Need help deciding on which lens to buy

[pandorabox82]

So, I'm looking to invest in a new lens for my Canon Rebel XSi before we head to WDW in January, and I'm deciding between these three. In all of your opinions, which one should I go with?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC AF OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

I like the Sigma lens just because it would mean that I wouldn't have to switch between the kit lens I got with the XSi, but I've heard really good things about the 70-300mm lens, as well.

 

[ukcatfan]

You do sacrifice some image quality with the all in one lens, but the convenience might be worth it to you. You also have a smaller aperture at any given focal length at the long end. For example on the 70-300mm, you have f/4 at 70mm, but it would probably be more like f/5 to 5.6 on the Sigma. It is not a huge difference, but could come into play in tough lighting.

 

[bob100]

So, I'm looking to invest in a new lens for my Canon Rebel XSi before we head to WDW in January, and I'm deciding between these three. In all of your opinions, which one should I go with?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC AF OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
I like the Sigma lens just because it would mean that I wouldn't have to switch between the kit lens I got with the XSi, but I've heard really good things about the 70-300mm lens, as well.

I have the Canon 55-250IS, I like it and it's a good telephoto zoom but you should consider the Sigma 18-200, it gets good reviews on the Canon forum www.photography-on-the.net/forum for a general purpose "vacation walk around" lens

 

[boBQuincy]

I vote for the 55-250, it's a good match for the 18-55 kit lens.

 

[jann1033]

what do you already have? if you have the is kit, i'd go with the 55-250 as well, 1/2 the price, iq is rated slightly better on both fred miranda( 8.9 vs 8.8 for the 2 canons) and slrgear( 8.9 vs 8.43) . they didn't have rating up for the sigma but on slrgear the 200mm end was so soft it was appalling http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1242/cat/31
tamron has a newer lens, 18-270 that is getting some decent reviews if you really want a lens like that http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tamron_18-270_3p5-6p3_vc_n15/page4.asp
pop photo give a subjective quality test results(?) that may be helpful if you want to know what size you could get a good print from it http://www.popphoto.com/Reviews/Lenses/Tamron-18-270mm-f-3.5-6.3-Di-II-VC-AF-Lens-Test
sigma also has a new 18-250 but i don't know if it's available or not yet

 

[pandorabox82]

Yeah, I just have the kit lens so far, so this marks my first lens purchase. Thanks for the links to the other sites. These helped out so much more than the Amazon reviews!