Want to get a zoom/macro lens...where to start?

I have a 50D with the 28-135mm and 50mm 1.8. I want to add something with more zoom mostly for pics of the kids out playing and things like that. I'd love to also have macro ability. Can't really afford much over $150-200. Saw this on Amazon and wondering if it would be good or if you have other suggestions?

$169 http://www.amazon.com …CJ0/ref=cm_cmu_​pg__header

Also found a 55-250 and a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III on CL each for $150.

This is my first SLR so I have no clue which way to go. Any help would be very appreciated!

I debated between that and the Tamron version similar in price. Research turned up pretty much similar IQ. I went with the Tamron in the end because you can hack the macro limiter switch and use macro throughout the range.

They're fairly good as long as you dont do much cropping. CA can be an issue for high light contrast situations, but for the price you cant go wrong.

Heres a sample pic I took

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Your picture is beautiful! Can you post me a link to your lens? Is it hard to hack the switch?

With your budget, the EF-S 55-250 IS is your best bet.

get the 55-250IS...and then get a macro reversing ring to mount the 50mm onto the 55-250IS for some macro shots...it's a cheap way to get it done

http://www.ebay.com …ain_0&hash=item​3a64185272

The 55-250is really is a great lens for the price! It will get you some macro-ish shots without extension tubes.

Get the 55-250, its a great value on a good little lens. Ignore whether the longer zooms call themselves macro as none of them are a true macro lens.

While your 28-135 is not a true macro, I don't know of any zooms that are, it was advertised as a "macro" lens and has 1:5 magnification at 135mm.
I sold mine a number of years ago, but did shoot some closeups with it while I had it. Here's a sample shot:

30D - 28-135 - 1/1000s f/8.0 at 135.0mm iso400

It really depends on what you mean by "macro." No zooms are true macro lenses. manufacturers put "macro" on them to indicate that they can focus somewhat closer than normal lenses. To give you an idea, I just took my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 "macro" to see how close I could get to a quarter. At the closest focus, the quarter filled roughly 1/6 of the viewfinder. (I could have had 3 across, 2 high.) I then put on my EF-s 60mm macro, which is a true macro lens. At closest focus, the portion of a single quarter from just below Washington's chin to the top of the quarter filled the screen.

True macro lenses usually go to 1:1 magnification, meaning that the image on the sensor is life-size, although some cheaper ones only go to 1:2. 1:1 is what most macro photographers would consider a real macro lens.

If you want anything close to 1:1, you either have to buy a real macro lens or do something to a regular lens to get more magnification. One option, suggested above, is to get some extension tubes. This will get you more magnification. However, it makes the viewfinder darker, so if you are starting with a slow lens, it will get pretty dark. The approach has the advantage that if you really get hooked on macro, you can later buy a true macro lens and use the extension tubes with it for even greater magnification.

For example, this was with a 100mm macro lens, I think with no extension:

Get the 55-250. If it does not focus close enough, get an extension tube (or set of extension tubes). Alternatively (to the tubes) get a 58mm Two Element close-up lens (it screws on like a filter) like the Canon 500D or get a Raynox dcr-250.

+1 for the 55-250
for true macro a close-up will work better than extension tubes, or even cheaper, the 50mm reversed in front of it (not sure if it gives distortion though).

edit
tried on my 70-300 and there is vigneting even at 300mm
close-up is the way to go.

jimewall wrote in post #14597442
Get the 55-250. If it does not focus close enough, get an extension tube (or set of extension tubes). Alternatively (to the tubes) get a 58mm Two Element close-up lens (it screws on like a filter) like the Canon 500D or get a Raynox dcr-250.

Would that Raynox work with either of the lenses I already have?

paddler4 wrote in post #14597355
It really depends on what you mean by "macro." ...True macro lenses usually go to 1:1 magnification, meaning that the image on the sensor is life-size, although some cheaper ones only go to 1:2. 1:1 is what most macro photographers would consider a real macro lens.

Hmmm, generalizations, so easy to disprove! The Canon 50mm macro goes to 1:2, not 1:1 without extension. At $430 NYC street price, it isn't a budget lens.

melissaandkris wrote in post #14597048
Your picture is beautiful! Can you post me a link to your lens? Is it hard to hack the switch?

here is the link to the Tamron:

http://www.amazon.com …-4&keywords=tamron+70-300

No IS like the 55-250 so you might want to consider that lens for the IS alone. That said the Tamron goes to 1:2 Life Size for macro work. The hack is fairly easy to do.

55-250 does 1:3 macro, which isn't really too far off of 1:2.