18-135, 18-200, 70-300, or none of the above?

So I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on a 60D. I currently have an 18-55 kit and a 50mm 1.8. Primarily shoot family/ friends indoors with some landscape/ wildlife mixed in. Other types of photography as mood suits me, but pretty rarely.

I can buy body only, or buy one of the 18-xxx lenses as part of a kit, or get the 70-300 for $250 off with the purchase of the body on xxxzon.

Unless my math is off, seems like the 18-135 adds about $250, the -200 adds about $400, and the 70-300 will add about $170 due to the discount.

None of these (maybe outside the 70-300) have really been on my radar, any worth picking up, or should I just go with the kit?

Not too keen on buying then selling/ flipping unless I can make at least $100 profit.

If you have 18-55 already then just buy a body only and get the 55-250.

If you are buying on Amazon, definitely get the 70-300 because of the huge discount you get. Doesn't look like it is giving a discount on the 55-250 anymore (used to) so that would make it the same price as the 70-300. $170 for a 70-300 is a no brainer. Even if you decide you don't like it, you can sell it for way more than that used.

As for the kit, I would get body-only in your situation based on your other posts about lenses. I would only get a kit which included the 18-135/18-200 if you can part it out for decent money. Otherwise, I don't think you'll use it. Just do your research on the going third-party price for it first but also factor in your time, effort, etc.

Oh one more thing... I'd wait until Photokina (starts the 18th this month). In the event that Canon makes an announcement about a 70D, it will probably drive the price of the 60D down. Who knows how long that will take to take effect, though.

SoCalTiger wrote in post #14951788
Oh one more thing... I'd wait until Photokina (starts the 18th this month). In the event that Canon makes an announcement about a 70D, it will probably drive the price of the 60D down. Who knows how long that will take to take effect, though.

Thanks, I am considering waiting. The current price on the 60D on Amazon seems solid but nothing crazy spectacular. But then again who knows if it'll come down substantially more, plus they do seem to be offering a pretty good deal on that 70-300, which I guess is a lens I want/need...

Only thing is, I read alot of people on here saying that the 55-250 is sharper than the 70-300 and that the USM on the 70-300 is not that good. But either way the price on either lens is a steal.

Ratjack wrote in post #14951843
Only thing is, I read alot of people on here saying that the 55-250 is sharper than the 70-300 and that the USM on the 70-300 is not that good. But either way the price on either lens is a steal.

The main reason I suggest to get the 70-300 no matter what is that the "subsidized" price if you buy it with a body is only $170. At that price, you can very easily turn it around for profit. I see them sell for $300 used. OP could always buy both and sell the one they don't want to keep.

The only problem is that the 55-250 is not subsidized right now so the sale would be a loss if they sold that one. Also, for the OP, FYI you can easily get the 55-250 for $150 used or they go on sale brand new for that price every 1-2months. You can setup an alert on SlickDeals to find out when it happens.

I like my 70-300 quite a lot. USM is good, and the IS is great!

ickmcdon wrote in post #14953748
I like my 70-300 quite a lot. USM is good, and the IS is great!

+1

Mike

I bought my 70-300 EF f/4-5.6 a couple of weeks ago for $300 from a guy that had just bought his 60d on Amazon, and got the 70-300 at the subsidized price. The benefit of the EF 70-300 over the EF-S 55-250 for me, is that I plan on upgrading to a 5DIII FF from my 40D crop in a year. I plan on upgrading my glass gradually, just not all at one time when I go FF.

Regards,

Rick

Ratjack wrote in post #14951843
Only thing is, I read alot of people on here saying that the 55-250 is sharper than the 70-300 and that the USM on the 70-300 is not that good. But either way the price on either lens is a steal.

If you are looking to rid yourself of the kit lenses- I'd say get the body only and avoid buying stuff you don't need.
How do you feel about your 18-55? I hated mine- too short of a range- always changing lenses- so for walk about- I ended up getting a 18-135 with my 7D- gosh- I loved that lens.. OK- not the best lens out there - but darn convenient. Relatively sharp ( as sharp as the 18-55 ).. Could often go an entire day without swapping lenses whereas the 18-55- was always swapping lenses out. 18-55 is a good range for say- inside a house.. For anything else- too darn short. Never used my 18-55 after i got the 18-135. Heck, had the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS- and most of the time, the 7D had the 18-135 on it.

BTW: The 18-135 STM lens that comes with the t4i- is a better lens than the older 18-135 IS. For you- only buy the kit with the lens IF you think you'd be happy with the lens. Don't buy it because you think you could sell it and make a profit- you probably won't- as most of these lenses aren't that well sought after. Prior to getting the 18-135 STM- the only lens I would have considered to replace the 18-135 IS- would have been the Canon 15-85. Now that I have the 18-135 STM- it's too close in IQ to warrant ponying up for the 15-85. Also note that there is a following of users that also like their 18-200 lenses- even though not a particularly fast lens- they like it nonetheless. It all depends upon what you want out of your lens.