Telephoto lenses for Canon.. fight!

[MDesigner]

OK, I've been thinking about it, and I'm quite sure I want IS in my telephoto. At least for my first telephoto. I'm not always going to have my tripod handy.. and I like shooting in not-so-well-lit scenes. In the case I don't have my tripod with me, it would be nice to switch on IS and hope it works its magic (which I think it will).

So.. Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS. Besides the focal length difference, the 250mm has no USM.. not sure how important that is.

This review of the 55-250mm is interesting:

I hvae just bought this lense from B&H, this one is very nice, lightweigh, very sharp, bokeh is very smooth at F5.6 / 250mm, IS is amazing. Last year I have bought 70-200 F4L, but after some weeks I have resold it because there is no IS that make it's impossible to take picture inside with or without flash with minimum speed required (1/x max focal lengtth). Image quality of the 55-250 is about 80% of the 70-200F4, The 70-200F4 is a little too much contrast. For the price I think there is no better choice that this 55-250

I'm leaning towards the 55-250mm, mostly due to the great price. The photos it takes look pretty good. Keep in mind, I'm a major amateur. I probably won't want to sink more than $500 into a lens unless I'm at least semi-pro, which I'm not. Anyway, for roughly $270, the 55-250mm looks good, it has tons of great reviews on both Amazon and B&H. I'll have to sleep on it for a few days.. I'll post here once I make a decision.

 

[Dao]

For taking a picture of a stationary object, I do not think the USM will make a big different. If you taking a photo of a eagle flying in the sky, I believe (based on what I read and learn), you will have a better result (focusing) with a USM lens.

 

[Buszaj]

The USM will help you to focus faster, whether you'll want this will depend on what you're shooting. Low light, might as well go for the IS.

IS / VR is to compensate camera shake. Camera shaking will affect the quality of the photo (motion blur) if shutter speed is not fast enough for a given focal length. And the motion blur effect will increase with longer focal length. Hence IS / VR come into place.

Yes, that is known.

However, for sport action, the motion blur is not the result of camera shake. And therefore IS / VR will have no effect on the blur photo. The only way to Freeze the action is using a faster shutter speed. So may as well turn the IS / VR off.

Once again, known. But, when you're handholding for sports, which is very often done (switch from the 400 2.8 to the 70-200 2.8 handheld for example), then its obviously needed. When panning, this also helps.

 

[Rhys]

Here you are. Here's an action photo with a 70-300 f4-5.6 IS on a Canon XT.

 

[sto12m]

Tele-lens are great stuffs to be owned but sadly, these lens can only be staying in my wish-list for the time being.

Tight in budget and low in photographing skills.

Anyhow, those images post are all great shots!

 

[MDesigner]

Thanks for posting that pic, Rhys! How did you get the exposure set properly on a fast moving object like that, just curious?

Great, now I'm deciding between the 55-250mm and the 70-300mm.

 

[Rhys]

Thanks for posting that pic, Rhys! How did you get the exposure set properly on a fast moving object like that, just curious?

Great, now I'm deciding between the 55-250mm and the 70-300mm.

I set it to Aperture priority, opened up to f6.3 and shot in RAW so I could change the exposure later if necessary.

 

[Village Idiot]

Thanks for posting that pic, Rhys! How did you get the exposure set properly on a fast moving object like that, just curious?

Great, now I'm deciding between the 55-250mm and the 70-300mm.

You sure? Action shot taken with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS. Exif below. They say the 70-200 f/4 is marginally sharper.

Camera:Canon EOS 30D
Exposure:0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:f/13
Focal Length:153 mm
ISO Speed:250

 

[MDesigner]

I set it to Aperture priority, opened up to f6.3

To give you a larger DOF in case autofocus was off by a pinch, right?

 

[MDesigner]

You sure? Action shot taken with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS. Exif below. They say the 70-200 f/4 is marginally sharper.

Great shot! But yeah, I'm sure. The 70-200 f/2.8L IS is way way out of my budget range! I'm just a hobbyist. Won't spend more than $500'ish on a lens at this point in time.

 

[Village Idiot]

Great shot! But yeah, I'm sure. The 70-200 f/2.8L IS is way way out of my budget range! I'm just a hobbyist. Won't spend more than $500'ish on a lens at this point in time.

That's why I said the 70-200 f/4 is considered marginally sharper than the 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

 

[MDesigner]

Woops, sorry, misread.

I've already determined I want IS for sure on my telephoto. That rules out the 70-200mm f/4L.

 

[Rhys]

To give you a larger DOF in case autofocus was off by a pinch, right?

That and because lenses are sharper when not used wide open.

 

[randerson07]

I own both a 70-200f/4 and a 75-300 usm IS.

both are wonderful lens, the L is super sharp and creates some wonderfuly smooth background blur.

The 300mm is very useful when shooting wildlife, I often find I want more reach when using my L. With the IS I can hand hold a shot under 1/125 at 300mm and still get a usable shot.

With the L when zooming to 200 there is no barrel to extend or twist, its all internal, so with a circular polarizer you just put it on and forget it.

With the 75-300 the barrel extends quite a bit and I see that as a week point with enough use, it will wobble im sure. Also when focusing the barrel twists, so with a polarizer you would need to focus, and then adjust.

If I had to choose only one, Id choose the L. The build quality is something you really need to feel to understand. My 70-300 lens is a year old with a load of shots on it and not showing any wear, but its just not build like the L.

Im also able to use either one on my EOS film cam, where if I had that efs lens I could not.

 

[jg123]

randerson07 can you explain a little more about the polarizer and the zoom lens? I just got my polarizer in the mail today and want to use it on my 55-250