Set up from the kit 55-250 kit lens

I have an XSi and it came with the 55-250 kit lens. It is O.K. but I would like to step up to a little better quality lens and also go a little higher. How much of an improvement would the EF 70-300 be over the kit lens? There is no camera store close that I can check out the 70-300 so I thought I would ask here. Anyone have any experience?

Thanks,

Jerry

Hawks Feather wrote in post #10191450
=Hawk's Feather;10191450]I have an XSi and it came with the 55-250 kit lens. It is O.K. but I would like to step up to a little better quality lens and also go a little higher. How much of an improvement would the EF 70-300 be over the kit lens? There is no camera store close that I can check out the 70-300 so I thought I would ask here. Anyone have any experience?

Thanks,

Jerry

Sorry to inform you but not much, I had the 70-300mm and now the 55-250, I have been shooting the 55-250 for a while and like it even more than the 70-300, it's smaller, fits everywhere, half or more the price, same IQ or similar, not worth the extra $300 you pay for a 70-300.

You want upgrades, go with a 70-200 F4 or better like the 70-200 F2.8....

My view is identical with enrigonz's. If you wish to improve significantly on the 55-250 you'll need to consider one of the 70-200s or the 100-400.

here is a showdown for budget canon teles IQ wise

70-200 F/2.8 = 70-200 F/4 IS >= 70-200 f/2.8 IS (these 3 lenses can hardly be distinguished and have different advantages under certain circumstances) > 70-200 F/4 > (=? according to my experience it's a absolute >. ) 100-400 > 70-300 >= 55-250 > 75-300 > almost everything else that don't have IS.

To justify, there are a couple of old lenses out there claiming to have great IQ (e.g, 70-210 F/4), but they may have different problems here or there because of their age.

I had both at the same time for a while. Eventually I sold the 70-300 and kept the 55-250. IMHO the 70-300 isn't much of a step up - if at all. If you're not getting good results with the 55-250, you're unlikely to see any improvement with the other lens.

On the other hand, the 70-200 range is an improvement in several respects: build, focusing speed, contrast, colour. The f4 non-IS version isn't much more expensive than the 70-300. If you could live without IS, it may be an option. You will lose range, however.

xarqi wrote in post #10191528
My view is identical with enrigonz's. If you wish to improve significantly on the 55-250 you'll need to consider one of the 70-200s or the 100-400.

yes, it gets more expensive when you "step up" !

L telephoto zooms can be bulky and cumbersome to carry around, the F4L is lighter than the F2.8Ls but still. The 70-300 is capable of good results but you'll find it a bit lacking in aperture.