300D lens selection

I want to buy a telephoto lens for a 300D, but I don't know whether to go for the new "digital" Canon EF 55–200mm f/4.5–5.6 II USM or a "normal" telephoto and take advantage of the effective increase in zoom :?

Can anyone shed some light?

The lens is for use topside photographing birds and other wildlife.

cheers

Lndr

I looked around the web quite a bit, and talked to the lens experts at my local store, before choosing lenses for my 300D. Although I originally planned on going with the 55-200 to match the 18-55 kit lens, anecdotal evidence seemed to indicate that the 55-200 isn't a really good deal.

For >$50 less, I got the 75-300mm. There are three versions of this - an IS (Image stabilizing) version, a USM version (non-ring-type, though, so no full-time manual focus), and the vanilla version (which is what I got). All three have the same optics (other than the IS stuff) - it has pretty good glass, for a lower end lens. I think it's a fantastic deal, particularly since with the 1.6x cropping factor it's effectively a 480mm lens (!) at the long end.

I bought this lens specifically for pretty much the same thing as you want - photographing wildlife topside. I think it's a good flexible telephoto, and I don't miss the 55-75 gap anywhere near as much as I thought I would. Bob Atkins has a good overview of available lower-end lenses on photo.net that you might want to take a look at - http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/300D/...00D_lenses.html.

I think the cases you really need the "middel range" are very rare. Macro aside I normaly use either a Wide Angel Zoom 16-35L or Sigma EX 17-35 or a Telephoto lens. In your case the Kit lense should be good for that.

The 75-300 IS is a nice lens but not very fast. I use it as a easy carry on telephoto lens because it is nice small and lightweighted.

When size doesn't matter I use the Sigma EX 50-500. A very nice lens with a good placed collar (nicley balanced) with an integrated handgrip that allows to shoot this lens even at 500 out of the hand (without tripod) without problems. It is a little more expensive, but you can find pretty good deals on ebay if you look for awhile. I got mine for around 500€

Simon

True enough, the 75-300 is not very fast (5.6 at the long end). I forgot to mention the light weight, which is one of my favorite features as well. I will eventually want a longer, faster lens, so I'll add the Sigma to my "take a look at" list.

If you can afford it, get the 70-200L/f4. It's a bargain for an L lens with very sweet optics.

I own the 100-300 4.5-5.6 USM as well, which has slightly better optics than at least the older 75-300's that I'm familiar with. These are 'ok' lenses, but the 70-200 is brilliant.

On the 75-300 "vanilla". I have this lens and I wouldn't recommend it... I am actually planning to replace it with one of the IS lenses. I hate schlepping around a tripod,as my camera goes pretty much everywhere I go.. and with the 75-300 "vanilla" it is hard (impossible) to get tack sharp images "handheld".

For example, I was trying to sneek up on some deer the other day. I can get close enough to compose a pleasing image (fill the frame nicely), but only if I do not carry scary tripod contraptions. Unfortunatly, deer pics ended up in "round file" due to lack of sharpness due to trying to keep this lens still... and I wasn't shaking with excitement

So unless you plan to use tripod, I would not recommend this lens.

With no tripod and no beanbag, I agree at the long end of this lens you're going to have trouble holding it steady. I've gotten some good, sharp handheld shots at the long end, but only in sunlight with the aperture wide open.

However, I expect you're going to have that problem with any 300mm non-IS lens, unless you can get one with a significantly wider aperture. I don't think Canon has one.

Hi Guys,

Some interesting food for thought. I hadn't been considering an IS lens, but there may be some justification for it. I can't imagine carrying a tripod everywhere the camera goes ...

I still like the idea of getting more zoom from the lens

cheers

Leander

I've found a Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 IS USM lens for A$920 ... very happy

thanks for the help!