The Best Zoom Lens ?

I've taken an all day course, I think if I buy the lens I will mess about with it and try it out, that way I will learn more. I have learned a lot already, but it still seems there are endless other things to know!

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for their reply's, I think I will look into the 55-250 STM, £300 pounds on Amazon. It does seem to have what I need.

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …-s+55-250mm+f4-5.6+is+stm

If your budget is in the £100 range, you have exactly one choice. The EF-S 55-250 IS. For best focus performance, try to get the most recent "STM" model. This is a sharp telephoto zoom with a nice range of focal lengths. If you got your camera with an 18-55mm kit lens, note that the 55-250 complements it well.

If you had a whole lot more money, the "best" would probably be the EF 70-200/4L IS or 70-200/2.8L IS Mark II. Both these are USM lenses, which would be even faster focusing, more durable and high performance. The 70-200s are real workhorses of lenses, you'll find them in many pro's camera bags. There are also less expensive, non-IS versions... but for the most versatility with any telephoto, I'd always recommend an Image Stabilized lens.

The EF 100-400L IS is another popular lens shooting fast moving subjects.

Here in the US the 70-200/4 IS is about a $1300 lens, the 100-400L sells for about $1700, and the 70-200/2.8 IS II is around $2400.

El Pedro was joking, no doubt, about the EF 200-400/4L IS 1.4X... That's certainly "the best". But it's also probably the most expensive telephoto zoom that Canon's ever made... Here in the US it sells for over $11,000. Plus you'll likely want $1000+ worth of tripod to sit it on, too.

So, coming back down to planet Earth, I'd suggest you take a look at the EF-S 55-250 IS... especially the STM version.

More expensive, but still reasonable, are several EF 70-300mm models. The "IS USM" version is a decent lens around $550 US. The 70-300 "DO IS USM" version is especially compact, but $1300 US. The 70-300L IS USM sells for about $1450 US.

Really cheap, but not recommended is the EF 75-300mm. It's one of Canon's weakest lenses... Image quality isn't all that great, it's not very fast focusing and it doesn't have Image Stabilization.

Canon 55-250
or you can get the Tamron , it's a good lens
http://www.amazon.com …-1&keywords=tamron+70-300

PostEditor wrote in post #16642338
Thanks to everyone for their reply's, I think I will look into the 55-250 STM, £300 pounds on Amazon. It does seem to have what I need.

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …-s+55-250mm+f4-5.6+is+stm

Wow, that's steep. In Germany it's the equivalent of 230GBP.
You can also buy the previous (non-STM) version for about half the price. As far as I know, the optics are about the same.

http://www.amazon.de …keywords=canon+​55+250+stm

Thank amfoto1 for all that information, I will also check out the EF-S 55-250 IS, with STM if possible.

andrikos wrote in post #16642355
You can also buy the previous (non-STM) version for about half the price. As far as I know, the optics are about the same.

The optics are slightly better with the STM version but that is not the only reason to get the STM version.

The STM version has a non-rotating front element and faster, virtually silent Auto Focus which makes it a joy to use.

Thanks all. I have the Standard 18 - 55 that came with the Camera, and I think from reading up and from help from this forum, I may get these two:-

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …-s+55-250mm+f4-5.6+is+stm

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …ds=canon+600d+p​rimer+lens

Hopefully they will cover my needs... which are to photograph anything, close, distant, people, landscapes etc...

...seems I might need a "lens hood". Guessing this is to keep out light / rain from the lens? There is a standard round one, and a tulip shaped one, what are the benefits of each? Thanks

PostEditor wrote in post #16642410
Thanks all. I have the Standard 18 - 55 that came with the Camera, and I think from reading up and from help from this forum, I may get these two:-

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …-s+55-250mm+f4-5.6+is+stm

http://www.amazon.co.u​k …ds=canon+600d+p​rimer+lens

Hopefully they will cover my needs... which are to photograph anything, close, distant, people, landscapes etc...

Good choices for a smaller budget.

yes you need the 50mm f/1.8 for portrait and product photos
you can use it for macro photos too with some cheap extention tube
good luck

PostEditor wrote in post #16642420
...seems I might need a "lens hood". Guessing this is to keep out light / rain from the lens? There is a standard round one, and a tulip shaped one, what are the benefits of each? Thanks

Get the one that's made for the specific Lens , it keeps out unwanted light and protects the Lens .

The Canon lens hoods part numbers are:

55-250 STM - ET-63
50mm f1.8 - ES-62

Neither are petal shaped.

We in the states can get equivalent 3rd party lens hoods from reputable vendors such as Adorama and B&H Photo Video for much cheaper than the Canon versions.

My standard, budget, zoom lens is an EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (not the 75-300!!!). I use it on a crop body when my EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM is too heavy to lug around.

It is a bit soft at 300, and it is a bit slow, but I feel it is optically pretty sound and is good value for the money.

Amazon UK appears to have two in stock at £329.99.

El Pedro wrote in post #16642257
I suggest the canon 200-400.

^^THIS^^