Rebel XTI telephoto zoom lens recommendations

Hey guys I'm new on here. Right now I have my Canon Rebel XTI with the 18-55 lens that it came with. I LOVE IT!!! I've read a bunch of the stickies on here and other threads on telephoto zoom lenses. Money is definitely an issue... I am in need of a lens thats something like 70-300. Or at least around there I think. Ive heard some places that the canon 75-300 is a good lens, and i heard other places to stay away from it. I mainly shoot wildlife, family get togethers, wakeboarding, and finally motocross. All that I need is a cheap lens that reaches out farther than the 18-55 and can catch some action shots. I've been looking at Tamron, Sigma, and Canon. Do you have any recomendations on which brand or model I should get? What should I be looking for in a telephoto lens? Remember... I'm not a professional photographer... I dont need top of the line stuff... money is an issue, Thanks!

Stay far, far away from the 75-300! I had one when back when I didn't know any better. Image quality was good, but not great. And without having image stabilization (IS), I had too many pictures ruined due to camera shake.

You will need to define a maximum price range to get a better answer.

Canon 55-250 IS - a lot of folks here like this lens for an (approx.) $250.00 lens.
Canon 70-300 IS - a little bit better than the 55-250, but cost around $550.00.
Canon 70-200 L (non-IS) - If you can spend $600 and dont need IS, this is the one to get.

If you want an f2.8 lens without IS for under $1000, then look at the non-Canon brands.

I've been using the 75-300 USM for a year.

Pro's:
- USM motor, AF is pretty fast (don't know how it compares with the 55-250 IS)
- Affordable
- 300 mm range

Con's
- no IS
- CA
- not sharp at 300 mm wide open, F8 works better

I'm happy that I started with this lens. I learned I needed at least 300 mm or even more for what I do and wanted improved image quality over all.
I bought a 100-400 L to replace it, but I'm keeping the 75-300 as well as cheap portable back up.

if you know light is not a problem, but need the reach, go for the 75-300
if you dont have a steady hand, get the 55-250
If you know you really don't need much reach and IS, go for the 70-200 L.

I considered the 70-300 IS myself as well, but for a 'non-pro' lens i felt it is a bit expensive.

Welcome btw

A Canon 100-300 f4.5-5.6 USM is a nice low cost option. Its an older lens that you'd probably want to find used. Some online sellers still have them. I have one, paid about $160.00 on the auction site. It's well built and has some favorable reviews, better than the one you mention in your post. It needs light, no IS, but that will only help your stationary subjects anyway.

What's your $ pain threshold?

I would like to keep it under $250... The Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO seems like it would fit my needs. The reviews on it are pretty good too. http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1235083​136&sr=8-1

I had 55-250 that came with my XSi as a package. I liked the 55-250 for its price, just had to sell it to fund my 24-105

I have a 55-250mm and love it. You cannot beat it for the price.

I started out with a 75-300mm

people warn against it sometimes but it actually just requires more skill since it is a slower lens. It can still take some top quality pictures... If you are learning, i think it helps you because you learn to work with less. and its just not as bad as people say it is...i guess when you pay 10 times more you wouldn't really think much of anything else.
go check out flickr if you wanna see what people have done with it. it can take very good pictures. Plus, the next "step up" is significantly more if you want 300mm of zoom.

These days, with the 50-250mm with IS out, you would pay more but the price is still very low for the value. I think of it as more of the "new" 70-300 consumer replacement but I could be totally wrong. Of course, if you go out and get a 70-300 used you could get it for very very cheap!

I would not hesitate to recommend the 55-250 IS if you can swing it, I would definitely hesitate on all the other options recommended so far.

The Canon 55-250 would be a great choice. It's a terrific lens - I really enjoy mine. I owned both it and the much more expensive 70-300 for a while, and ended up selling the more expensive lens and keeping the 55-250. Image quality was about the same, but I preferred the format and IS system of the 55-250. If you get this lens, you're unlikely to be disappointed.

Ok, the 55-250 seems to be a favorite. Heres what i've narrowed it down to...
1. Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro ($140)
2. Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro ($190)
3. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS ($250)
Based on all the reviews on amazon, I think all of them seem like good choices. Anybody else have opinions?

Canon 55-250mm..........you won't be sorry.
I have it. Love it (for the money). Great for soccer & other sports in good lighting. When the sun starts to get low in the sky, you would wish you had a f2.8 aperture, but we are talking about big money for that kind of lens.
The AF is good, & I like the IS.
And, BTW, I have mostly used it on my XTi. Can't wait for warm weather sports, and I can try it out on my 40D.

Im going to put in another vote for the 55-250, definitely a great lens

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LostShootingStar wrote in post #7367367
Im going to put in another vote for the 55-250, definitely a great lens

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Do you think it will work good for motocross and other sports?