What's a worthwhile (cheap) upgrade to a Sigma 70-300 Macro

My main lenses are Tamron's 17-50 & 28-75, I also use a Sigma 70-300 which has been a nice lens but I'm starting to wish for something better. Although I can get reasonably good shots with it there is no way it matches the other two. Trouble is, I need a telephoto so rarely that I can't justify spending much on a repalcement.
Happy to buy second hand and I'm also thinking that something wider, like a 50-250 or thereabouts, might be more versatile. Also very open to a 70-200 since the Sigma seems soft past 200mm so I haven't really used the range 200-300 much at all anyway. What I'm certainly after though is better IQ and focusing.
I enjoy birding, taking photos of the grandson at his cricket and general wildlife. Camera is a 450D.
Any suggestions?

Hal55

hal55 wrote in post #16834790
My main lenses are Tamron's 17-50 & 28-75, I also use a Sigma 70-300 which has been a nice lens but I'm starting to wish for something better. Although I can get reasonably good shots with it there is no way it matches the other two. Trouble is, I need a telephoto so rarely that I can't justify spending much on a repalcement.
Happy to buy second hand and I'm also thinking that something wider, like a 50-250 or thereabouts, might be more versatile. Also very open to a 70-200 since the Sigma seems soft past 200mm so I haven't really used the range 200-300 much at all anyway. What I'm certainly after though is better IQ and focusing.
I enjoy birding, taking photos of the grandson at his cricket and general wildlife. Camera is a 450D.
Any suggestions?

Hal55

Easy choice. A Tamron 70-300mm vibration control lens, which was used to create these images.

Non OS Sigma 70-200 EXII. Unless you could swing the OS version. Should be able to find them for around $500 used. I bought mine new for $800 and it has been great. Relatively quick AF (not as fast as Canon though), very sharp and constant 2.8. I have been very happy with mine and well worth the money I paid for it.

Other options are the Canon 70-200 F4 non IS for about the same price point used or $700 new. If you don't need 2.8 then its a very nice lens.

Attached is one of my better birding shots, reasonable but nothing great. The lens is the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro, great for the money but I'm just trying to get better IQ and a far higher ratio of keepers. I still think the lens is soft up around 300mm since using a tripod doesn't seem to help, I find shooting about 200mm then cropping in a better solution. A lens sharp at the 300mm mark would make things easier and yes, a tripod was used for this photo. Thanks for the input so far,

Hal55

MalVeauX wrote in post #16835694
Heya,

Just grab an EF-S 55-250 STM IS lens. Cheap and will do the job, fast, and quiet. Great image quality.

I agree, my needs for a telephoto are similar to OP and the 55-250 STM is MUCH better than the older 55-250 is (at least in my personal opinion having handled both) Also you can grab the 55-250 stm decently cheap on ebay and used from what I have seen in recent weeks.

Anyone have hands on experience of both the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro and Canon 55-250 STM and can comment on IQ between the two?

Hal55