Advice about telephoto lens for Canon Rebel

Hello all, and apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum and for mistakes that I'll make below.

I'm trying to purchase a lens for my teenage daughter's camera, a Canon EOS Rebel T5. She treated her telephoto lens poorly and has asked for a replacement for an upcoming birthday. She's sent me a WalMart link (see below) but I'd appreciate a bit of guidance about what I'm looking at and whether I might want to look at an upgrade. I don't know enough about lenses to be able to understand how these lenses differ.

1. The WalMart link $106
   https://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-EF-75-300mm-Telephoto-Zoom-Lens-for-Canon-SLR-Cameras-Filters-More/105100808?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=4831&adid=22222222227057023931&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=161536350210&wl4=pla-270251588618&wl5=9061081&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113719839&wl11=online&wl12=105100808&wl13=&veh=sem
2. I think this is the same kit at Amazon for $99
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E0C9ZSG/ref=psdc_173565_t1_B00ZQ0W818
3. There's a local camera store in Portland that sells used inventory. Is a CANON EFS 55-250MM IS for $125.
   Is this a significant upgrade (because of the image stabilization)?
   http://prophotosupply.com/shop/used-inventory/
4. It seems like the lens listed above has been discontinued by Canon, and I can get a new version of the same lens for $150
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011NVMO8/ref=psdc_173565_t1_B00EFILVQU

Sorry if I went on too long and hope someone can point me in the right direction.

PaulPortland wrote:

I'm trying to purchase a lens for my teenage daughter's camera, a Canon EOS Rebel T5. She treated her telephoto lens poorly and has asked for a replacement for an upcoming birthday.

Welcome!  Too bad it's under these circumstances!!! 

+1 for the 55-250 STM.  Beg, borrow, or steal to get this version.

I guarantee that you and she will be BFFs!

Here's a refurb at @mazon for a little less...

55-250 STM refurb at @mazon

Or you can get it from your local shop (used) for $175...

55-250 STM used at Pro Photo Supply

Happy shopping!

R2

I'm trying to purchase a lens for my teenage daughter's camera, a Canon EOS Rebel T5. She treated her telephoto lens poorly and has asked for a replacement for an upcoming birthday.

PaulPortland wrote:

Hello all, and apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum and for mistakes that I'll make below.

1. There's a local camera store in Portland that sells used inventory. Is a CANON EFS 55-250MM IS for $125.
   Is this a significant upgrade (because of the image stabilization)?
   http://prophotosupply.com/shop/used-inventory/
2. It seems like the lens listed above has been discontinued by Canon, and I can get a new version of the same lens for $150
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011NVMO8/ref=psdc_173565_t1_B00EFILVQU

Sorry if I went on too long and hope someone can point me in the right direction.

+1 for 55-250IS STM. Ask her to add the $25 needed, she will treat the lens better

No version 75-300 is good.

PaulPortland wrote:

Hello all, and apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum and for mistakes that I'll make below.

I'm trying to purchase a lens for my teenage daughter's camera, a Canon EOS Rebel T5. She treated her telephoto lens poorly and has asked for a replacement for an upcoming birthday. She's sent me a WalMart link (see below) but I'd appreciate a bit of guidance about what I'm looking at and whether I might want to look at an upgrade. I don't know enough about lenses to be able to understand how these lenses differ.

1. The WalMart link $106
   https://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-EF-75-300mm-Telephoto-Zoom-Lens-for-Canon-SLR-Cameras-Filters-More/105100808?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=4831&adid=22222222227057023931&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=161536350210&wl4=pla-270251588618&wl5=9061081&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=113719839&wl11=online&wl12=105100808&wl13=&veh=sem
2. I think this is the same kit at Amazon for $99
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E0C9ZSG/ref=psdc_173565_t1_B00ZQ0W818
3. There's a local camera store in Portland that sells used inventory. Is a CANON EFS 55-250MM IS for $125.
   Is this a significant upgrade (because of the image stabilization)?
   http://prophotosupply.com/shop/used-inventory/
4. It seems like the lens listed above has been discontinued by Canon, and I can get a new version of the same lens for $150
   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011NVMO8/ref=psdc_173565_t1_B00EFILVQU

Sorry if I went on too long and hope someone can point me in the right direction.

the last one you listed is the only one i'd go with.  for one thing, stabilization makes a lot of shots possible that would otherwise be blurry.  if you can put together the money, the 55-250 STM is sharper and focuses a bit faster.  my son has the one in your list, i have the STM version, and after using mine, he's planning to get the STM version.

Definitely one of the 55-250's. The STM is superior, especially for video, but all the 55-250's are good.

I don't why Canon even sells the 75-300 non-IS. It's probably their very weakest lens.

Another +1 for the 55-250 STM!

It costs pennies, but provides good IQ, reasonably fast AF and an outstanding VFM.
If she mistreats that one as well, it is easily replaced at an affordable price.

I experience a slight bit of zoom creep, but nothing bad and it is to be expected with how I move around, so I do not have anything bad to say about the lens.

PaulPortland wrote:

Thanks everyone! I'm taking her out tomorrow to look at the STM used lens at the local shop. Really appreciate the input.

Be sure to have her bring her camera along so she can give it a try.  (Pssst, it will sell itself  ).

Happy shopping!

R2

PaulPortland wrote:

Thank you to the dpreview forum participants!

Every piece of advice given here was exactly on point. We went to Pro Photo Supply on Saturday (teenager grumbling the whole way of course ...) and it went exactly as I'd hoped.

The sales person first tried to clean and repair her current lens, tried on a different body, immediately diagnosed that it was broken. She got a short tutorial in cleaning lenses, particularly the electronics area.

Then he started walking her through the various options, starting with something way outside my price range, but he wanted her to see what a really nice lens does.

Next, he pulled the two Canon's listed above, and quickly recommended that she get the cheaper of the two lenses (the non-STM one).
Great local service, great purchase, and she's happily snapping photos again. Thanks all and happy holidays!

thanks for the update - glad to hear she's happily shooting pics again

PaulPortland wrote:

Thank you to the dpreview forum participants!

Every piece of advice given here was exactly on point. We went to Pro Photo Supply on Saturday (teenager grumbling the whole way of course ...) and it went exactly as I'd hoped.

The sales person first tried to clean and repair her current lens, tried on a different body, immediately diagnosed that it was broken. She got a short tutorial in cleaning lenses, particularly the electronics area.

Then he started walking her through the various options, starting with something way outside my price range, but he wanted her to see what a really nice lens does.

Next, he pulled the two Canon's listed above, and quickly recommended that she get the cheaper of the two lenses (the non-STM one).
Great local service, great purchase, and she's happily snapping photos again. Thanks all and happy holidays!

I'm glad she's back out taking pics too.  It's a nice thing you did for her.

R2

The Canon 55-250 STM is a terrific lens for very little money, used in like new condition. I just got one on eBay that is perfect for my SL2.

You can buy a manufacturers unopened refurb on eBay as I did for in the low 100's with a 1 year U.S.A. warranty. It's a great deal for a terrific lens.