Which lens is better

[Mrssweets]

I want to upgrade from my kit lens on my Canon EOS XSI 18-55. I have been looking at the 75-300 -Canon, 70-300- Sigma, and the 18-125. I want a wide angle lens with a great macro feature because I love to take outdoor pictures. I want something with great zoom capabilities . Let me know what you think and any other suggestions of lenses are welcomed.

Thank you

[OsmosisStudios]

For starters, there's no such thing as an 18-125 and neither of the other two (75-300 and 70-300) are wide angle, or macro.

You've already got wide angle (the 18-55) but for macro work, your best bet is Canon's 60mm f/2.8 macro.

[private]

there is a Sigma 18-125...

[AnonymousKiwi1]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

For starters, there's no such thing as an 18-125

Hmm.. good idea to check your facts before shooting people down.

OP - From what I've seen you're not going to get a lens with a long zoom and macro capabilities (I could be wrong here - I am a novice myself). You're going to have to choose.
I have the 18-125 (yep, they do exist). And while it's fine for 'shortish zooming' - close up's on peoples faces at events, etc, it's not much good for wildlife or shots of the moon. And hopeless in low light.

[RichardTaylor]

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS does not have the same close focussing ability at the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens.
In other words when shooting distance is not a problem you can get more detail on a subject.

However the 18-135 does have more "reach" so you can pull things closer from a distance. (I don't own his lens)

Neither lens is a macro lens but the 18-55 is a little bit that way compared to the 18-135.

They are capable of close ups like this.


But not macros like this.



The Canon 75-300 is a just adequate, and low budget, lens for bringing things closer (a bit like looking through a telescope). It is not a macro lens. Good for relatively static subjects in good lighting.
I havn't used one for about 4 years (I replaced it with a better (more expensive) Canon 70-300).

Good for stuff like this.


I havn't used any Sigma lenses.

[jml79]

Just my thoughts,

Your kit lens is actually almost a macro as Richard pointed out. Most 'Macro' zooms can only do a 1:2 magnification and your current lens is already 1:3. So unless you are going to get a prime lens like Osmosis suggested(which will do 1:1) I would consider a Sigma 70-300 APO Macro lens. It does 1:2, has great reach and is very reasonable and will just give you more options to learn with.

I have the older 70-210 and it is a really great lens. Make sure you get the APO version, it has extra glass that controls CA.

Sigma 70-300 APO Macro

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by AnonymousKiwi1

Hmm.. good idea to check your facts before shooting people down.

OP posted brands for the other two lenses, but not that one. I assumed Canon for sake of argument.