Looking to buy a Lens. Please help me choose..

[Soumendra]

Hi...
I have a Canon EOS 1000D with 18-55mm lens right now.

I mostly take daylight pics outside of my cars and my family.

Also, 99% of my time in Potrait photography of my friends and wife, etc..

Im looking for a good lens now. I have shortlisted few of them.. Please help me choose, which is the best , so that I can just go and buy it.

Here are the options ,

• Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III USM Autofocus Lens
• Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
• Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Lens
• Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Lens

[OsmosisStudios]

Youve actually only got 2 options there:
55-250 f/4-5.6
and
75-300 f/4-5.6 USM III (All three entries are the same lens).

If I had my choice, it'd be the 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 IS if you need that extra reach, and if you dont, then the 70-200 f/4

[Soumendra]

Ok, so IS is better than USM ?

How does that differ ?
Any performance difference as well ?

[sybren]

IS = image stabilization - a piece of glass that floats in a magnetic field and compensates the movement of the camera.

USM = UltraSonic Motor, a special type of auto-focus motor that's quick and silent

So both are quite different things.

[Indigo November]

For mostly portraits in natural light? I'd get a nice fast prime, like the 50mm 1.8 (or 1.4 if you've got extra $$ to spend). If you like to stand further away from your subject an 85mm would be good. I also love the 35mm.

[BigVinnie]

The reach of the 75-300 is useless. I found 300mm to be very soft.

Check your local craigslist. You can usually find a 70-200mm F4 non IS for less than $500. The optics of this lens are far superior for just a little bit more. For portraits it is a fantastic lens and easy to carry around.

[Soumendra]

Dont have anything more than 200$ for the lens.

So, i shortlisted them.

So, which is better to go for ??

[m.c.adams]

I have the 75-300 non IS/USM, I find it to be a fine lens for the money. I would love to have the 70-200 f/4, but its just not in the budget at this time. If you can afford the IS/USM version, go for it. I think you'll be happy with it.
Mark

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Soumendra

Dont have anything more than 200$ for the lens.

So, i shortlisted them.

So, which is better to go for ??

Then save your money and get something better, later.

[Indigo November]

Originally Posted by Soumendra

Hi...
I have a Canon EOS 1000D with 18-55mm lens right now.

I mostly take daylight pics outside of my cars and my family.

Also, 99% of my time in Potrait photography of my friends and wife, etc...

Originally Posted by Soumendra

Dont have anything more than 200$ for the lens.

Based on this, you'd be best off getting a prime lens. The 50mm is great (not sure about Canon version), I haven't used both, but people say that the 1.4 is better than the 1.8. In your price range, the 1.8 is a very good lens.

I don't know of a lens (in your price range) that is good for both portraits and cars. I think people usually use a wide angle lens for cars. And a prime or a fast zoom is really the best lens for portraits.