Any alternatives to 55-250/18-135mm?

Does Sigma or any other 3rd party maker make a decent if not the same and/or better lens than the current 55-250/18-135 EF-S lens? I owned both and I parted with the nifty two fifty and gave away my 18-135 to my friend for his birthday. I'm in a real lack of a telephoto and loved the range on the 18-135mm because it's semi walk around lens too. I want to stay within maybe a $200-300 budget range; I am aware of the 55-250mm is on sale at Target for $150 but I'm not sure if I want that lens back. Thanks for the suggestions. I don't hate Canon or anything but I'm open to the other makers that's all.

I can't speak to the 18-135 but I tell you that there is really no good low budget 3rd party telephoto lens.

The 55-250 outperforms any of the low cost telephoto lenses from Canon or anyone else.

Tamron makes a 70-300 VC USD lens that is quite nice but it is a bit above your price range.

I agree with dalto 100%... can't beat the 55-250 on a crop for the price...

Okay what if I were to throw the budget to maybe I don't know at least $400-500 ? Anything then?

Vixen89 wrote in post #12678920
Okay what if I were to throw the budget to maybe I don't know at least $400-500 ? Anything then?

dalto wrote in post #12673502
Tamron makes a 70-300 VC USD lens that is quite nice but it is a bit above your price range.

This lens is around $400us

For a low cost, but decent quality walk-around lens, the 28-135 IS is pretty hard to beat... especially since so many have been sold in kit that you can pick up a nice, hardly used copy for under $300 (I paid about $250 incl. shipping, hood, caps and even a 72mm B+W MRC 010 filter). It's not wide enough for a lot of things... But unlike the 18-135, it's an EF lens and has USM. Decent image quality, too... really surprisingly close to 24-70 and 24-105. (Okay, the Ls are better sealed and probably more durable.) It's sometimes got "zoom creep", isn't particularly fast (what, f3.5 to f5.6?) and isn't wide at all on a crop camera. You'll need to compliment it with another lens if you want wide. But, hey, for $250-300, or $200 in kit with a some cameras, I think it's a bargain.

The Tamron 70-300 VC is within your new budget and the best you're going to get without paying considerably more.

http://www.tamron.eu …the-year-2010-2011-1.html

Ever time I slap on my 55-250 I am amazed at the quality of the photographs vs the cost of the lens. For me, I will be saving for the 70-300 L as a replacement.

Frugal wrote in post #12679090
The Tamron 70-300 VC is within your new budget and the best you're going to get without paying considerably more.

+1 The Tammi is great!

Check out the Sigma 18-125 OS HSM lens... IMO, it blows the doors off the Canon 18-135mm and is on par or better than the 28-135mm, and has a more useful range. You should be able to find it for <$300 new or $225 used.

I'd recommend the Tamron 70-300 VC over the Canon 55-250 as well... obviously there's a $200 price difference there though. If you're willing to pay $500, you should just pick up a used Canon 70-200 f/4L.

tammy 70-300 vc

Well the lenses recommended are fine BUT it really depends on what your looking for? Two lens solution or one lens vacation/walk around?

The 18-135 and 28-135 are great walk around lenses of which I owned both. The 18-135mm btw was quite a bit sharper(better glass) but exhibited vignetting. I couldn't tell any real difference in focus speed as the 28-135 uses an older usm. The 18-135mm has better IS as well.

I own the Tamron 70-300vc and it is a great lens! A real bargain for the price. Google for any coupon deals as we got $100.00 at restaurant.com with our purchase, in addition to some other discounts. It's quite a bit better than the above Canon's.

Otherwise, if you want a one lens solution you may want to consider the Canon 18-200mm or Tamron 18-270 vc lenses.

Good luck

Decided to jump the gun on the Tamron 70-300 VC since a member here was selling it for $350 shipped! Totally in my budget and it's near mint. I was hunting through the threads and was suggested at some, most likely this will fill in the void I've been feeling ever since I let go of my 55-250/18-135mm~

Thank you all again, I wasn't really looking forward to dishing out on an L glass only because I don't get free time to shoot as often as I would like and yah you guys are right if I were to dump an extra $500 go ahead and get the big boy.

Congrat's. I am sure you will love the lens. I was wondering if you would jump on that listing!