help me pick a cheap telephoto

Due to some unforeseen circumstances i can't afford the 70-200 2.8 non-is for a few weeks. And I cant wait the extra weeks for the money to come in because my job requires a telephoto. So my plan for the time being was to pick up a cheap telephoto preferably under $300. use that for the time being and then pick up the 70-200 and sell the cheap telephoto.

what lens do you suggest?

sigma 70-300 apo or non-apo?
canon ef-s 55-250is?
canon 75-300?
something else?

and can someone recommend a local store to socal where i could just head out tomorrow and pick it up?

and if i went with after market lenses would i have any issues with the lens working with my 40D?

you are in the bay area.. i guess calumet (spl?). i have the canon 75-300, and it sucks. i wouldnt recomend it. the ef-s 55-250 is might be a better choice. i havent heard much about the sigma, but from what i seen th images arent too shabby.

shannon

thanks, but im not in the bay area at the moment, thats where home is for me. school is out in Socal.

then try sammys camera. they have a pretty wide selection too, and they are all over so cal.

there is one in pasadena.

thanks, ill probably head over there tomorrow to check it out.

canon ultrasonic 70-200 at ebay for under 200$ and it´s a great and fast lens, well made, and full frame ready, no vigneting.

what about the Tokina 50-135, looks like a nice lens to me.

I have used the Sigma 70-300mm APO DG. For the price, its extremely VFM lens.

mtr0212 wrote in post #5275521
canon ultrasonic 70-200 at ebay for under 200$ and it´s a great and fast lens, well made, and full frame ready, no vigneting.

Which Canon lens is this? Thanks.

If you can find the 70-210 3.4-4.5 its a very good older canon consumer lens, and usually goes for ~$150-250. depending on condition. KEH has a couple at the moment but they are priced on the high side at $275, but if they don't creep thats actually not a bad price.

http://photo.net/equip​ment/canon/70-210

an old review of that lens.

If you plan on shooting sports you can't beat the Canon 100-300 USM. I picked one up on ebay for $190 which is typical. The USM ring AF is fast. I picked up a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 with a Canon 1.4x conveter and sold it a week later. The IQ was slightly better but did not justify a cost that was 5X greater than my 100-300. If you don't like the lens put it right back on ebay and get your money back.

George

The new 55-250 IS sounds like a bargain to me.

The absolute bargain is the Sigma APO 70-300mm Macro.
The mid range priced bargain is the Canon 70-200 f/4.
For the high end.. Sorry there is no bargain. They are all over priced!

If you want really cheap, you can pick up a Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 for around $130-$140 from Canoga Camera. I have one and its a decent lens, so as long as there's a good amount of light out.