Sufficiently sharp and lightweight EF telephoto (used)

Hi guys,

I'm currently looking for a lightweight telephoto zoom lens that zooms up to 200/300mm range

I currently have an R6II and am a photography/videography hobbyist who likes landscapes, architecture and portraits. I am served at the wide and normal angle range by the EF 16-35 and EF 24-70 F4 / RF 24-105 STM

I'd love to get a lightweight telephoto that i could put in my camera bag to compliment my wide/standard zooms

Seeking the advice of any of you who have used older lenses and know of any lightweight gems (under 500g). They don't need to have image stabilization since I'll let IBIS take care of that

I know that these exist:

80-200mm USM

55-200mm USM

90-300mm USM

I'm also interested in third party zooms!

If anyone has tried any of these, please share how you found them! Thank you

I recommend the EF 70-210mm f3.5-4.5 USM or EF 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM over those.

For 40% more weight, but still light to me, are the non-USM EF 50-200mm f3.5-4.5 L or EF 100-300mm f5.6 L.

BAK wrote:

I have a Canon 70 - 300 Nano that is sharp, lightweight, and not very expensive in today's terms.

Look for Nano on the lens.

BAK

I agree, get the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM (with the little LCD) It's one of canons better (perhaps even the best) non L tele zooms. And with very fast focusing because of the use of NANO USM

@Fat Nerd:

An other option would be the Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM also very quick (NANO USM also) and a perfect companion for traveling light. And does deliver good quality pictures

And with the 24-240 you have a native RF mount lens covering 24-240mm.

All the telezoom lenses you mention are low budget lenses and older models.  they may not deliver the best qualty compaired to newer lenses available

Photobygms wrote:

BAK wrote:

I have a Canon 70 - 300 Nano that is sharp, lightweight, and not very expensive in today's terms.

Look for Nano on the lens.

BAK

I agree, get the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM (with the little LCD) It's one of canons better (perhaps even the best) non L tele zooms. And with very fast focusing because of the use of NANO USM

@Fat Nerd:

An other option would be the Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM also very quick (NANO USM also) and a perfect companion for traveling light. And does deliver good quality pictures

And with the 24-240 you have a native RF mount lens covering 24-240mm.

All the telezoom lenses you mention are low budget lenses and older models. they may not deliver the best qualty compaired to newer lenses available

Agree with the above 2 posters.  The EF 70-300 II NanoUSM is a great telephoto lens new for under $600.  AF is very fast and accurate.  Better than the 55-250 STM (which is a good lens)

Photobygms wrote:

BAK wrote:

I have a Canon 70 - 300 Nano that is sharp, lightweight, and not very expensive in today's terms.

Look for Nano on the lens.

BAK

I agree, get the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM (with the little LCD) It's one of canons better (perhaps even the best) non L tele zooms. And with very fast focusing because of the use of NANO USM

@Fat Nerd:

An other option would be the Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM also very quick (NANO USM also) and a perfect companion for traveling light. And does deliver good quality pictures

And with the 24-240 you have a native RF mount lens covering 24-240mm.

All the telezoom lenses you mention are low budget lenses and older models. they may not deliver the best qualty compaired to newer lenses available

Thanks everyone for their input, I am sure not to get those old USM zooms as it seems to be sacrificing everything else for the sake of some weight savings

The long term dream lens would be the 24-240mm. It'll allow me to leave the 24-70mm at home and is lighter than that lens + the EF-RF adapter. I guess I'll have to get it as a gift for myself during any upcoming occasions

Being a 10x zoom and having expensive IS and RF premium pricing it is not likely much better than the USM lenses on your list, and not likely as good as other lenses not on your list.

The 24-240 is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, sort of lens.  It would definitely provide convenience over image quality.

Photobygms wrote:

I agree, get the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM (with the little LCD) It's one of canons better (perhaps even the best) non L tele zooms. And with very fast focusing because of the use of NANO USM

Another vote for this one!  Had one for a few years and was quite surprised how good it is.  I'd certainly look at getting another one if I had a frequent use case for it (didn't, hence why I sold it).

John Crowe wrote:

Being a 10x zoom and having expensive IS and RF premium pricing it is not likely much better than the USM lenses on your list, and not likely as good as other lenses not on your list.

The 24-240 is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, sort of lens. It would definitely provide convenience over image quality.

The 24-240 is actually a decent performer, way better than the third party EF (superzoom) options.

I do own one and It's optically very good, perhaps not as good as the RF 24-105 F4L that we also own but it does get close.

J A C S wrote:

You should be able to find the 70-400/4 IS or not IS for a low price used. The IS version weighs ~700g but it takes the spot of a standard zoom in my bag.

Crazy how cheap the non-IS version can be had for. Good choice for a lightweight and decent-quality zoom.