i'm wanting a new camera.

[Just_Jada]

so heres the thing, there is a really good sale going on now and i really want a canon digital rebel xsi, but the place where the sale is going they have a canon digital rebel xs plus an extra battery plus a canon 75-300 f/4-5-6 III Zoom Lens all for $20 les than the xsi that i really want, now, i like to take shots from distance, such as landscapes, soooo my ?, should i go for the xs w/ the lens even though the mp is lower than the xsi, for the lens?, or just how much a diff would it be w/out the lens, bc if i would get the xsi i wouldnt be able to a get a new lens for it right now..... can someone help me?,, am i making any sense? haha sorry,,, new to this,,

[OsmosisStudios]

Dont worry about it: The 75-300 is rubbish.

[Murtasma]

I would get the better camera body XSi. Like Osmosis has said the 75-300 is not a very good lens. I find it to focus slowly as well as pretty soft.

[Photoboothguy]

Third that. The reviews on the 75-300 are crap. The 55-250 IS lens is much better (~$200), and you really don't step up in quality until you spend around $700 for a Sigma 70-200 f2.8.

I have an XSI and T1i. They're practically identical, except the T1i will do video (which I never use), has a nicer LCD screen, and will do 3200 ISO (rarely use). Good cameras...I'd recommend either one.

[inkista]

Yes. The 75-300 III is total crap. You can't get anything decent out of it at all. Just look at how incredibly lousy it is:





And those are SOOC JPEGs from an XT. Not bad for a $160 lens.

Yes, it's soft at the 300mm end wide open. Yes, it's slower than dirt. Yes, it's sluggish on the autofocus and the contrast is nothing to write home about. It's a pain-in-the-ass lens that's limited as all get-out. The only thing you get from it is a good basic telephoto skill set and a mass of knowledge on how to get the best out of ANY lens for a dirt cheap price ... Or an incredibly trashable travel lens.

That said, the Sigma 70-300 APO is roughly the same price range and a slightly better lens. You may want to go for that instead. The 55-250 IS is a better lens, period and has IS. The 70-300 IS USM outclasses both the 55-250 IS and the 75-300 III in every way, but is much more expensive. The 70-200 f/4L USM has even better contrast and sharpness than all the other lenses, and is about as expensive as the 70-300 IS USM.

But if you have to go rock-bottom cheap, the 75-300 III will cover the telephoto end for you until you can afford something better. It hasn't stayed in the Canon lineup for over 20 years for nothing. Like the kit lens, it's a decent consumer lens that's really good at being inexpensive and functional for the cost. If you plan on shooting things in the bright daylight that don't move really fast, or in lower light with a tripod on still subject matter, the 75-300 III can do for ya if you know how to use it. (Repeat after me: f/8, 1/focal_length or faster shutter speed, and post-processing).

[m.c.adams]

Inkista, I know what you mean by those crappy old 75-300. I took this crappy shot at full 300mm.


Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 300 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 200

In my opinion, for the money, and if you don't have plans for shooting the cover of Rolling Stone this week, its a fine lens. I do plan on replacing it soon with a 70-200 f/4, but till then, it works well.
Mark

[gturner]

Keep the body, get a Canon 70-200mm L F/4 lens....the best $500 you can spend in a camera shop... period

[Quo Fan]

Yup, can't shoot fast moving animals with it either. Especially at 300mm.


Exif:
Camera: Canon EOS 30D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 300 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[Just_Jada]

thank you guys sooo much!!! this helps sooo much!

i hate when i cant try it b4 i buy it, so im glad i found this website!

thanks again!

[OsmosisStudios]

To all those posting examples: I wont deny that it *can* produce good images, especially at web sizes, but as far as a lens to fulfill the 70-300 range, there are significantly better options.