buying my first new lense..

i bought myself a canon 1100d, with a 18-55mm lense,, getting to grips with it now , but looking for a larger lense to try some sports/wildlife etc.. been looking at a few 70-300 but bit out of my price range so now looking at a 55-250mm... http://www.ebay.co.uk …enses&hash=item​27ca00acac i have been told i need one with image stabalisation and this seems to have it... i dont have a lot of money to spend but also dont want to waste it on a cheap lense if its no use!!! i know u get what u pay for, but would this type be suitable for a starter?? any advice is welcome, but please remember im not to hot on camera tech talk just yet!!! thanks

flo55y0 wrote in post #14831839
i bought myself a canon 1100d, with a 18-55mm lense,, getting to grips with it now , but looking for a larger lense to try some sports/wildlife etc.. been looking at a few 70-300 but bit out of my price range so now looking at a 55-250mm... http://www.ebay.co.uk …enses&hash=item​27ca00acac i have been told i need one with image stabalisation and this seems to have it... i dont have a lot of money to spend but also dont want to waste it on a cheap lense if its no use!!! i know u get what u pay for, but would this type be suitable for a starter?? any advice is welcome, but please remember im not to hot on camera tech talk just yet!!! thanks

yes, it's suitable for a starter telephoto, the 55-250IS is cheap but sharp

and how much of a difference between f4.0-5.6 and a 4.5-5.6????? £ 100 of diff? is it needed??

55-250 is one of the best lenses you will ever buy for the amount you pay.

50 f/1.8 is another.

Beyond that; things start to get very pricy

Rocky Rhode wrote in post #14832099
55-250 is one of the best lenses you will ever buy for the amount you pay.

50 f/1.8 is another.

Beyond that; things start to get very pricy

is it worth the extra£100 for the f4.0-5.6 instead of 4.5-5.6 ?

flo55y0 wrote in post #14832164
is it worth the extra£100 for the f4.0-5.6 instead of 4.5-5.6 ?

You need to provide a bit more information about what lenses, exactly, you are referring to. My guess is you are comparing the 55-250 (f/4-5.6) to the 100-300 (f/4.5-5.6). The 55-250 is better than any of the XX-300 or XXX-300 lenses in your price range. You get a much better lens if you want to spend some serious money. The 70-300 DO, and the 70-300L are much better than the 55-250. They also cost 4-5 times as much.

55-250 is a great choice, not expensive and very good.

flo55y0 wrote in post #14832164
is it worth the extra£100 for the f4.0-5.6 instead of 4.5-5.6 ?

You need to consider all aspects of the Lens, not just the apperture. The 55-250mm IS, is a great lens and well worth the money.

Considering they're both variable aperture and f4 vs f4.5 is only one third of a stop you're not going to notice a massive difference... certainly not worth the extra $100 imho. If you're comparing f4 against f2.8 for a fixed aperture zoom then it's more of an issue, but not at this stage for you I don't think.

Get the Canon 55-250

I would go for the 50-250 IS to and save the £100 for other camera gear, maybe extra battery, memory card or something else

flo55y0 wrote in post #14832045
and how much of a difference between f4.0-5.6 and a 4.5-5.6????? £ 100 of diff? is it needed??

we need more details...nobody knows what the other lens you are asking about is...are you comparing it to the 55-200mm? if so yes the 55-250IS is worth it over that lens...

DreDaze wrote in post #14841608
we need more details...nobody knows what the other lens you are asking about is...are you comparing it to the 55-200mm? if so yes the 55-250IS is worth it over that lens...

Ah yes I've just realised I've confused myself, and possibly the OP in my previous comment... The 55-250 is the one that starts at f4 not f4.5 as I initially thought!

OP, which lens is £100 more that is f4.5-5.6?

55-250 is an awesome value for money lens(e) it's nice and light, has IS, good range for a crop camera.

For what you have to spend the 55-250mm is a decent lens. A tad on the short side for a lot of wildlife, but it is an OK start.