Hi Stewart, this would be an educated guess because I haven’t used the HS30, but I would think you’d get better quality with it? It might be a little bit of a toss up because with the Opteka you get the option to use a more advanced/better quality camera body, but with the HS30 you’re getting the whole camera body/lens in one, and it’s much smaller, obviously, than the giant Opteka. Another issue though is price since the HS30 will be a bit pricier. My guess is either will do a decent job, just depends on what matters to you – price, having an extra camera body vs having a giant lens, convenience (the Opteka lens is a chonk and requires some getting used to), what environment you plan to use it in – I’ve heard the HS30 can have some noticeable noise at higher ISOs, which is something you might avoid with a better camera body like what you’d use with the Opteka.

I hope that helps a bit, sorry I can’t give more specific insights but I don’t want to steer your choice too much without having used both.

Hi Jenny! Sorry for the delay in response I’ve been sick for a couple weeks. It’s a little hard for me to say without having used the tripod you’re talking about, but from what I understand there’s no way for that particular tripod to allow the camera to point straight up? No matter which way you adjust it? I had a tripod with a similar issues a while back. The tripod I currently use which does allow that sort of rotation is what’s called a ballhead tripod. They do make versions of the ballhead attachment that would fit onto a current tripod without the ballhead, adding flexibility – see this one for reference: https://amzn.to/2TVf1nD (affiliate link fyi). I’m not sure if that particular one would fit your tripod so you may have to check around to be sure you can attach it, but that sort of thing would be an alternative to having to buy a whole different tripod.

You can see a tripod I use with the ballhead built-in here: http://www.curiouswriter.com/look-inside-camera-bag/

I def wouldn’t use a monopod, it would be less stable than the regular tripod (you’d have to hold it all the time) and a total pain with that big lens. They’re good for getting a little more stability when you don’t want to carry around a full-blown tripod, but def not for this lens.

I hope that helps answer some of your questions and thanks so much for the kind words, you’re a gem!

I also have the same lens and as well i have a T ring adaprter. As well a Canon EOS 70D though (dont forget there will be a 90D this year. Who knows how much and what price willthe 70D and the 80D will be. Though it would had been nice to have 4K but anyhow the camera does what i want at least.

I brought a nice Tripod but i was in a little bit of a rushed to buy it. (with little research 🙁
I have VELBON SHERPA 300 TRIPOD WITH 3-WAY HEAD it cost me under 200 dollars.
It looks and feels great and heavyness (not like a toy feel)

But here is the problem now.. I wanted to view the Moon and stars to pint point the stars i want.
As the big lens is connected to this tripod with the Canon 70D. I can not lift all the way facing up to the sky. It does lift up to the sky but it can not reach as in a straight I line straight up. It seems that the hand handle on the tripod it blocking it as it can not go facing straight up like a straight I. Instead it just goes up but not straight line up. So it was dificult to make the tripod legs one smaller while the other one higher and it was just simply time consuming and corrections..

Then i heard there is this Monopods ? Never heard such thing until i looked aroumd.. But i think Monopods doesnt have a stand like a normal Tripod with the 3 legs. Monopods just seems like a long selfie stick stand but doesnt look like a normal tripod with the hand handle stick.

So i don’t no. There was a few variety tripods and some most expensive with more options. But i guess i was ain a rush now its too late to buy another lens or just a waste of money for what i paid for. I mean the tripod i brought is very good. Just doesnt do what i wanted only 1 simple thing and that is point the lens in a straight line straight up to the sky like a I. But to do that i have to make one leg smaller the other taller and so on and it just makes it look weird and or not very stabled.

So what should i need.. Yes i am on a budget but same time dont want something that breaks easy.. Just something durable strong perhaps heavy since the lens is already heavy but dont want to spent so much money for it.

Now im clueless what to do as im unable to return it back to think other tripods in the market. As i broguht it at a camera house.

So yeah what is your options tips on this? I always thought just recently that Monopods tripods are just 1 stand mainly for holding the monopod on your hand while it is standing on the ground which i think that be bad because you will still end up shaking the tripod if you where to look at the moon with this big lens.. there for you requier a normal tripod with the 3 legs so that you don’t touch the tripod as anything will shake when viewing what you want to see thru the camera and the lens itself.

So any tips ?

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About this x2 converter lens that you folks are talking about. I saw it at the store for around 500 dollars but it is a brand such as Canon or Sigma or other brands. But then if you look on Ebay you can find the same x2 converter lens but without a branding name. And it shows it cost under 40.00 dollars. So that make a huge diferences one that is a canon brand costing 500 dollars while the other is a nonbranding and it cost under 40.00 so what diferences does it make?

