Which to buy? Canon EF 75-300mm USM or Canon EFS 55-250mm IS?


deepseablue

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Nov 17, 2004
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I want to buy a lens so that I can shoot further for my canon 400D. Can someone advise me on which I shld buy?
Canon EF 75-300mm USM ($360) or Canon EFS 55-250mm IS ($399)

Or is there another lens which is also recommended?

Thank in advance:)
 

I'm not familiar with the canon lineup, but I'd heard that 75-300mm is a shitty lens similar to nikon's AF 70-300mm G lens (non VR)

Better reviews were found for the 55-250mm
 

75-300mm is a really bad lens according to reviews. I have the 55-250mm lens and I like it. One thing that is very important (to me) for telephoto lens is IS and 55-250mm had IS. I took it to the zoo once and it gave me very sharp pics.
 

55-250, period. Don't waste any $ on the 75-300. There was a time when shops offered this lens for $99, still there are many copies on the shelf :)
 

dun get the 75-300 it's a shitty lens, if u want the extra 50mm reach from 250mm, u can opt for either the tamron or sigma 70-300 other wise get the 55-250 for the IS :thumbsup:
 

Thanks to all for the suggestions.
I know wat to buy le.

Another qn, by right these two lens fall into the same category of zoom lens and can be used for the same type of photography right?

And shld I buy a canon 50mm 1.8? I read that it's gd for portrait taking.

Thanks
 

Thanks to all for the suggestions.
I know wat to buy le.

Another qn, by right these two lens fall into the same category of zoom lens and can be used for the same type of photography right?

And shld I buy a canon 50mm 1.8? I read that it's gd for portrait taking.

Thanks

Depend on what you really want. 50mm lens is a very, very sharp lens and the f1.8 make it a very fast lens. It is great for low light photography too. But whether you should or should not buy this lens is all up to you.
 

go with the Canon EFS 55-250mm IS... then add the canon 50mm f1.8... this combination is good enough
 

I think lens prices are like a stock market. Let me tell u why.

I asked a popular shop in amk.
1st quote: $399
2nd quote: $380
3rd quote @ neighboring branch: $370

Called up SLS xxxx photo: $345

Pengz man...will have to call up a few more shops.
 

Scout for 2nd hand...good copy might get at $250. 55-250 is value for money and it comes with IS. There are plenty of 50 f1.8 in 2nd hand market also. If I were you I might consider 2nd hand so that in case I want to upgrade in near future I can just sell it again with less loss.
 

Paiseh...can I assume that I can find 2nd hand sellers over in the forum?

Any thing to lookout for when I buy frm them? Like the mechanism, lens mirror condition?

Thanks
 

deepseablue said:
Paiseh...can I assume that I can find 2nd hand sellers over in the forum?

Any thing to lookout for when I buy frm them? Like the mechanism, lens mirror condition?

Thanks

Of course you can, there's a whole section for selling and buying if you have not noticed by now. Check for fungus, focusing problems and other stuff. Bring along a friend who knows how to check if you are not confident.
 

Another qn, by right these two lens fall into the same category of zoom lens and can be used for the same type of photography right?
Telephoto zoom lens. Read about focal length, field of view and perspective. Should make it clear. There is no such thing as "zoom lens for xxx style" - there is rather an idea in your mind.. thinking about how to create the image.. selecting the right lens.
And shld I buy a canon 50mm 1.8? I read that it's gd for portrait taking.
You should buy once you understand the advantages of having this lens. The price is stable and 2nd hand items won't run out, that's for sure. No point rushing. 50mm focal length is covered by your kit lens.
 

Paiseh...can I assume that I can find 2nd hand sellers over in the forum?

Any thing to lookout for when I buy frm them? Like the mechanism, lens mirror condition?

Thanks
if u're not confident to get a 2nd hand out of warranty set or to cheap or feel it's not worthy to get the local warranty set try grey unit set like the one from here -> http://ddelectronics.com.sg/products/Canon-EF%2dS-55%2d250mm-F4%2d5.6-IS.html they give 2% discount for cash payment at their store...
i bought my 55-250 IS there also last time...
 

And shld I buy a canon 50mm 1.8? I read that it's gd for portrait taking.

I don't think you know why you want to get this lens yet. Don't let the BBB control you (*not before you understand why you need it*)

Any lens is good for portrait taking (as in all lens can take portraits). It depends on how you utilize the lens in the given environment. (you can even take portraits with 55-250 :p, depends on how you frame it)

One can use the kit lens 18-55 and still shoot marvelous portraits with it.

oh, btw, 18-55 + 55-250 is quite a solid combo itself enough to cover "general" photography from wide to portraits to tele.

*don't be too fast to discard the 18-55 if you own one, despite what many may say(e.g. abt the IQ, non USM), I still think it's a great lens*
 

Thank you all for the advice. I know where to start le.

Thank you :)
 

there's always the Canon EF 70-300 F4.5-5.6 IS none L lens which is rated quite highly for a zoom lens. It is cheaper the the DO and the L vernsion and still delivers good images.

You can likely get that at a few hundred dollars on the Bns or around 1k for 1st hand set. (price may not be correct as the price is from end of year last year.

For your consideration.
 

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Thanks to all for the suggestions.
I know wat to buy le.

Another qn, by right these two lens fall into the same category of zoom lens and can be used for the same type of photography right?

And shld I buy a canon 50mm 1.8? I read that it's gd for portrait taking.

Thanks

to me 50mmf1.8 is an essential lens for beginner.

in fact, once you are indoor, you will find most of the time you will be using this sub $100 lens.
 

(you can even take portraits with 55-250 :p, depends on how you frame it)

+1 to that, as long as the foreground and background is outside the DOF, they will appear blur, but a portraits lens will make it very easy to achieve the result without having to tweak with the surrounding, furthermore f1.8 is a very bright lens, can get at ard $100 in the 2nd hand market and I feel it worth to get one.
 

to me 50mmf1.8 is an essential lens for beginner.

in fact, once you are indoor, you will find most of the time you will be using this sub $100 lens.

I find myself using the 18-55 more often...cos not much space to stand indoor (I dun really like 1/2 body shots...)