what lens to get...

[stuntboy]

ok i think i might want to get a telephoto lens for my eos 300d. i want to khnow what is my best bet for quality and price. i want sharp pictures not soft ones but remember i dont want to spend a ton of cash.

thanks todd

[Liz]

i dont want to spend a ton of cash.

Well, everything is relative......so here are 2 options.......I'm only familiar with Canon lenses. You might want to look at Sigma, etc.

IMO, this is your best option for quality, sharp, great color - it's one of Canon's least expensive "L" lenses.

Canon 70-200mm/f4L
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=183198&is=USA

Canon 75-300mm IS

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=102854&is=USA

Hope that helps. If not, you might want to put a number to your "ton of money" for other suggestions.

Liz

[Lava Lamp]

ok i think i might want to get a telephoto lens for my eos 300d. i want to khnow what is my best bet for quality and price. i want sharp pictures not soft ones but remember i dont want to spend a ton of cash.

thanks todd

I'm a Nikon user, but my general advice for someone who wants to get good lenses a (relatively) affordable price is to buy used. I have done it many, many times and never gotten an un-usable one. www.keh.com is a a great vendor.

[stuntboy]

thanks for the response...let me do a little rephrase on this topic. im really just getting started and what i really need to know is what kinda of lens do i look for. what lens is going to be with me for the next 10 yrs. when i go to the store what lens' do i want to ask for? Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5 II USM Lens $399. good or bad quality lens? going to last me for awhile? Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II USM Lens $399. this one better ? Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM $799. even better i assume...can someone break those 3 down for me or direct me to a good read up on them. thank you

todd

[Lionheart]

thanks for the response...let me do a little rephrase on this topic. im really just getting started and what i really need to know is what kinda of lens do i look for. what lens is going to be with me for the next 10 yrs. when i go to the store what lens' do i want to ask for? Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5 II USM Lens $399. good or bad quality lens? going to last me for awhile? Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II USM Lens $399. this one better ? Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM $799. even better i assume...can someone break those 3 down for me or direct me to a good read up on them. thank you

todd

There is a review section on this site that makes very good reading and covers pretty much all of the currently available lenses in the canon lineup. I know nothing of the first two lenses you mentioned, but the 28-135 IS lens is excellent for the price, although I don't recall spending $800 on mine, more like $600, and I eventually gave mine away to a close friend whose lenses were decidely less than stellar. If you really want 10 year longevity on your lens purchase, spend a little more now (or save a little while) and get a really good quality zoom, like the 70-200 f2.8L, in IS and non IS flavours. The "L" lenses are literally tanks, and the image quality is incredible. The build quality on consumer lenses isn't all that great, and if you're using them day in and day out they will take a beating even when you're being careful, and a consumer lens under daily use may not make it to 10 years.
Just my two coppers of course, and be sure to take this with a healthy dose of NaCl, but I do speak from experience, having spent bundles on less expensive consumer lenses (that ended up sitting in the bottom of my camera bags) hoping for the great hidden value lens because I didn't think I could justify the cost of a pro lens.