Canon 400D Lens - Help Please!

[millie1911]

Hi, i have a Canon 400D dslr, and am wanting to purchase a lens that wil help me take distance shots, action etc. I was going to buy the 75m-300mm zom lens? Would this be ok? im a total novice and dopey

[corry]

I got that lens when i bought my xti package and its good for beginning but you do need to use a tripod to get good crisp shots when its at 300m.

[inkista]

The 75-300 III is a decent consumer lens, but it's slow to autofocus, so it won't help you a lot on the fast action. You may want to consider saving up for a 70-300 IS USM (non-L), or the 70-200 f/4L USM (non-IS). Both of those are USM lenses, which will help with the autofocus speed.

The 75-300 III is really best at one thing: being cheap. It's a 30-year-old design, and it's soft a the long end, particularly if it's not stopped down to f/8. The EF-S 55-250 IS might be better value for your money, given that it's a newer for-digital design, and includes stabilization. But it, too, lacks USM, and is still a consumer-grade lens.

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Addendum: hold the phone. Maybe wait a little. Canon just announced a 55-250 IS Mk II. Still no USM, but it looks like they added a UD element, which probably means improved optical performance over the Mk I: probably better CA control, if not better sharpness/contrast.