Best consumer telephoto

What is the best consumer Telephoto Lens??

  • Canon EF-S 55 mm - 250 mm - f/4.0-5.6 IS

    Votes: 17 41.5%

  • Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro

    Votes: 1 2.4%

  • Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

    Votes: 1 2.4%

  • Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

    Votes: 7 17.1%

  • Other

    Votes: 15 36.6%
  • Total voters
    41
bartoszwozniak

bartoszwozniak

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Bartosz Wozniak
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This question has been bugging me for months now, and I wanted to create a big debate about it on the forums for a while now, and now I have a little bit of time to do so.

So "Which is the best consumer telephoto??"

I am getting a Canon Nifty Fifty for Christmas and then I want a consumer telephoto next, but I am not sure what to look for. I am not a professional and all I am looking for in this telephoto is decent image quality, cheap, quick AF and decent sharpness. I have been looking into the Canon, Sigma and Tamron possibilities, and I am looking for people who have some experience with these lenses. Here is a list of the possibilities:

- Canon EF-S 55 mm - 250 mm - f/4.0-5.6 IS
- Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro
- Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro
- Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM
- Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

Guys what are your suggestions???? Which one to choose from? Or if you know any others, then suggest them too.

I am making a poll in this thread so you can vote on your favourite Consumer Telephoto Lens.

Please don't class any L glass or anything from above £200 as Consumer Budget :D
 
Canon EF-S 55 mm - 250 mm - f/4.0-5.6 IS

No arguement. Sharp. Excellent IS. Compact and light weight. Cheap.
 
maarten.dhaese said:
You'll need a slightly higher budget but the best value for money in my opinion is the Canon 70 300 IS USM.

Of the 2 Sigma's listed the APO Macro version is the better one.
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:agree: The canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS is the top dog on affordability, followed by the canon 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS

The canon 75-300mm f4-5.6 is a great lens just like the Tamron, would put these bottom of the list. With the sigma's taking the middle ground.
 
bartoszwozniak said:
£400 odd is not classed by my (a 15 year old) affordability. Looking below £200

Bart
Click to expand...


In that case, go for the 55-250 IS! I got this and the 18-55 IS for just over 200 quid second hand (like new) I have NEVER regreted it. Both superb lenses for the money!
 
bartoszwozniak said:
Guys, I also would like a good macro, so out of the 3 Macro ones which would you suggest is the best?

VOTE AWAY!
Click to expand...

Depends on your need for Macro. The 55-250mm focuses to 1.1m, which at the 250mm end is great for butterflies, flowers and dragonflies. My gallery images of dragonflies were all taken with this lens.
 
bartoszwozniak said:
Guys, I also would like a good macro, so out of the 3 Macro ones which would you suggest is the best?

VOTE AWAY!
Click to expand...

As for the lenses that advertise macro on the side of the lens, most aren't true macro lenses. A macro lens give you true 1:1 ratio - the image on the sensor can be up to the same size as the subject (life-size). A lens something like a canon 100mm f2.8 or sigma 150mm f2.8 are true macro lenses.

The Sigma 70-300 APO Min Focus Range: 95 cm
The Sigma 70-300 Min Focus Range: 95 cm
The Tamron 70-300 Min Focus Range: 95 cm

Where as canon 100mm f2.8 is 31 cm
 
Can anyone who has any of the following lenses, post a couple of sample pictures for me please. I mean could I have some macro images from the three 70-300mm lenses and possibly a few photos at 250mm for the Canon 55-250 please?

I would be very grateful

Bart
 
How about adding the Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC ?
I loved my Canon EF-S 55 mm - 250 mm - f/4.0-5.6 IS but I would vote for the Tamron.
 
maarten.dhaese said:
You'll need a slightly higher budget but the best value for money in my opinion is the Canon 70 300 IS USM.
Click to expand...

I would second that. I have had this lens for 3 years, it is good.
If you are patient, then you could probably get it for £300, less if you look for second hand.

I don't know what the quality of the 55-250 is, but the 70-300 is definitely worth the money. (I recently upgraded to the 100-400L, and it was a difficult decision to do so).

It will not be good for macro unless you use an adapter, I use the magnifying lens type on mine.
 
I've had a Sigma 70-300 APO for years and have been pleased with it...but I have used the Canon Lens and it is a better pick, IMO. The Sigma's AF is noisy and chases quite a bit....I find myself using manual focus with it, and for this reason have gotten pretty fast. :)
 
Canon 70-200mm f/4L USM is just about affordable as a consumer lens and is really great.

The discontinued Canon 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM is certainly very good on crop bodies for what it costs 2nd hand. I was a proud owner of one.

I've not tried EF-S lens, but it looks rather slow at f/5.6. Ideally it has to be f/2.8 or as close to it.

Anything non ring-USM is a real pain to use. That includes the 'Magic drainpipe' from the 90's.
 
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