Which canon zoom lens, 70-200 or 55-250?

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ned.c

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Andrew
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Hi all,

I'm considering the following two lenses, which I know are quite different but I'm looking for advise or anything else that maybe I've not yet considered between the two.

Canon 70-200 f4L USM
Canon 55-250 f4-5.6 IS

This is to be used on an eos400d.

My current kit lens is the canon 18-135 f3.5-5.6 IS and I'm finding it's not long enough for some general day out stuff and more specifically it's not very good for motorsport or wildlife.
I am attending a number of motorsport events over the summer and want to try and get some better shots.

I know the L series is a safe bet for glass quality and it's f4 all the way so better for faster shutter speeds (recently I tried to capture birds of prey and dogs at the Surrey county show without much success) but the cheaper lens will be better in low light with the (4 stops) stabilisation (but only for non moving subjects) and has longer zoom, but worse for faster moving objects eg cars or animals as at max zoom it's only f5.6.

Of course there is a significant price difference between the two and I understand with the conversion the zoom's work out at around 320mm for the 70-200 and 400mm for the 55-250 in full frame figures. Also I guess the 55-250 is smaller and lighter so maybe more portable though I doubt this would be a big factor.

Anyone been through the same decision or have any advise as to pro's/con's I may not have yet considered?

Thanks,

Andrew.
 
When I got my 55-250 the guy at park cameras said that it should have been an l series lens as it had the same high quality optics.
Personally I think its a great lens
 
I'm facing pretty much the same decision at the moment. I already have the 55-250IS. It's a decent lens, especially for the cheap price tag. I had a play with the 70-200F4 the other day. It's better - to my eyes at least, image-wise and, as you say, F4 all the way. Saying that I've decided that I need the IS as most of my stuff is handheld shooting. What I did was switched off the IS on my 55-250, set it to 200mm and took a few shots. It convinced me that IS is something I could, but don't want, to be without. Looks like I've got to save for a while longer for the 70-200F4IS.
 
I have the 55-250mm IS and it really is a cracking lens for the money. I am also however, saving up for the 70-200L f4 non-IS. I have used one of these (on loan from a forum member) and loved it, the IQ was far better than anything I had used before, and the pics took quite a good crop. I will not be getting rid of the 55-250 though, as it is very compact, light, and the cost is (fairly) negligable!
So my advice is get both if you can afford it, the 55-250mm maybe new, and the 70-200 second hand.
 
I can only advise on the 55 - 250 but I love mine, the IS is brilliant and the image quality is amazing for the price tag.
 
the 70-200 f4 is a cracking lens - the IQ is top notch. Said to be even better than that of its bigger brother the f/2.8 (maybe not the mk II version - but the older ones.)
 
I got the 55-250, as I'm on a tight budget. I've found it's a cracker. The IS alone is worth it.

Something to consider though, the 55-250 is plastic... all the way to the lens mount. It can't be used on a full frame camera either (that may not be an issue) and isn't weather sealed, again may not be an issue. The 55-250 uses an AF drive for autofocus, so you have to flick a switch for manual focus, unlike the USM rigged 70-200. the AF could be faster, although it works admirably most of the time.

Something I have been reading about on here, is the 70-300 IS USM lens... that might be worth considering also.
 
skullcandy said:
When I got my 55-250 the guy at park cameras said that it should have been an l series lens as it had the same high quality optics.
Personally I think its a great lens
Click to expand...

I think that guy may have been stretching the truth just a touch.
 
Although the 70-200mm f4 is undoubtedly a superb lens, I feel it is probably to short for wildlife and most motorsport unless you can get close to the action. Even the 55-250 is to short in my opinion. The trouble is there is no one lens that will give us everything we want. I have a 70-300mm IS USM which is a fantastic lens and the IS works really well, but I also have a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 when I need something faster. In addition to that for wildlife I have a Sigma 120-400mm OS. However if I was told that I could only have one of those it would be the 70-300mm IS, it is a great allrounder and gives superb results. It is definately one to consider.
 
Thanks for the quick responses, I had just found and read that link - very useful indeed.
I think for my usage everything has confirmed I need the faster lens and will have to shed out for it with 0% over 6 months at Jessops which doesn't seem a bad price anyway.

Off to Rome this weekend with the wide angle and then got Snetterton, Goodwood festival of speed and another few events with the new zoom to come :)

Thanks all,

Andrew
 
ned.c said:
Thanks for the quick responses, I had just found and read that link - very useful indeed.
I think for my usage everything has confirmed I need the faster lens and will have to shed out for it with 0% over 6 months at Jessops which doesn't seem a bad price anyway.
Click to expand...

I did the Jessops 6 months interest free when I bought my 70-200 F4 L at the beginning of the year.
I did it cheekily though. I managed to pay part cash (£300) and then take the loan on the remaining balance (£225) = monthly payment of £38!

Better than the £75 a month if you take the loan for the full whack.
 
Maybe get a 70-200 and the 1.4x extender?
 
stupar said:
I did the Jessops 6 months interest free when I bought my 70-200 F4 L at the beginning of the year.
I did it cheekily though. I managed to pay part cash (£300) and then take the loan on the remaining balance (£225) = monthly payment of £38!

Better than the £75 a month if you take the loan for the full whack.
Click to expand...

OOI, do you need a credit card to do that or a debit card and direct debits work?
 
Id guessed he was stretching the truth as the price tag was a bit low.
Still a good lens though, I wouldn't be without the is
 
I've ordered it via the Jessops 0% and you can specify the deposit amount (by debit or credit card) and then the 0% by direct debit for those interested. I opted for £200 deposit and worked out around £56 a month..

Andrew.
 
ned.c said:
I've ordered it via the Jessops 0% and you can specify the deposit amount (by debit or credit card) and then the 0% by direct debit for those interested. I opted for £200 deposit and worked out around £56 a month..

Andrew.
Click to expand...

Nice one, you won't regret it!
 
trencheel303 said:
OOI, do you need a credit card to do that or a debit card and direct debits work?
Click to expand...


You can do it by card or cash. I opted for cash.

Be on your guard though. The jessops website says you can put anyamount of deposit down as long as you the finance agreement is over £200. In store they tried to say the minimum deposit was £50. Don't accept that, ask about part payment as it can be done!
 
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