Quantaray 70-300mm reviews?

does anybody know anything about the Quantaray 700-300mm? I'm new to photography and looking to get another lens that I might use for portrait modes and I'm on a limited budget. I would get the canon IF I had the money but, until then I'll have to settle. If anybody could give me some advice that would be great. I've read reviews online and talked to a few people and they say for a beginner it's a good lens. I even played around with one at Ritz and used the Canon 70-300mm as well and only difference I saw was the weight and obviously price.
Any help you can give would be great. THanks alot. Also thought of a Sigma but, didn't know where to look or what to look for. Price budget is under 200. Thanks!!!

You're unlikely to find anyone giving positive reviews to the Quantaray lens here. There is a reason it costs so much less than the branded lenses. For less than $200, there's not much, if anything, to recommend -- save the "nifty 50" which is a focal length covered by your kit lens.

You mentioned portrait modes in your post -- what focal lengths are you thinking about? Are you really thinking 300mm telephoto, or just longer portrait lens than the kit lets. For a little more than your budget, you could find the Canon 85 1.8 -- an outstanding portrait lens that's longer than the kit lens you have now.

shop used for decent, low-priced glass, or wait until you can afford what you want. that's my suggestion.

The Sigma APO MACRO 70-300mm f/4-5.6 might be the lens for you. It gets generally good reviews and is around $200.00.

bolantej wrote in post #2221225
shop used for decent, low-priced glass, or wait until you can afford what you want. that's my suggestion.

Probably the best suggestion. There are some very capable lenses between $350 and $500 (the 85 1.8 and 70-200 f/4 used). The difference in quality would be worth the wait.

Anything but the Quantaray in that focal range. The Sigma seems to be the best bang for the buck at that price point.

KeriH, please please do not buy that lens. My friend bought it before she did her research and she is soooo unhappy with it. She has been trying to sell it for the longest time and no one will even bite. Save your money and get the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 or the Sigma 70-300 DG APO...... Much better bang for the buck.

Please save your money...Q-ray=crap. You would be better off with the bottoms of 2 coke bottles, a toilet paper tube and a couple of wraps of duct tape. Keep an eye out here for a used lens in your price range.

I had one and it would not work on my rebel XT. I kept getting error99

Keep in mind the Quantaray 70-300 and the Sigma 70-300 non-APO are the same thing. If you do go for the Sigma, get the APO version.

Looks like you guys talked me out ot the Q-Ray. I'm goign to save my monies and get the sigma. Looks to be better and I know Sigma has a good rep. Thanks everyone.

Sigma4less has the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO macro for $187.95.