75-300 recommendation

[Ruben Llach]

I am thinking of buying a lens in the range 75-300mm, mainly for wildlife. Got a tight budget, no more than $200. I heard that the Tamron 75-300 is better than the Canon and the Sigma. Any comments?

[Muhfahsa]

I am thinking of buying a lens in the range 75-300mm, mainly for wildlife. Got a tight budget, no more than $200. I heard that the Tamron 75-300 is better than the Canon and the Sigma. Any comments?

I'm to new to give you any solid advice, but I've been researching and have heard the same thing about the Tamron vrs the Canon & Sigma.

[Keiffer]

I just got the Tamron 70-300 off a fellow POTN member and it's decent, Than again if I stop shaking it probably would be better LOL But I heard that the Tamron 70-300 is better than the 75-300 as far as sharpness goes. I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will correct me:)

[ron chappel]

$200 is no real problem,you can get a reasonably decent 300 zoom for that.

The most obvious candidates are the canon 75-300 and tamron 70-300 LD
The sigma 70-300 Apo macro super II is slightly over $200 but you could get a good one 2nd hand for much less.The very good canon 100-300usm is also available 2nd hand within your budget
Of those i'd tend to recommend the tamron LD or a 2nd hand canon 100-300usm.

By the way- make sure you get the tamron 70-300 lD (1:2 macro) NOT the cheaper 75-300 lens

[Keiffer]

I took Rons advice and went with the Tamron:-) Glad I did.

[Ruben Llach]

Thank you for the advice

[khisanthax]

so, Ron, you would put them in this order:

Tamron Zoom Telephoto AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD Macro
Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III USM Autofocus Lens
and lastly:
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super II

I've been agonizing over the tamron and sigma mainly because of the APO but I'm amateur at this so I've much reading to do. But does that about sum it up?

[ron chappel]

Khisanthax-i'll assume you don't want to consider the canon 100-300usm because of it's higher price ?

If so-out of the three choices you give i'd say:
The Sigma may be a touch better than the tamron in optical performance *IF* you get a reasonable example of the sigma.Production quality must vary alot with this model i've come to learn.
I'd say go for the sigma if you can buy at a shop that allows you to exchange it if you get a dud.
Otherwise go for the tamron
The canon 75-300usm has (just barely) the fastest focus speed and very good background blur
(if that's an issue at all.The tamron, and to some extent the sigma have a double vision thing happening in the background)

[nitsch]

This months Practical Photography magazine has run a Budget Telephoto Zoom Lens test. It rates the Tamron as a 3 out of 5 and the Sigma APO as 5 out of 5 (note this is the APO, the DL version of the Sigma got the same rating as the Tamron 3/5).

As Ron has mentioned there does seem to be quite a bit of variation in the Sigma lenses so if you choose this one then make sure you try before you buy or at least that you can return it.

I have the Sigma APO and I love it. :)