I dont think it would be good to spent 500 dollars on a brand x2 converter lens while at the same time you have a cheap big lens like you have 650-1300mm Or cheap brand. So i dont think the picture quality will make any diferences if you where to spent one that is 500dollars vs a 40.00 dollar X2 converter lens. Because the big lens you already have is not a expensive lens lik these you see in the market costing 10.000 dollars. So its not like a 500 dollars x2 converter will make it all look quality over the cheap 650-1300mm lens. But i could be simply wrong. Should you correct me as i don’t no the diferences.

Maybe the most expensive x2 converter lens are design for expensive lenses in the market so if you have a expensive big lens by canon.. then you might as well buy the expensive x2 converter lens for it. But it wont make no higher quality over a cheap lens. But i could be wrong.

But the main principle is the issue of the tripod. I like the tripod to have a hand handle like mine does… but it just doesnt do what i wanted which is point the big lens straight up like a I to the sky.. it just does it almost but not quite.
So maybe i need to rethink of a new tripod i guess.. Not sure what im suppose to do with the 200 dollar tripod i just brought. Unfortunately i cant return it back.

Anyways i so much love your review and information. I think your the only first person on the internet who gives better information for the whole thing for Cameras like this 😉 take care

Hi John,
My guess is that you have the same lens, just different (or no haha) branding. Yeah the LCD screen is one of my favorite features too! There’s no way that $150 price is right… I don’t know what’s going on there. $30 is definitely around the price you should expect to pay for the 2x converter. I went ahead and added links to the 2x converter and the t-mount that I use into the post so you can check those out to buy there or for reference on what to look for elsewhere. It does not have to be Canon brand, the one I have is branded Opteka – same as the lens in my case – and my guess would be that, assuming you do in fact have the same lens with just different branding, you should be able to buy that same Opteka branded 2x converter and use it with your camera and lens. You don’t need another t-mount adapter if you already have one. I managed to get mine stuck on my lens at one point, so I just leave it on there now, and got an extra in case I need it for another lens.
I hope that answers your questions! Cheers!

Hi Nic,
Ok soooo I have now actually added a link to the 2x converter & the t-mount adapter that I use into the post. I think the 2x converter is worth it just because it takes it to the max, and especially for looking at/taking pics of the moon I think that’s cool. The lens does get even more shaky with the 2x converter attached, so just be aware of that. I can’t tell you for sure if the converter and adapter I used will work with your lens, but assuming it is the same as the Opteka – just branded differently – I don’t see why it wouldn’t. Most sellers will tell you if the adapter/t-mount are compatible with canon dslrs. If they say they work for canon dslrs that means it will work for a wide variety of canon cameras in my experience, including the 70D.

For tripods – I use a ZOMEI tripod. I believe I link to a bunch of my equipment in the post, but the link to that info is here: http://www.curiouswriter.com/look-inside-camera-bag/
The lens has a place to attach to the head of your tripod – basically the same way you’d attach your camera. So if you tripod comes with a plate that screws into the bottom of your camera, and that then can clip into the tripod head, instead you’d screw that into the base of the lens. I do mount the lens on the tripod, not the camera, because the lens is heavy and that helps to balance it. I just use my normal tripod, but you do want one that’s pretty steady just to be sure the weight of the lens won’t tip it. You can also hang a weight of some sort on the base of the tripod to help steady it.
Hope that helps!

So i like to find out if the actual x2 converter is worth it? Why not use the actual extra zoom on the actual Canon 70D that the camera already has? Just press the zoon on the body camera giving that extra zoom to just about any lens you connect to the camera. Or perhaps i just need the x2 converter.

I don’t no where or what kind of x2 converter lens would i need for the same white colour 650-1300 lens i have. I live in Australia maybe there must be something on Ebay ? Would it cost more then just the big lens itself?

Let us know what kind as not every lens would actually fit the actual x2 converter to the canon 70d or the actual lens you might have. So i have to be careful exactly which converter would i need and what else would i need.. such as T adaptor or anything.

Hi Taylor! Personally I wouldn’t rely on the Opteka for wildlife shots of that level. Although it’s possible to get some cool shots of wildlife, because the lens is so big, has to be adjusted manually (slow) and needs a few seconds to steady after adjusting it, it can be difficult to capture moving subjects with the sharpness required for sellable shots.

Hannah if I was to get the opteka lens do you think it would make good quality photos of wildlife to be able to sell the photos?