Canon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.61

Is this a good buy for Canon EF 70-300mm F/4-5.61 @$549?
BuyDig

Don't know about BuyDig but do look and wait up for the new Tamron 70-300. The specs looks very good and should give the new Canon 70-300L would be buyers a potential headache.

Having owned the 70-300, I don't consider it to be a particularly good buy. In terms of IQ and focusing speed, it's fairly similar to the 55-250, which is less than half the price. I would not pay $500+ for a lens when an equivalent lens is available for much less. The 70-300 is better built (i.e. bigger and heavier), but IMHO, and in my experience, its advantages pretty much stop there. When I look back over the photos I took when I owned both these lenses at the same time, I can't tell which came from which lens.

Thanks guys. I think I'll save up the money for the L series.

I think the 70-200L (any one of them) is a better bet for good IQ. I'm not so sure if the new 70-300L with variable aperture will do the job. My suspicions are that it'll change from f4 to beyond well below the 200mm mark. Only time will tell.

centraldigital.com has it cheaper. i have the 70-300 is usm and enjoy it. if you need the extra reach not much else touches it for the price point.