Canon EF 50-200 mm

I am a beginner and this is the first lens I plan to buy.
I have a Canon 400 D and i normally take city street shots and of stuff lying in wait for me. I basically need a lil bit of zoom. I am getting it for 325 USD.
I have the kit lens of 18-55.
Any feedback for and against will be appreciated.

Its the Canon EF 55-200 USM and not 50-200 as mentioned.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com ….5-5.6-II-USM-Review.aspx

I would suggest a used 75-300. I use this lens and love it. It will give you more reach than the 55-200. I bought mine used for C$100 or about $80USD (at the time). For outdoor daytime use it's awesome. It's not great when the light gets low, but neither is the 55-200.

You may want to look at the Sigma versions of the lenses mentioned in this thread. They are less expensive and the Sigma 70-300mm outperforms the Canon 75-300.

will try the sigma 70-300. its like half the price of the canon 55-200 here. but can i take hand held photos with it or does it need a tripod?.

picturecrazy wrote in post #3259338
I would suggest a used 75-300.

I don't know how the 55-200 rates, but the 75-300 is rather soft and useless past 200mm, so why not stick to a better range limit with the 55-200?

The Sigma 55-200 is another good alternative to the Canon of the same range, if that suits you. I purchased one with the kit lens, and while I will eventually be replacing both of them with higher quality glass, it has served me very well.

Hellashot wrote in post #3274130
I don't know how the 55-200 rates, but the 75-300 is rather soft and useless past 200mm, so why not stick to a better range limit with the 55-200?

I use mine with excellent results at 300mm. The reviews on the internet are pretty bad. I suspect it's user error as most novices shoot at 300mm and don't realize that they're shooting at a low shutter like 1/160 and the photos end up being a little blurry. (Generally, people who own a 75-300 are more or less the novice types...)

I still recommend the 75-300.

Well, maybe he is talking about the Canon EF 50-200L...? A good copy of that one can be good, no?

picturecrazy wrote in post #3275654
I use mine with excellent results at 300mm. The reviews on the internet are pretty bad. I suspect it's user error as most novices shoot at 300mm and don't realize that they're shooting at a low shutter like 1/160 and the photos end up being a little blurry. (Generally, people who own a 75-300 are more or less the novice types...)

I still recommend the 75-300.

Agree 100%. 55-200 is soft above 150mm. My 75-300mm can produce ok result, but it takes effort.

100% crop at 300mm f8 handheld:

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I wouldn't exactly call the Canon 55-200 soft at 200mm. Here are some 100% crops from near the centre, taken on a 400D using the 'Standard' style and with no further processing (i.e. straight out of the camera). They are all at f/8 - the lens is slightly softer wide open at f/5.6.

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