I currently have a Canon 400d (with standard lens) which I bought a few months ago for a trip to South Africa later this year

I will obviously be taking lots of photos of wildlife and I was wondering if the lens will be good enough or if I should get a better one

Not really wanting to spend alot of money so something second hand maybe?

I've heard the Sigma 70-300 APO is good?

But I dont really know - any advice?

For wildlife photograph, a 100:1 minimun focal lenth over aperture speed is recommend, which means a 200/2 or 300/2.8 is basic tools, and a stronge and heave duty tripod/head kit is required as well.

But those lenses are too expensive, in the very daylight, a 300/4 or 400/5.6 may still works well. The only experience I have about wildlife is a good patience and good luck.

I think you can take a look
Canon/Sigma 300/4
Canon/Sigma 400/5.6
Tokina/Sigma 100-300/4
There is a Tokina/Sigma 80-400/4.5-5.6 as well, but very slow, soft at 400mm side, also cheapper (I think the Sigma one have HSM and OS)

Sorry but I don't understand all the tecnical terms! I'm only a beginner

the big number 300 is the max focal length, the little number is the minimum aperture. f4/f5.6.
these are printed around the circumference of the lens. Seriously you're looking @ 500 quid for a "proper" one but i have a Sigma 70-300 DG which i use for most of my stuff.

Ok thanks - How much was your Sigma 70-300 Willman?

a couple of hundred quid i think or just under. try microglobe, they sometimes have some bargains. my son in law got a Tamron 70 -300 for a lot less than 200 quid.

To further complicate things, for most lenses you can multiply the focal length by 1.5 - it's to do with the sensor on your camera being smaller than a 35mm film frame.

The longer the better really though - I'd recommend 300mm (effectively 450mm) at least. Sigma do a 70-300mm f4.5/5.6 that is quite often on offer at about £100.

The APO version will give better results, but it about £60 more.

The aperture (f number) is the size of the hole that the lens opens to let the light in - the smaller the number the bigger the hole. Thus a larger aperture (smaller f number) means you can take pictures in lower light and/or with a faster shutter speed.

I reckon you'll be ok with F4.5 in Africa as there will be loads of light kicking about - but remember that with a lens that long you'll need to be shooting at 1/500th of a second to get sharp pictures as the increased focal length increases the effect of camera shake.

It might mean that as the light falls you will need to bump up the sensitivity (ISO) you're shooting at, so the quality will fall a bit - but unless you're shooting at dusk or dawn handheld you should be ok - just keep an eye on the shutter speed.

The lens I was talking about it here (http://www.jessops.com/Store/s26774/0/Lenses/Sigma/70-300mm-f-and-4-56-DG-Macro-(Canon-AF)/details.aspx?&IsSearch=y&pageindex=1&CatId=143&ManIds=1518,1538,&MultiOpIds=263,52583,256,&SortBy=SkuOfferingPriceASC&IsInStockOnly=False&comp=n) - but remember there are small independent camera shops in Sheffield (Harrisons on London Road and the one on Ecclesall Road) who might do it at the same or similar price, and the staff there will be a lot more helpful and knowledgeable. I reckon if you take your camera with you to the one on Eccy Road they'll let you try some out.

^^^^^ that ones worth having for that money imho.

Has anybody used that lens? :)

Fairly decent review of it here :

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Sigma-70-300mm-F4-56-DG-Macro

Review of APO version here :

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Sigma-70-300mm-F4-56-APO-DG-Macro

:)

Hi,Hook i use that lense on my Minolta DSLR.I use it for taking pictures at airshows of flying aircraft and have had some very good results.Ihave in the past used it for wildlife pictures out in Derbyshire and again i,ve had some good results.It is not the best lense on the the market but it suits me and my budget,but after all in this world you get what you pay for.I would pay a lot more for a better lense with bigger focal length but i seldom get chance to go out and really use my camera so the sigma 70-300 was the best lense for me.Jacobs and Jessops bothe sell it for around the £100.00 mark.If you take youre camera with you to the shop they will normally let you try it on youre camera to see what you think of it,allthough only in or just poking out of the shop doorway(lol).hope this helps.

Paul.

If you do buy it from Jessops use discount code SIGMA10 for an additional 10% off.

Has anybody used that lens? :)

I've got one my recent photos at the wildife park were taken with it. (Hand held)