What is the best budget telephoto (eg 250/300mm) lens?

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I have just got into DSLR photgraphy and have a Canon 450d with Canon 28-105mm and Sigma 10-20mm lenses. I need a telephoto but I doubt I'll be using it that much as it's mostly landscapes and buildings I'm into. I was checking out the Tamron 70-300mm in Currys today but was not impressed by it's lightness and plasticy feel. Any recommendations? I'm not rich but don't mind paying more for quality, just not L series quality!
 
I think a lot of us at one stage or other have used/owned a Sigma 70-300 APO 3.5-5.6 (?) either in D ir DG format. Note you want the APO variant if you follow this route, not the non-APO.

I'm not sure how much they go for now, I recently sold my old Nikon fit one for £110 on eBay. Alas before the price rises they were going for ~£75 second hand (which is what I expected to get).

Might be worth trying one of these if you can find some o who owns one. Theya re a little soft, but light, small, flexible, good value, and in theory also macro lenses.
 
Sigma 70-300mm Argos price £129 for a good Budgit lens I got one took this today on it
3643384441_26989514ef_o.jpg
 
70-200mm F4L is £490 from a well known seller on here. OK so not exactly budget, but great value for money IMO
 
I've got the Sigma 70-300mm APO for my 400D and it's a cracker of a lens imo, got mine for around 150 quid new although they may be slightly higher than that now. I use it mainly for birdy shots and the occasional landscape too when I don't want a wide angle.

Links to a few pics taken with the Sigma 70-300mm APO and 400D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29821939@N08/3468694860/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29821939@N08/3409087615/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29821939@N08/3409086433/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29821939@N08/3467885101/sizes/o/

not saying the pics are any good mind you hehe, but may help give you an idea of the sharpness to expect from it.

Tommy.
 
The Sigma does look good, some very impressive shots there, and I like my Sigma 10-20mm wide angle very much. However I just bought a Canon 70-200 F4 L on Ebay. My first L series lens! Whoo-hoo!
 
Could anyone explain to me what the APO stands for and why this makes the lens better? Is it better componants or something more technical?

I ask as I will be getting a Nikon D60 for my birthday in august and a longer zoom lens will be my first purchase to go with it. The Sigma 70-300 is top of the pile at the moment and I trust that you are all correct so will go for the APO version but it would be nice to understand why!
 
Sigma 70-300 APO - its a stunner, you won't have to look far to get some amazing reviews.
 
Daysleeper40 said:
Could anyone explain to me what the APO stands for and why this makes the lens better? Is it better componants or something more technical?

I ask as I will be getting a Nikon D60 for my birthday in august and a longer zoom lens will be my first purchase to go with it. The Sigma 70-300 is top of the pile at the moment and I trust that you are all correct so will go for the APO version but it would be nice to understand why!
Click to expand...

Stands for Apochromatic

Here's a wee wiki link explaining it kinda.. a wee bit over my head but I think it basically focuses all wavelengths and colours of light in the same way. :shrug:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apochromatic
 
Gonetae said:
Stands for Apochromatic

Here's a wee wiki link explaining it kinda.. a wee bit over my head but I think it basically focuses all wavelengths and colours of light in the same way. :shrug:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apochromatic
Click to expand...

Thanks Gonetae - I've had a look at the link. I won't pretend I understood all of it but I think I got the general gist! (y)
 
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