Need Advice on which lens to buy for my Rebel XTI

[kshahzadm]

Hi,

I own a rebel xti and I have been using the stock lens to practice so far. I think I am ready to buy a new lens. But with so many choices I want to buy something that I will be able to hold to a while.

I've been looking into the following:

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens OR
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens

Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.8 II - Canon EF

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Khurram

[RichardTaylor]

What lenses do you have now and what is the intended main use of a new lens?

[natek313]

As Richard sort of asked, what do you really need? Are you finding yourself wishing you had a telephoto lens, or do you often find yourself wishing you had a wider lens? That right there should narrow your decision down.

Now, if you're looking for a telephoto, I can speak for the 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS. I had that lens for a while and enjoyed it. It's a great consumer lens.

The 50mm f/1.8 will definitely help you, especially if you're newer to photography. It will force you to physically move yourself around to get your shot; it will help you pay attention to composition. Plus, it's a good lens from an optics standpoint, and it has a nice maximum aperture for those low light conditions - like indoors.

[bdpaco]

I do not recomend the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III. I have it, and I very much dislike it...Iit shoots very soft, and most people who i have talked to have the same experience with it...it is considered one of the worst Canon lenses you can get.
If you are shooting low light or plan on doing portrait work than the 50mm 1.8 is a fine lens.
I dont know anything about the EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS I have never used it...

[kshahzadm]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

What lenses do you have now and what is the intended main use of a new lens?

I have a EF-S 18-55mm. I like taking portraits and outdoor photography. I travel a bit and would like something that could help me capture my trips.

-K

P.S. Thanks for the feedback so far. I am still new to photography and trying to get into on a part-time basis (got have a day job to buy the lenses )

[kshahzadm]

Originally Posted by natek313

As Richard sort of asked, what do you really need? Are you finding yourself wishing you had a telephoto lens, or do you often find yourself wishing you had a wider lens? That right there should narrow your decision down.

Now, if you're looking for a telephoto, I can speak for the 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS. I had that lens for a while and enjoyed it. It's a great consumer lens.

The 50mm f/1.8 will definitely help you, especially if you're newer to photography. It will force you to physically move yourself around to get your shot; it will help you pay attention to composition. Plus, it's a good lens from an optics standpoint, and it has a nice maximum aperture for those low light conditions - like indoors.

Thanks. I am seriously considering the 50mm f/1.8. I also need a telephoto and would like to get more bang for my buck.

[kshahzadm]

Originally Posted by bdpaco

I do not recomend the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III. I have it, and I very much dislike it...Iit shoots very soft, and most people who i have talked to have the same experience with it...it is considered one of the worst Canon lenses you can get.
If you are shooting low light or plan on doing portrait work than the 50mm 1.8 is a fine lens.
I dont know anything about the EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS I have never used it...

Thanks, Im grateful that I am getting all this feedback.

[inkista]

I have a 75-300 III, and agree that the 55-250 IS is a better buy--the design is more than 20 years newer. But most of the widely mentioned "softness" issues with the 75-300 III stem from two common user errors: most newbies will shoot with it at too slow a shutter speed and wide open. The lens's performance gets considerably better when stopped down and used with a fast enough shutter speed to eliminate camera shake (1/focal_length or faster). For the rock-bottom price, it actually performs well. Expecting a $150 lens to perform like L glass is unrealistic.


Canon XT. EF 75-300 III @300mm. iso 1600. f/11. 1/1000s. SooC jpeg.

[RichardTaylor]

@ kshahzadm

The 50mm F1.8 will be great for portraits and low light.

Your EF-S 18-55mm would be ok for landscapes & most travel, except for possibly shooting a bit of wildlife etc in national parks.

As others have said the the 75-300 is not a great lens. The 55-250 IS is good value for money and compact (I do own both lenses as well) and will complement your 18-55 nicely. Be sure to budget for lens hoods.
.

[kshahzadm]

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens is also an option. What do you all think about this?