Canon 75-300mm III USM to Canon 55-250mm IS

mattgal · 11 Sep 2011 at 16:42

Would this change be sensible?

The only reason I want to get rid of the 300mm is because the focus is so soft, AF is slow and I can't take any more purple borders around my subjects.

Does anyone who did this move or used/have both lenses, can verify that these problems will be solved with the 250mm?

I mostly use it for Air-shows and sometimes for nature photography (or buildings)

Stuff · 11 Sep 2011 at 17:25

Just remember the 55-250 is still a sub-£200 lens, and generally with lenses, you get what you pay for.

mattgal · 11 Sep 2011 at 17:27

according to reviews and sample images, it has image quality very close to that of the 70-300mm IS USM which is a great lens

Namistai · 11 Sep 2011 at 20:25

I have previously used a 75-300IS (not sure if this is the same as yours though, I get confused with the 75-300 models!) and I now own a 55-250IS. The 55-250 is built like the 18-55 kit lens (plastic, plastic, and more plastic), but performs significantly better than the 75-300 in terms of focus speed and accuracy, and IQ (sharpness, CA etc).

A 70-200 F4L would be a far more sensible upgrade though - these cost only around £400 s/h and kick both of the above lenses into touch!

mattgal · 11 Sep 2011 at 20:30

No the one I have is the non IS (even crapier). Yes I've thought about the F4 but they're too expensive for me

bigjimmyauk · 12 Sep 2011 at 12:44

My dad recntly upgraded to a 60d with the 55-250 IS lens before that he owned a 400D with a 75-300 USM

i've tried both lenses on the 400d and 60d taking comparison shots, The focus is definitely better on the IS lens it's also much sharper ( the 75-300 has quite soft focus)

TBH unless you can get the 55-250 IS lens for sub £100 including selling your 75-300 USM then i wouldn't really think it would be worth it and would be much better off possibly saving for a while longer for something better still.

P:S what camera will this be going on.

Namistai · 12 Sep 2011 at 13:56

55-250IS is available for very little cash these days. I've no idea what the 75-300 is worth, but I can't imagine that this should cost more than £50 to 'upgrade' (I use quote marks because the F4L would really be the upgrade if it were possible!

). It's well worth a £50 upgrade in my opinion, it's a great value lens aside from the build quality!

mattgal · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:44

i can sell mine for €200 and buy the 55-250 for €150 off ebay.

it will be on a 450D unless I manage to sell it and get a 550D

Namistai · 12 Sep 2011 at 22:22

If you can break-even (or better), then it's a no-brainer! Do it!