Older EF 75-300 Image Stabilization Lens

Sorry if this question is a repeat, but after searching I'm still confused. I see the older EF 75-300 IS lenses going for around 250.00 or so. Are these decent lenses? I will be using it on a 30D.

I haven't used them myself, so can't comment personally, but many people tend to avoid those lenses.

I understand the 70-300 IS is the good one. I was in the market for this as my first telephoto lens, but settled for the 70-200 F4.

People rave about the new EF-S 55-250IS, so maybe you should take a look at that if you are on a budget.

Thanks
I did see some critics of the 75-300 but it wasn't clear if they were talking about the image stabilization lens or not.

i don't know if it's much better than the original 75-300
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
...i'd look at the 55-250IS...or if you have more to spend the 70-300IS, or 70-200mm f/4

Wow! Just checked B&H and they have the 55-250 IS for 214.00. That's hard to pass up. With 1.6 crop factor on the 30D that would still have 400mm reach.

I just found this review. The 75-300 IS doesn't sound too bad here.
http://photo.net/equip​ment/canon/75-300IS/

mayt444 wrote in post #7399311
Wow! Just checked B&H and they have the 55-250 IS for 214.00. That's hard to pass up. With 1.6 crop factor on the 30D that would still have 400mm reach.

This is the current bang for the buck champ in the Canon line IMHO.

The build quality is a little lacking--but if you don't change lenses often or put yourself in harm's way this is worth serious consideration.

Thanks Dave
I think most of the knocks I was reading on posts were of the 75-300 USM non IS lens, but I wanted to be sure.I currently have a Promaster 70-300, but I like my 18-55 IS so much I'm itching for another IS, on a budget. I will look closely at the 55-250.
mayt

There are four 75-300s. All are thought poor.
Unless you are shooting full frame, the 55-250 IS is a MUCH better choice.
If you are shooting full frame, the choice comes down to either the 70-300 IS (or the DO version, if so inclined) or one of the 70-200s.

I had one years ago. It's kind of slow. But mine was pretty sharp. Good walk around lens. Not heavy. But the build quality was not the greatest. And the image quality varied from lens to lens. Some were good, some were like shooting through a pop bottle.

I had the 75-300 IS. It was a decent lens, but it wasn't fast enough, both in aperature and auto-focus speed. I sold mine back in the day and got the sigma EX 70-200 f2.8. I'd like to have the newer Macro version for the close minimum focus, but I have lenses that cover the range I would need it for anyway!

The ones thought to be worthless are the non-IS versions (if you were considering one, you'd be better off with a Sigma 70-300 APO DG).

I used to own a 75-300 IS. It was just kind of OK. AF speed was very slow (the slowest lens I've ever owned). When I first got it, I was concerned that I had received a defective lens because AF speed was so slow. Optics were decent, but not great.

At the time, it sold for $350-$400 on the used market, and at that price, it wasn't a good deal. For $250, it might be worth it.

Of course, the 55-250 IS makes the equation a little more complicated--aside from the build quality and its FF-incompatibility, that lens sounds superior to the 75-300 IS.

Alternatively, you could up your budget a bit, and go for the 70-300 IS. Of course, once you're in that price range, you could also consider the 70-200 f4L.

Don't overlook the old 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. Sharp, fairly fast and cheap with real Ring USM.

Thanks again to everyone for your input. I think I will go with the 55-250 IS. Has anyone used it with a teleconverter?

mayt444 wrote in post #7404560
Thanks again to everyone for your input. I think I will go with the 55-250 IS. Has anyone used it with a teleconverter?

I'll look, but I don't know of any teleconverter's that work with Canon's EF-S lenses... The Canon's definitely don't, but I'm not even sure if Sigma/Tamron/Kenko/etc make one that works with EF-S lenses. You'd probably have to put an extension tube in between the TC and lens, losing your ability to focus to infinity.