70-300mm replacement

I've had my EOS for 2 years & it came with the kit lens & a also brought the tamron 70-300mm (4-5.6 ap) for £100 to start me off.

I've since gone on to replace my kit lens with something which is better built, better quality glass & quicker, but im now looking at the 70-300mm.

I know I'm not able to find anything "quicker" by way of aperture, but im keen to find a lens which is quicker to lock it's focus onto the subject & more accurately rather than "hunting" back & fourth. The main things I use this lens for are nature & aircraft - sometimes by the time the AF has locked on it's too late which frustrates me. I also think the quality of my images is suffering - not surprising given the £100 mark I got it for.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd be looking for second hand to trim costs (last 2 lenses have been second hand so happy with the risk & know what to look for when buying used gear).

Thanks

wellsie82 wrote in post #16296398
I've had my EOS for 2 years & it came with the kit lens & a also brought the tamron 70-300mm (4-5.6 ap) for £100 to start me off.

I've since gone on to replace my kit lens with something which is better built, better quality glass & quicker, but im now looking at the 70-300mm.

I know I'm not able to find anything "quicker" by way of aperture, but im keen to find a lens which is quicker to lock it's focus onto the subject & more accurately rather than "hunting" back & fourth. The main things I use this lens for are nature & aircraft - sometimes by the time the AF has locked on it's too late which frustrates me. I also think the quality of my images is suffering - not surprising given the £100 mark I got it for.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd be looking for second hand to trim costs (last 2 lenses have been second hand so happy with the risk & know what to look for when buying used gear).

Thanks

Best value lens in this class has got to be the Canon 70-300L IS USM F4-5.6
Besutiful images locks on like lightning every time. 4 stop IS easy to hand hold at 300mm.
Heavy but very compact - you will not regret it.
Terriffic VFM.

Submariner wrote in post #16296452
Best value lens in this class has got to be the Canon 70-300L IS USM F4-5.6
Besutiful images locks on like lightning every time. 4 stop IS easy to hand hold at 300mm.
Heavy but very compact - you will not regret it.
Terriffic VFM.

This would be my suggestion. My second choice would be the 100-400L IS USM f/4.5-5.6 for your usage.

70-300L -- sharp at 300mm as well -- other options are less so. And lightening fast focus.

I assume you've got the latest version of the Tamron...the VC USD lens.

I think the L's far from the best value in this range, I'd hand that title to the Tamron. The L's the best though but it does cost an awful lot more.

I don't think you'll do better than the Tamron without spending spending a lot of money.

There are more choices if you're willing to look at something other than 70-300mm.

Having said that, if you've got the money, the 70-300L's a great lens.

If the OP bought it for £100, I doubt it is the latest version.

The 70-300L is the very best you can get in that focal range. It is probably my favorite lens. If you have the budget, get it. What camera are you using?

Keyan wrote in post #16296551
If the OP bought it for £100, I doubt it is the latest version.

Yes, I did wonder about that...

The newer Tamron's a great lens and would be a substantial upgrade from the older generation.

I have the 70-300 vc. It's real good.

Thanks for the comments, had a feeling the canon would be suggested so this backs that up

Using a 550d at the moment & the Tamron I have atm is the cheapy/slow one

what about the canon 55-250 !
its a good lens for your 550D

wellsie82 wrote in post #16297464
Thanks for the comments, had a feeling the canon would be suggested so this backs that up

Using a 550d at the moment & the Tamron I have atm is the cheapy/slow one

I agree the 100-400 is the best for nature, wildlife, and aircraft (air shows?)
but it's going to be more considerably more expensive than the Tamron or 55-250IS

I use a Canon 55-250 on my 60D.
It's got a decent IQ, lightweight, and costs about £150 brand new... what more do you want.

I mainly use it for birds/wildlife/moon-shots.
I've never felt the need for much else really.

If you want 70-300 then get the non L version of the EF 70-300 USM.

Because of the price you mentioned, I assume you have the non-VC older Tamron 70-300mm.

In that case, IMO the best value is the current 70-300mm VC Tamron lens. It's an excellent lens, relatively quiet (their USD focus motor), the VC is very good (the best stabiliser IMO).

The only better lens is the Canon 70-300mm L, which IMO is not a better value. It's a little better than the Tamron in just about every respect except size and weight but costs a lot more.

It's the same in almost every field, that extra improvement at the top can cost a fortune. It's up to anyone to decide whether it's worth it or not.

PH68 wrote in post #16297509
I use a Canon 55-250 on my 60D.
It's got a decent IQ, lightweight, and costs about £150 brand new... what more do you want.

I mainly use it for birds/wildlife/moon-shots.
I've never felt the need for much else really.

If you want 70-300 then get the non L version of the EF 70-300 USM.

I would not suggest the non-L. The AF and IQ is not really any better than the 55-250. The USM is not a true ring USM, it is a micro motor, and the lens is not known for good wide open sharpness or sharpness near the end of the zoom range.

The Tamron or the L would be a better choice.

Look into the tamron 70-300vc. You won't be disappointed. I couldn't believe how tack sharp te shots were and the image stabilization is excellent.