a stretch; what if I go out and realize i really don't care for this any more? Or the talent isn't there any more? Or the joy has run out? So if you were me, what lens would you spring for?
The Sigma 150 - 500 / 600 etc... are probably your best bet, not sure which one I would pick as i haven't dug into a good compare on them( i think the 600 is the better lens but do not quote me). But if you want a lot of reach that's cheapest way to get there. You can always buy and sell it used if you want to get rid of it after this 8 month stint. For an example the 100-400 Canon L cost even more an has less range. (I mean other options are less appealing to me but you can get a bridge camera with extreme zoom, but the optics are not as nice so its a wash and youd spend most of that money the lens costs. ) What other lenses do you have/have access to? I hope you have something nice and wide to shoot with if your our in glacier...
i have both the 100-400mm c and 150-600mmc sigma lenses, they are great for the price, if you find you not got the same spark anymore you wont have too much trouble selling them on i use mine a mirrorless crop (M50) if you go for the super cheap no name brand it may discourage you if its a rubbish lens,
