Question about 2nd lens

I'm very very excited to be buying the T2i as a late Christmas present for myself this week! However, I'm not sure which promo lens to go with. I'm getting the camera with the kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) but there are two options to go with for the second lens:

Canon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens

or

Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Zoom Lens

It's been a while since I've done anything more than point-and-shoot, so this camera will be for me to get back into actual photography. I need to "re-learn" f-stops and aperture and all of that... I will mostly be doing travel photography, portraits, sports. I'm really not sure which would be better. Suggestions?

From what I have read, the 75-300 has a very bad reputation. The 55-250 seems to get much more positive reviews, I have the 18-55/55-250 combo on my T2i which I brought over from my XSi and am very happy with it. I recently acquired a 17-85mm as a walk around lens but haven't used it enough to opine on that one.

I have it, and it is a fine lens

BAK

The usual 1-2-3 sequence is 1) kit 18-55, 2) 55-250 and 3) 50 f/1.8 prime. There are very good reasons why so many people choose this route after researching the options as the lenses are all quite good for the price, and you have a nice 3 lens range for the cost of one medium price lens.

Of the two you list, the 75-300 has a poor reputation, and the 55-250 is quite nice for the price. However... for portraits and relearning f-stops and the like, you might be better off going a tad out of sequence and getting the prime 50 f/1.8 as your 2nd lens. Very inexpensive at about $100, but nicely sharp, and the DOF at 1.8 for a 50 mm on a crop like the T2i (1.6 multiplier mean 80 mm equivalent) is quite thin, meaning you can easily separate the portrait subject from the background. Also, many get the 50 f/1.8 as an inexpensive low light lens, though the tight framing isn't so desirable indoors. Something like the Sigma 30 f/1.4 is better for general purpose low light, albeit at a price greater than the usual first 3 combined.
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Interests & Equipment In Profile

The 55-250mm is the best by far. I've owned it twice. Great lens for the price!
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Robert (Phoenix, AZ)

I like taking pictures!

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Best regards,
Jim

Gallery at:
http://www.pbase.com/borderrose/viewgallery

another vote 55-250 plus the 50 1.8 its a good combination

Get 55-250 IS, 75-300 is crap!
And yes 50 f1.8 is great and dirty cheap
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Canon 1000D