Upgrading from Canon 18-135 IS

you'd probably only get about $200 to sell the 18-135mm, so i'm not sure if it's really worth it to sell...best option has been suggested numerous times about...try and scratch together $100 for a 55-250IS

I agree with most here that keeping the very flexible and portable 18-135mm is a good idea.
Expand your range with a longer lens, don't try to cram it all into one lens. As far as mega zooms go, they tend to be bad, and that 18-135mm is about as big a range as you get and still be good.

The recommendations for a 70-300mm-ish lens are solid. Get to 300mm at least.
Maybe look also at the 300mm f/4L prime and 400mm f/5.6L prime. (I realize this is quite a departure, but hey, primes are amazing!)

Getting a used gen 1 100-400mm is not a bad idea, but it's a big step up in size, weight and cost. (about $900.00 used, and you'd still need to keep the 18-135mm) The 70-300mm lenses can be had for under $200.00 I'd get one with IS though.

I would recommend a 55-250. The difference between 250 and 300 is very small.

Not only are the 55-250 IS or 55-250 IS STM cheaper, they are actually sharper at 250mm than the Canon 70-300mm IS or Tamron 70-300 VC are at 300mm.

msowsun wrote in post #17486809
I would recommend a 55-250. The difference between 250 and 300 is very small.

Not only are the 55-250 IS or 55-250 IS STM cheaper, they are actually sharper at 250mm than the Canon 70-300mm IS or Tamron 70-300 VC are at 300mm.

Interesting to know. Thank you! Although I fear for my future, hopefully much fatter wallet (post-grad school) with how pretty those L lenses are... oh dear.

I have the 55-250 STM IS I bought on ebay for around $169 new in the box...that would be an excellent lens for you to get next

Found out my tax refund for this year. May not bother waiting till my birthday. I could get a used 55-250 AND a new camera backpack that actually holds an amount of gear closer to what I own, maybe even one that holds a hydration pouch, since I like to travel to really hot, humid places where I dehydrate easily. I dunno. I gotta look again.

adivineeternity wrote in post #17486751
Just so ya know, I'm a she.

Ha, sorry! Glad you're coming around on multiple lenses, though; it's the way to go.

LonelyBoy wrote in post #17487273
Ha, sorry! Glad you're coming around on multiple lenses, though; it's the way to go.

Haha, it's fine. Figured putting a profile pic would at least help people out, lol.

And yeah, my biggest concern with simply adding another lens is space, but now that I know my refund amount and know that I'll have a little bit of flex I can factor a new backpack into the mix, so simply adding a solid and affordable lens is now feasible.

msowsun wrote in post #17486809
I would recommend a 55-250. The difference between 250 and 300 is very small.

Not only are the 55-250 IS or 55-250 IS STM cheaper, they are actually sharper at 250mm than the Canon 70-300mm IS or Tamron 70-300 VC are at 300mm.

I have to agree with this suggestion. I had the 70-300 IS, and the 55-250 II. The 55-250 is in every way, a better lens: cheaper, smaller lighter, sharper at the long end, and it focuses faster. The ONLY thing the 70-300 IS has going for it is that will work on full frame bodies. It sucks, but it works. Don't waste $300 on this when you can get better for $100-$125.

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17487449
I have to agree with this suggestion. I had the 70-300 IS, and the 55-250 II. The 55-250 is in every way, a better lens: cheaper, smaller lighter, sharper at the long end, and it focuses faster. The ONLY thing the 70-300 IS has going for it is that will work on full frame bodies. It sucks, but it works. Don't waste $300 on this when you can get better for $100-$125.

Noted. I shall go with the 55-250, then, once my refund makes it to me. Thank you all VERY much for your advice. Now I begin my hunt for a new camera backpack.

Maybe this would help. If you wish, it's yours for the price of postage (minus the B&W UV filter).

Purchased my 55-250mm on Amazon for $150 a few weeks back. Its funny but some sites you just have to check daily as price changes are frequent. You may find a price you would be more then happy to pay.

The 70-300mm f4-5.6 was going for really cheap at Best Buy during the 2 day sale they had last week. If only I had the $ to pick up, I would for that price (I believe it was $200 down from the 3 or $350 Ive seen it usually go for)

Point being you don't have to necessarily buy used, just shop around till you find a price your happy to pay.

AirNikesNHats wrote in post #17490655
Purchased my 55-250mm on Amazon for $150 a few weeks back. Its funny but some sites you just have to check daily as price changes are frequent. You may find a price you would be more then happy to pay.

The 70-300mm f4-5.6 was going for really cheap at Best Buy during the 2 day sale they had last week. If only I had the $ to pick up, I would for that price (I believe it was $200 down from the 3 or $350 Ive seen it usually go for)

Point being you don't have to necessarily buy used, just shop around till you find a price your happy to pay.

True. I bought new 55-250mm STM IS last month for $130. BTW Amazon and some other major camera sellers like Adorama are all large and Little Amazonian devils trying to take your money with best lures that research has provided. Its duty of buyer to be smart.

samsen wrote in post #17491609
True. I bought new 55-250mm STM IS last month for $130. BTW Amazon and some other major camera sellers like Adorama are all large and Little Amazonian devils trying to take your money with best lures that research has provided. Its duty of buyer to be smart.

Ummmm......as undoubtedly flattered as we are to be compared side-by-side with Amazon as being LARGE, you do know that Adorama is a privately-owned family business, right?


Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is the world's largest online retailer with headquarters in Seattle.

It has separate retail websites for USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and China. There are 12 fulfilment centers in the US; 3 in Canada; 7 across China and Japan; 12 in the UK; plus 11 across the rest of Europe.

Adorama is a family business with our office above a single store in NYC, and one warehouse in New Jersey!

Just a note from my perspective:
I find that if I'm using the 55-250 at a family or kid's sporting event, I can usually get by with the 55mm end so I usually won't bring my 18-135 with me. And for thise times I wanted both I simply attached a water bottle holder I have to the back of my smaller camera bag, the water bottle holder fits either the 18-135 or the 55-250 and doesn't really add much size. You may not always need to bring both lenses with you if you get a 55-250. My version 1 has worked just fine for my needs, cost about $100 locally off craigslist.

My next lens will either be super wide, or a longer zoom, but for now what I have works for me.