Suggest Canon Lens - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/27/2008 02:06:09 AM · #1

I am new to DSLR camera. I am currently having 400D & Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. I want to purchase a general purpose zoom lens for my camera.I am quiet confused for which to go one in between these two lenses:

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

How you compare between these two? Which would you like to suggest? Is it worth paying more price for the first one? Have you any experience with one of it? Would you like to suggest any third party lens which are equivalent to these?

sherpet

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

05/27/2008 02:19:42 AM · #2

Definately this one, is the one that I would choose. By clicking on one or both of these lens, they take one to the DPC page, where one can see that lens, and the amazing images taken from DPC members with that lens.
The images taken with the top lens, have a much higher score, and there are some amazing images there as well. That would be my choice.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM

Originally posted by bnilesh:

Camabs

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

05/27/2008 03:36:05 AM · #3

Originally posted by sherpet:

You will get a huge bias with this method. The 70-300 has339 owners, compared to 14 for the much newer 55-250. With this difference in mind and the fact that the 70-300 is around for much longer, the number of submisions is much much much higher. No wonder that the highest rated submissions with this lens score much higher. The power is in the numbers.

To make my point: check these two lenses by your method:

Canon 50/1.8 II
vs
Canon 50/1.2L

Which one would you say is the better lens?

So what would be a better measure? Check my blog article on using lens reviews..

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/27/2008 04:16:45 AM · #4

Yes I agree the number is definitely playing the role. I have given links so that one can easily get the data about the lenses from amazon or other sites. Please don't just compare from the images taken by these lens.

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

05/27/2008 04:31:47 AM · #5

Both lenses have their disadvantages; I just got the 70-300 and must say it is a bit soft at the long end. Also shows some chromatic aberration at the edges.
The EF-S 55-250 will only fit on certain cameras, you'll be sad when you upgrade to 5D or 1D one day.

05/27/2008 04:44:00 AM · #6

Originally posted by eyewave:

Yeah 55-250 being a EFS lens it has it's limitations. But I think it is more sharp than 70-300 if one ignores its negative side of being 100mm short & compatibility. I think I should go for it. Any other lens compatible to these two in similar price range?

Camabs

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

05/27/2008 05:11:59 AM · #7

Originally posted by bnilesh:

Originally posted by eyewave:
Both lenses have their disadvantages; I just got the 70-300 and must say it is a bit soft at the long end. Also shows some chromatic aberration at the edges.
The EF-S 55-250 will only fit on certain cameras, you'll be sad when you upgrade to 5D or 1D one day.

Yeah 55-250 being a EFS lens it has it's limitations. But I think it is more sharp than 70-300 if one ignores its negative side of being 100mm short & compatibility. I think I should go for it. Any other lens compatible to these two in similar price range?

The Sigma 70-200/2.8 is (I think) about $100 more, and shorter, but optically a very good lense. Too bad it has no IS.

And I wouldn't bother too much about the EF-S part, unless you already ordered your FF camera. I know from experience (mine and others) that plans may change or take longer than planned. Don't settle for less now beacuse you might switch to FF 'some day'. Just take the lens that fits your needs now and count on the 2nd hand market once you switch to FF.

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

05/27/2008 05:31:22 AM · #8

Have you considered the 70-200 f4 L usm? Its going for a really good price at the moment and has a good following. (waiting for mine to turn up, today I hope !)
Stick a converter on it and it will cover mid to far end nicely

05/27/2008 05:53:07 AM · #9

Originally posted by MikeOwens:

I think it's quite difficult to handle this lens in travel,walk around & slightly costly considering it's focal range even though it might be having very good optical quality.
During search I have seen some nice images taken with 55-250 on flicker. I know we can't judge the lens optical quality by just seeing web sized images but even though it's worth to have a look at this link.
EF-S 55-250 on flicker

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

05/27/2008 06:21:40 AM · #10

Originally posted by bnilesh:

Originally posted by MikeOwens:
Have you considered the 70-200 f4 L usm? Its going for a really good price at the moment and has a good following. (waiting for mine to turn up, today I hope !)
Stick a converter on it and it will cover mid to far end nicely

I think it's quite difficult to handle this lens in travel,walk around & slightly costly considering it's focal range even though it might be having very good optical quality.
During search I have seen some nice images taken with 55-250 on flicker. I know we can't judge the lens optical quality by just seeing web sized images but even though it's worth to have a look at this link.
EF-S 55-250 on flicker

Yeh not ideal as a walkaround ! I used a Tokina 24-200 in the past and found it a good walkaround lens, trouble was it broke (stopped focusing) about 10 months after I bought it, I did not replace it. Now I use my Sigma 17-70 which I find great albeit a little short at 70mm but its tack sharp. The 55-250 looks like a very decent lens.

05/27/2008 06:33:58 AM · #11

Originally posted by MikeOwens:

Since I am quiet satisfied with my current 18-55IS I am not looking a lens with wide angle which overlaps . I was quiet impressed with Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) & may think about it in future.

pineapple

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

05/27/2008 06:59:51 AM · #12

Zooms might be the "jack of all trades" but they are not always the best for creative purposes. Looking at your portfolio, I would suggest the Canon 100mm f/2.8 which has macro capabilities and is reasonably priced.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

05/27/2008 07:17:03 AM · #13

Originally posted by pineapple:

Yes I agree with you. The lens you have mentioned Canon 100mm f/2.8is already on my list but I am missing zoom lens very much since I am used to my previous camera SONY DSC-H2 with 12X optical zoom.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

05/27/2008 08:41:37 AM · #14

I bought a used Tamron 28-300 recently. I was concerned that a lens with such a wide focal range might have some issues. It's certainly not an L lens, but I have been quite pleased with it's performance as my all-around lens so far.

Message edited by author 2008-05-27 08:41:56.

bjoern

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/27/2008 09:26:43 AM · #15

I own the 70-300 IS USM and I'm very happy with it, although I must agree with

eyewave that it's soft at the long end, i.e. beyond 200mm I would say.
Photozone has reviews of a huge amount of lenses and as they use a pretty standardized approach I think it serves well to compare lenses.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/27/2008 10:52:42 AM · #16

Originally posted by bnilesh:

Originally posted by pineapple:
Zooms might be the "jack of all trades" but they are not always the best for creative purposes. Looking at your portfolio, I would suggest the Canon 100mm f/2.8 which has macro capabilities and is reasonably priced.

Yes I agree with you. The lens you have mentioned Canon 100mm f/2.8is already on my list but I am missing zoom lens very much since I am used to my previous camera SONY DSC-H2 with 12X optical zoom.

The simple fact is that zooms are compromises. You trade image quality and speed for flexibility. The longer the zoom range, the more compromises will be made. 10X zooms may look great on paper, but a shorter range zoom or a prime will blow them away every time.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/27/2008 09:44:28 PM · #17

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I agree but while shooting outdoor everything can not be captured by using shorter range zoom,isn't it?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/27/2008 10:09:34 PM · #18

Originally posted by bnilesh:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
The simple fact is that zooms are compromises. You trade image quality and speed for flexibility. The longer the zoom range, the more compromises will be made. 10X zooms may look great on paper, but a shorter range zoom or a prime will blow them away every time.

I agree but while shooting outdoor everything can not be captured by using shorter range zoom,isn't it?

Sure it can, just get closer.

05/30/2008 11:45:55 PM · #19

Well finally I ordered Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS. Hope it works for me :)