Should I upgrade the EF 75-300 Kit Zoom to a used 70-300 Image Stab. lens?

Hi,

I recently purchased a Canon 2 lens kit, and the zoom is a non image stabilized 75-300. I have had some issues in the past with kit lenses not being as sharp as I like, and a very reputable photo shop near where I live has a used Canon 70-300 lens, with image stabilization and a 6 month warranty for $280.

Do you think it is worth upgrading? I suppose I could sell my never used 75-300 for about $100 so that would help.

Thanks!

Bob

Canon makes lots of tele-zoom lens in this range. For crop bodies, the series of 55-250 is much sharper than the aging 75-300. You can get the discontinued 55-250 IS  for < $200. The latest 55-250 IS STM is slightly sharper and focus faster sells for <$300.

I assume the 70-300 IS you talked about is a used lens. A new one sells for ~$600. It is slightly bigger and heavier than the 55-250s. Picture quality is about the same.

The next level up is the"professional" white lens, 70-300L. It is built like a tank, has IS and focus very fast. The picture quality is another step up, and so is the price. Today, it is listed at $1349, but I will wait for the next Canon rebate. The choice is up to you.

The good choices are two. The S55-250STM ($250) lens or the 70-300 L ($1,300) lens. Chose from those two.
--
>> I love the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM II lens! <<

Peter Kwok wrote:

Canon makes lots of tele-zoom lens in this range. For crop bodies, the series of 55-250 is much sharper than the aging 75-300. You can get the discontinued 55-250 IS for < $200. The latest 55-250 IS STM is slightly sharper and focus faster sells for <$300.

The old 55-250 IS II has not been discontinued. In fact, it's still a kit lens for the 100D and 1200D. That said, I see zero reason to buy it over the STM version considering the price difference is so little. The STM version may not benchmark much better than the old one in the lab, but in the field I found it to be noticeably sharper at 250mm with focus more than 50 meters away, and AF and handling are so much more pleasant on the STM that they feel like they're in different classes.

For a short while, I had both the 70-300 IS non-L and the 55-250 STM. Based on my own testing, the 55-250 STM is slightly sharper at the tele end, and it focuses at least as well, perhaps a tad faster. It certainly is much quieter when focusing. I use the STM for soccer and it performs pretty darn good. And, for me - I prefer the versatility of the wide end over the 50mm on the long end. And the STM is cheaper and lighter.

I sold my 70-300 IS non-L.

For about the same priced (used) as the Canon 70-300 IS, you can get the better and newer Tamron 70-300 VC USD lens.  It's sharp throughout the range and the VC (IS) is excellent.  Plus you'll most likely get a lens hood with it

Other than that, the 55-250 STM is another great option.