canon 55-250mm IS for motorsport

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rich_cooper

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Richard
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My sigma 70-200 F2.8 recently packed up so i have been using an old canon 100-300 lens that was my dads. Ive been looking around for a decent lens to replace the sigma but at the moment im on a very tight budget.

I would like the sigma 120-400 but budget wont go there at the moment. The canon 55-250 IS is in my budget.

Is this a decent lens for motorsport ?
 
Depends on the track(s) you'll be shooting at. Have a look at the EXIF on your existing motorsport pics and see what focal lengths you were using - you may well find that you were rarely much over 250mm anyway. A little cropping will increase the apparent reach if necessary.
 
My local track is Mallory Park so 250mm would give me a good amount of reach for cars and for bikes maybe alittle bit of cropping would be needed.

I also go to cadwell park and the same would be needed there.

Like i said, my aim is to get a different lens at some point next year as money is tight at the moment, so just want something for now as my dad wants his lens back. and that doesnt work 100% anyway! And the canon 55-250 IS looks a good price for what you are getting

So was wondering if anyone had used it for motorsport
 
I've used my 55-250 at Goodwood... I don't do a lot of motorsport though... the IS works out if your panning or not so you don't need to turn it on or off or change modes...

From the festival of speed last year
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From the revival 08
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as I said, I don't do much motorspot, but hopefully that's of some help.
 
I would also look for the 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 USM

Mine is very sharp even open wide and the AF is fast and silent.
And I also have the 300mm f2.8 IS so if I am happy with the 70-210's sharpness and AF that says something about it :)

This is the lens that keeps me from buying the 70-200f4 L. Even though the L is a bit sharper and much sturdier, the 70-210 is half the weight and 1/4 the price.
 
Rayn said:
Anywhere I look, I can only find a 55-250mm without the IS, only USM. Who has the IS version in stock?
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if your interested, i'm just about to sell my 55-250 IS with hood, got a 70-200 2.8 sigma the other week so dont use it much anymore

let me know if you are interested and i can post some test shots with it, or if your looking at new only

ta

Chris
 
csedgbeer said:
if your interested, i'm just about to sell my 55-250 IS with hood, got a 70-200 2.8 sigma the other week so dont use it much anymore

let me know if you are interested and i can post some test shots with it, or if your looking at new only

ta

Chris
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Place an advert in the for sale section. I may be interested depending on price, backup lens for me, lens for Mrs. AndrewC
 
Always wondered about the 55-250IS for motorsport. Thanks for bringing the topic up!


csedgbeer said:
if your interested, i'm just about to sell my 55-250 IS with hood, got a 70-200 2.8 sigma the other week so dont use it much anymore

let me know if you are interested and i can post some test shots with it, or if your looking at new only

ta

Chris
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Chris.

Would be interested to know your thoughts on the 70-200 2.8 siggy as may look at one of these instead of a 70-200 F4 Canon L.

Thanks,

Luke.
 
I've had the 55-250mm for around a year now, and I find it will give good photos in the right conditions. It is my first and only telephoto lens, so I can't compare it to any others, but for the price I can't complain. Autofocus isn't brilliant, although that might be more down to my poor technique rather than the lens. I love the IS though - I don't think I'll buy a tele without it now.

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As you'd expect, it does struggle a little in low light... The 'keeper' rate here was rather poor :bonk:
 
luckylukey7 said:
Always wondered about the 55-250IS for motorsport. Thanks for bringing the topic up!




Chris.

Would be interested to know your thoughts on the 70-200 2.8 siggy as may look at one of these instead of a 70-200 F4 Canon L.

Thanks,

Luke.
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as it happens a friend of mine has just bought the canon 70-200 f4 L and later tonight we are going to do some test shots to compare the two

but from first playing the sigma is razor sharp, have a look at my Flickr and theres a shot of a water lily which is a 100% crop as a test shot which is razor sharp.

will let you know my finding later on

ta
Chris
 
andrewc said:
Place an advert in the for sale section. I may be interested depending on price, backup lens for me, lens for Mrs. AndrewC
Click to expand...

i will do later tonight, as i've had a couple of pm's as well, so want to stay within the rules!

Chris
 
Im impressed with all the motorsport photos posted, so i will be going for the 55-250 IS lens. Possible tomorrow so i can have it in time for sunday and the next EMRA meeting at Mallory Park.

The best price i have found it NEW is £154.99. That is from http://www.buyacamera.co.uk/

Has anyone used them before ?
 
csedgbeer said:
as it happens a friend of mine has just bought the canon 70-200 f4 L and later tonight we are going to do some test shots to compare the two

but from first playing the sigma is razor sharp, have a look at my Flickr and theres a shot of a water lily which is a 100% crop as a test shot which is razor sharp.

will let you know my finding later on

ta
Chris
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Thanks Chris. Muchly appreciated :thumbs:
 
rich_cooper said:
Im impressed with all the motorsport photos posted, so i will be going for the 55-250 IS lens. Possible tomorrow so i can have it in time for sunday and the next EMRA meeting at Mallory Park.

The best price i have found it NEW is £154.99. That is from http://www.buyacamera.co.uk/

Has anyone used them before ?
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Not personally, but check this thread...
 
Yes, Buyacamera are fine we've used them lots. it's a great performing lens with a touch of the nifty fifty build quality so you need to handle it gently.
 
andrewc said:
I'll give my verdict on the 55-250IS shortly, I've purchased one for my wife but I'll compare it for motorsport against my Sigma 100-300 f4 EX
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That would be great mate. I wouldnt expect it to be as good as the Sigma, but at the moment that is out of my price range. Maybe the sigma at some point next year i think :D
 
I could, but its the MK1, ive had it around 6 years and its the second time its broke.

Whenever the lens is on any camera its showing ERR99 so i have no idea whats wrong with it!
 
rich_cooper said:
They from Mallory arnt they ?

Did you need to crop them or was the 250mm just right ?
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You know your circuits ;)

Yep - Mallory's about 2 miles from my door - and that was the first time I went down there, specifically to try out the 55-250.

Cropping - those horrifically angled ones - if they were cropped it was only extremely slightly, just to get the cars central. Generally, the length of the lens was just right :)
That was the only time I used that lens in anger, as I went full frame prety soon afterwards :(
 
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