Which package should I go with?

I currently have a 60D with 18-200mm lens that I got for $1,250.00

Instead I can get a 60D (body only) with Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM + Canon 55-250mm for a total of $1,196.11

Would the second option be better? I know I am missing out on the wide angle but I can purchase a lens for that.

I dont know why you would need both the 70-300 and the 55-250. I would be inclined to buy the second package and sell one of the two tele zooms and buy a wider lens with the proceeds. I'm not a fan of the superzooms such as the 18-200 as they are generally not that sharp across the entire range and they tend to be slow.

So I would only need to get one of the 2 lenses from the second one? I can go without one I just thought they would both be needed (still really new to all of this). Between the 2 which would you say I should get.

I can get the 55-250 for $77
I can get the 70-300 IS USM for $199
I was also looking at the 18-55mm lens for $125

So would I be better off with something like a kit with 18-55, 55-250 compared to the 18-200? I do like the 18-200 but the images tend to come out a little soft and the CA can sometimes be a bit too much.

Where can you get those two telezooms for that price? Its about half of what I have seen the 55-250 going for and considerably less on the 70-300.

I hope you're not shopping on a bait and switch site. Are you planning to sell your current 60D and buy another one? Just keep your 60D and buy the lens or lenses you need.

Im within my return period for the camera. Its not a bait and switch site at all. Which lens do you guys think would be best? 55-250 or 70-300mm usm?

EDIT: After some reading it seems the 55-250 is sharper than the 70-300mm usm. I think I will go with that.

Everyone reading this thread is now watching the birth of a refurb. or two.

Is there really a noticeable quality difference going from 18-200 to 18-55+55-250?

I guess I should say that I think your better option would be to KEEP your current setup, buy the lens you want- and then perhaps sell your 18-200.. You selected and bought a package. There is really nothing wrong with it- you just chose poorly if it does not meet your needs. Alternatively, you should be contacting your vendor instead and see what kind of deal they can make in regards to swapping out that 18-200 for something else. It's a personal responsibility- you chose. There's nothing wrong with it.

The thing wrong here is the attitude- while you see it as a no cost to you upgrade- what the rest of us see is higher prices because of transactions such as this. In the end, WE ALL PAY HIGHER PRICES because you chose poorly. So, now your vendor will get back a 60D with a lens- neither of which he can sell as new- which will likely become refurbed, and everyone wonders why prices seem to be going higher and higher.

End Rant.

Here is a tool that will help you decide for your self.
Look at it carefully, move your mouse around. You are looking at crops from different parts of the frame.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=1​&APIComp=1

Surprisingly, the 18-200 looks a little sharper than the 55-250 at 200mm
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …omp=0&FLIComp=4​&APIComp=3

edit: I am actually really surprised by what I am seeing here. I expected to see a clear difference where the 18-200 revealed itself as a slouch. What I see is opposite. Choosing various focal lengths and f/stops, the 18-200 looks sharper, as compared to the appropriate alternate, more often than not.

18-200 / 18-55 /18-135 - all kit lenses. Not necessarily known for speed. Not necessarily the sharpest lenses out there. But for someone that has no or little experience with DSLR's- I highly doubt that you would see the differences between almost any of them. There are people that absolutely love their 18-200's. There are people out there that love their 18-135's. There are people out there that love their 18-55's. And there are people out there that hate each and every one of them. They are kit lenses- basically a lens for the camera so that it is functional for those that don't know what they should get. It's an introductory lens. If you shoot Standard Picture Style, and shoot with your 18-200 at various focal lengths ( 18, 50, 100, 135, 200 ), at ranges that you would typically take a picture of- how does it fare? Do the pics look decent quality? If you stop down the lens some- from say 3.5 to 5.6 or from 5.6 to 8.0- how does the pics look ? 100% crops ?

Personally, I would suggest that you won't see that much difference between any of the standard kit lenses- until you purchase MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE lenses. And even then, the amount of improvement- well- to some- it's not that much- to others- day and night difference.

For my T1i, I kept my 18-55 because I knew someday, I would part with the T1i. And whomever bought it- would probably want a lens to go with it. I had better lenses- but I knew the day would come- so I kept it around.. I also loaned it out a few times- but I kept it so that I had something to sell with the body- I knew the day would come. I sold it with the T1i.

I should also mention that a lot here on POTN like the idea of a standard zoom range- i.e. 2-4x- more centered around 3x or so. You will hear those that routinely say that zooms with longer ranges- such as the 18-135 / 18-200- well, they are full of compromises. Yet, most of these guys and gals are doing nothing besides parroting what they read on here and on the web. I absolutely love a lot about my 18-135- even though I have better glass- it's still got its place. There are guys and gals on here that say the same things about superzooms like your 18-200- same thing- never touched one- never used one- never owned one- yet spout off the same type of things. Really- what you need to find is someone that uses them- - I'd guess that you'd be pleasantly surprised. In the end, if you take pictures with it, and know how to use it, and are satisfied with your pictures- then - who cares what some yahoo says about it ? OK, 50 years ago, lens design was not done the same way it is today. Today, with the aid of computers- they can do much more with lenses and lens design than they could before. Maybe that rule about superzooms- well- it's not like it was way back when. BTW: I had a 18-55, and currently have the 18-135 in my collection. Of the two, I'd rather have the 18-135 any day over the 18-55.

Wayne, I REALLY appreciate all of your input. I am doing a lot of reading right now and it seems that I can go with 18-55 + 55-250 and I will get SLIGHTLY better image quality that I may not even notice unless pixel peeping. But if I were to trade off to get this slightly better quality I will also lose the convenience of just having to use a single lens. My wife and I like to go hiking and take a camera with us which makes me like the single lens solution. When doing portrait type pictures I will use the 18-200 sometimes but will mostly use my 50mm 1.8 for that. After purchasing a 55-250 and a 18-55 I would still only be saving $100 compared to the 18-200 and then I will be having to constantly change lenses.... I guess I will probably stick with the 18-200 and just wait until I can afford a good L lens which will be a much bigger improvement. With the trade offs that I am seeing I am thinking that going through the hassle of returning this one and buying the new one I will just be "side-grading". Once again, I really appreciate your input as well as everyone else!

Stick with what you have, then get stupid like me and get the 17-55 2.8 and the 70-300L.

You know you have a known good camera and lens, those other two lenses are redundant to have in the same kit and something just seems off with what you are saying about their pricing, I would be wary and you could get stuck with a bad copy.

Keyan wrote in post #14666642
Stick with what you have, then get stupid like me and get the 17-55 2.8 and the 70-300L.

You know you have a known good camera and lens, those other two lenses are redundant to have in the same kit and something just seems off with what you are saying about their pricing, I would be wary and you could get stuck with a bad copy.

Its a deal through amazon. If you buy a 60D you get 150 off a 55-250 and 250 off a 70-300 usm.