Another newb, and another lens opinion needed!

[Rtrac1]

I purchased a canon 300d with the kit lens, and I am presently looking for a sub 500 dollar 75-300mm lens to go with it.

I have narrowed my searching down to these...
http://ai.pricegrabber.com/images/spacer.gif
Canon 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM EF Lens for $420
or
Canon 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II/III USM EF Lens for $190

I'll be using the lens mostly for shooting auto-racing and most of the time without a tri-pod. My question is if the IS feature is worth the extra 230 bucks?

any other suggestions for lens?

thanks in advance.

[malla1962]

i think i would maybe try for a used 70-200 F4 L.IMO all the canon 75-300 lenses are slow
focusing and not very sharp.the one i tried was total junk.http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=16&sort=7&cat=27&page=2

[Europa]

My question is if the IS feature is worth the extra 230 bucks?
When using a large lens in a handholding situation I believe that IS is needed.

[CyberDyneSystems]

IS can be handy.

Malla has a good point though,. take a look at our Top ten recomended lens section.. you'll see that the 70-200mm f/4L comes highly recomended,. and compared to teh 75-300mm IS,. it is just a few dollars more.

[clicky]

Yes indeed - I own a 70-200 f/4 and you should really consider this one instead of the 75-300 (IS or not...) The 70-200 f/4 is superb and it delivers very sharp images.

20D is a high-ISO performer so you could push ISO somewhat instead of using IS?

[Medic1]

I have the 70-200 f4L and as long as you are using it in daylight conditions, and have a fairly steady hand, you can use it without the IS. I would say that even if you don't want to go used, you should wait a little and save for the 70-200. You won't regret it. Otherwise you will just buy the 75-300 and somewhere down the line (sooner, I am sure rather than later) you will realize that you wish you would have bought the 70-200.

If you are planning to use the lens in anything other than daylight conditions (where you can use a high shutter speed and eliminate the need for IS) you may want to think about saving a little more on top of the f4 and buying a 70-200 f2.8. Otherwise, I think the IS is a good investment for your money (but the 70-200 with IS is fairly expensive).

If you are not willing to wait, or do not have the money.....and are going to get the 75-300 make sure you get the IS, its worth it.

[MrChad]

I own the 75-300 IS, I use this lens for both freinds weddings and autoracing.
The IS is FANTASTIC, but not for autoraces.

Get the 70-200 f4 for the races, a buddy of mine owns the 70-200 f2.8L...best lens EVER.
If you can't do that get the 70-200 f4, much nicer glass for action use. Way faster AF too.

However if you shoot low action, the IS is awesome, I love mine for that.

[wcstory]

Excellent timing - I'm looking at the 70-200 4.0 vs. 75-300 IS USM. Please excuse a newbie question.

How limiting will the 4.0 be vs. the 2.8? Will the 4.0 be a handycap indoors or at lower light? What else should I consider?

Thanks in advance,
Bill

[mdude85]

Excellent timing - I'm looking at the 70-200 4.0 vs. 75-300 IS USM. Please excuse a newbie question.

How limiting will the 4.0 be vs. the 2.8? Will the 4.0 be a handycap indoors or at lower light? What else should I consider?

Thanks in advance,
Bill

you might want to consider the older 70-210 f3.5-4.5, 70-210 f4, or sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX ... the sigma is about the same price as a Canon 70-200 f/4 L and I *bet* that if you took two shots of the same subject with the Sigma f2.8 and the Canon f2.8 and showed them to someone and didn't tell them which was which, that person would mix the two shots up. some people prefer the canon because it's more "prestigious" and they make themselves think the Canon is better. Personally I'd rather save 75% on the price.


Also there is a Canon 70-300 DO lens.

I'd check out the Sigma f2.8 if you don't mind that your lens isn't painted white ...

[ron chappel]

The 75-300 lenses all have the same optics-i.e pretty lame
The IS version is just a cheap lens with that very expensive feature added.Be carefull it's what you really want

Here are *the* two best consumer telezooms for canon:
The canon 100-300 USM is abit sharper and easily has the fastest focus speed (plus nice build quality) -
http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/index_2.html
And the sigma 70-300 Apo macro super II is also quite sharp.Focus is not very fast i'm told but it has good macro ability.
http://www.pbase.com/argylemonkey/lens_comp

As can be seen from those two comparisons,the 75-300's are not the best choice.

Sigma make an excellent 100-300/4 professional lens that might juuuust be abit above your stated price range.It's well worth looking at

[Rtrac1]

The 75-300 lenses all have the same optics-i.e pretty lame
The IS version is just a cheap lens with that very expensive feature added.Be carefull it's what you really want

Here are *the* two best consumer telezooms for canon:
The canon 100-300 USM is abit sharper and easily has the fastest focus speed (plus nice build quality) -
http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/index_2.html (http://members.dodo.net.au/%7El8r_ron/index_2.html)
And the sigma 70-300 Apo macro super II is also quite sharp.Focus is not very fast i'm told but it has good macro ability.
http://www.pbase.com/argylemonkey/lens_comp

As can be seen from those two comparisons,the 75-300's are not the best choice.

Sigma make an excellent 100-300/4 professional lens that might juuuust be abit above your stated price range.It's well worth looking at

I actually ended up ordering a canon 100-300 USM the other night based on reviews that i read on it.

Thanks!