So I got my lens, actually two of them. Now Evelyne you would probably like the first one–a Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF HSM (a.k.a. “Bigma”).

It is second-hand but in very good condition. Now the decision was far from an easy one; paying abit more I either can get a new Canon 70-200mm f/4L USM or a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX IF HSM. As if to make the decision even harder I also found a second-hand Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L USM selling at a very tempting price. A 70-200mm f/2.8 has always been my “dream lens”; I had once spent some very happy time with a Canon 70-200 2.8/L (thanks to Mr. M). In the end I got the Bigma for several reasons,

1. I am no longer an official photographer for anything; the 70-200mm f/2.8L was almost a necessity back in high school but is much less so now;
2. I do not expect myself taking alot of action shots in low-light condition;
3. I would like to try out wildlife photography; and
4. It was the cheapest among all the above options.

So far the Bigma has been very rewarding; on a 300D it actually has a very long 35mm-equivalent zoom range of 80-800mm. Here is some birds shots from Kowloon Park.

That said, I wished for a 70-200mm f/2.8 yesterday when I was taking photos of the DBS Homecoming Concert.

The second lens I got is a Canon 50mm f/1.8 II

This lens is described as a “must get”–it is very cheap but among the sharpest of all EF lens. I cannot agree more; here is an example,

It is always said that the 50mm prime is the best lens to learn photograhy (although on a 300D 50mm has a FOV of 80mm so it is no longer standard). Indeed with a prime the framing becomes very important; still much to try out here.

As some of you know my beloved Nikon CoolPix 990 has malfunctioned a few months ago. After careful thoughts I have bought a “new” camera–a EOS 300D. It will replace not only the CoolPix but also my film SLR–a Minolta Dynax 505si Super–which has also broken down in an accident (which I was not involved). It is not actually new since it is second-hand. For those of you who are familiar with digital photograhy you probably know that Canon has put forward a new–and much better–model, the EOS 350D. My parents suggested that I should buy the new one; I decided to go for a used 300D so to save money for some better lens and all other indispensible accessories–flash, bag et al.

As a first step I traded the kit lens for a Sigma 18-125mm DC (at a premium, of course).

Now using a Sigma lens is always a gamble, some are great while others are just miserable; this model has quite some positive reviews. After some testing it seems the copy I have does not possess the front-focusing problem many owners have experienced; I would much like to conduct outdoor testings but the weather in Hong Kong does not really permit that.

Click above or here for more photos.

一大敗筆–大多數相開嘴似笑又不笑。