Tamron 75-300mm LD AF Macro or Tamron 70-300mm D or Sigma 70-300mm APO DG

[Oneslowz28]

My sister has been taking a photography class at highschool and just saved up and upgraded from her xt to a 30D. I asked her what she would like for christmas and she asked for a battery grip, eye peice extender, extension tubes set, and a lense or 2. I am giving her one of my nifty 50's and besides it she only has a 18-55 kit, 28-90 kit from a k2. I want to get her a decent tele zoom. I have a canon 75-300 but its so sloppy i would donate it to a thrift shop. After researching a bit here are the 3 I came up with in the sub $200 range. Can anyone help me make the decision. I have a few sigmas including a Big Ma. I have never held, much less shot with a tamron.( local shop only carries phoneix and quantaray) Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

These are the 3 I'm looking at for her.

Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD AF Macro

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 1:2 Macro


I mentioned to my parents that we should split the cost 3 ways and get her a 100-400L like mine and needless to say that when they looked up the price that idea died quickly. I am also ordering her a canon back pack and 2 extra batteries from sterling. Our parents are going to get her a 430ex (buying mine off me. gonna get me a second 580) and I think they are also geting her CS3. So Atleast shes going to have a happy christmas morning right?

[Bosman]

Originally Posted by Oneslowz28

My sister has been taking a photography class at highschool and just saved up and upgraded from her xt to a 30D. I asked her what she would like for christmas and she asked for a battery grip, eye peice extender, extension tubes set, and a lense or 2. I am giving her one of my nifty 50's and besides it she only has a 18-55 kit, 28-90 kit from a k2. I want to get her a decent tele zoom. I have a canon 75-300 but its so sloppy i would donate it to a thrift shop. After researching a bit here are the 3 I came up with in the sub $200 range. Can anyone help me make the decision. I have a few sigmas including a Big Ma. I have never held, much less shot with a tamron.( local shop only carries phoneix and quantaray) Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

These are the 3 I'm looking at for her.

Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD AF Macro

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro

Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 1:2 Macro


I mentioned to my parents that we should split the cost 3 ways and get her a 100-400L like mine and needless to say that when they looked up the price that idea died quickly. I am also ordering her a canon back pack and 2 extra batteries from sterling. Our parents are going to get her a 430ex (buying mine off me. gonna get me a second 580) and I think they are also geting her CS3. So Atleast shes going to have a happy christmas morning right?

NickC did an extensive review click here of the Sigma 55-200 which I believe can be had for under $150. It seems to be a really great lens for the price and if it is true that the ones you are looking at get really soft after 200mm it may be worth a look. Unless you really want to have the extra 100mm of reach soft or not.