Rebel XTI telephoto zoom lens recommendations

Nickster914 wrote in post #7367440
Do you think it will work good for motocross and other sports?

I don't know motor cross, but soccer is a fairly fast sport, and I really like it for that.

guntoter wrote in post #7367459
I don't know motor cross, but soccer is a fairly fast sport, and I really like it for that.

Ok thanks, I'm sure the results would be similar... Both outdoor fast moving sports

Thanks for the discussion everyone. I own the discontinued EF 75-300 IS and have been thinking of replacing it with the 70-300 IS or 55-250 IS. I'm definitely leaning toward the 55-250 IS since it's supposedly sharper at 250mm than the 70-300 is at 300mm and I assume the IS is also somewhat better. The fact that the 55-250 is smaller, lighter, and half the price are nice differentiators too. My only reason for not pulling the trigger on the 55-250 IS is whether I should just get the 70-200L IS, but that lens is $1100! I'll probably get the 55-250 and test it against my 75-300 to see if it's worth keeping.

shaftmaster wrote in post #7367660
Thanks for the discussion everyone. I own the discontinued EF 75-300 IS and have been thinking of replacing it with the 70-300 IS or 55-250 IS. I'm definitely leaning toward the 55-250 IS since it's supposedly sharper at 250mm than the 70-300 is at 300mm and I assume the IS is also somewhat better. The fact that the 55-250 is smaller, lighter, and half the price are nice differentiators too. My only reason for not pulling the trigger on the 55-250 IS is whether I should just get the 70-200L IS, but that lens is $1100! I'll probably get the 55-250 and test it against my 75-300 to see if it's worth keeping.

Would IS be much use when shooting fast action @ 250/sec and faster?

shaftmaster wrote in post #7367660
Thanks for the discussion everyone. I own the discontinued EF 75-300 IS and have been thinking of replacing it with the 70-300 IS or 55-250 IS. I'm definitely leaning toward the 55-250 IS since it's supposedly sharper at 250mm than the 70-300 is at 300mm and I assume the IS is also somewhat better. The fact that the 55-250 is smaller, lighter, and half the price are nice differentiators too. My only reason for not pulling the trigger on the 55-250 IS is whether I should just get the 70-200L IS, but that lens is $1100! I'll probably get the 55-250 and test it against my 75-300 to see if it's worth keeping.

I don't think that the 75-300 is an IS lens, is it?

If you can afford the 70-200L, go for it. I don't own it, but all I hear is good things about that gem.
I hadn't heard about the 70-300 being soft at 300mm.

Another thing about the 55-250 for sports is if you are able to get close to the action. The 55mm on your crop sensor will better be able to get closer shots. In soccer I am able to hug the fence, and sometimes the 55 is too long for the action when they get close to me. Something to keep in mind. The 70mm starting point would be even worse in that circumstance.
However, if you are farther back from the action, you might be better off with the 70-300mm IS.
Just another factor to think about.

Forget the cheaper of the Sigmas, the non-APO. The Sigma APO version is an excellent lens. I use it for wildlife, which also requires high shutter speeds, when I use it indoors I either add a flash or a monopod and it useful there also.

It lacks IS, but IS is no good for sports. Neither the Canon or the Sigma would be considered fast focusing compared to a USM/HSM lens so motosports might be pushing it, of course people managed to photograph fast sports like F1 before autofocus existed by using the "pre-focus and wait for them to drive into your DOF" technique.

While you loose IS with the Sigma you gain a lot
1. Better Build
2. 1/3 of a stop faster than the Canon at the same focal length
3. 50mm longer
4. less distortion and less vignetting so you can use the shots out of the camera, you may "require" some PP with the Canon
5. Hood is included, so flare should not be an issue (and contrast should be higher than the same shot without a hood, this is good)
6. Soft carry case is included, its nice to have but you'll probably never use it.
7. Macro mode of 1:2, so you get a usable macro lens as well. Its not true 1:1 Macro, but 1:2 is still too close to get a whole dragonfly in the frame so you should still find it useful and its yet another thing to use this lens for when your stuck indoors.
8. will work on fullframe if you decide to upgrade any time soon, will also work on film bodies if you decide to dable with cheap ebay canon film cameras and black and white films, which is a great way to experiment with full frame if you don't have the money for a 5D

Both the Canon 55-250 and the Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro can produce great results for the money you spend, but they require slightly different approaches.

Canon, has IS which for a lot of people makes it easier to get the shot. But due to its low contrast, possible flare from the lack of a hood, and its distortion needs a bit of PP to shine.

Sigma, has no IS, so you need to follow the 1/FLx1.6 rule on a crop camera, or add a cheap $20 monopod. The upside is you get the full package, and shoud get a more usable shot straight out of the camera.

I prefer the Sigma, many like the Canon. It like asking which is better Apples or Oranges? At the end of the day they are both taste nice, and are nice snacks, but they achieve the results in different ways. One you can just dig in and enjoy, the other needs some peeling first before it gets really good.

The good news, both are cheap and both are really good.

Nickster914 wrote in post #7367193
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?

Adorama has a 55-250mm for $199.95 refurbished + free shipping right now if you're interested. Better than most used prices i've seen.

I just read the entire 55-250 IS pic thread and I am sold!

londonandlawson wrote in post #7370307
I just read the entire 55-250 IS pic thread and I am sold!

Can you give me a link to that thread?

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=459569

80+ pages of stunning samples

I think I'm going with the canon 55-250 IS...
Wheres the best place to buy it?

I would say used here in the marketplace. Before I was serious about this lens I saw a few going around 200