Quite lost canon rebel xsi & additional lens

[disneydave2003]

I have the canon rebel xsi 18-55 and would like to buy an additional lens. I am looking @

-Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
-Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens
-Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

i want the lens for better zooming at my neice and nephews football & soccer games. also heading to wdw in a couple of months and would love to finally get great fireworks shots from MK, POLY and CR. So basically, i want a good zoomed shot, clear and one that will be good from across the field my dn's running, etc. Am I on the right track with the three choices above? Which is better or what am I not looking at?

thanks, I'm so clueless!

 

[ThurlFan]

I have the 55-250 and an XSi. I've had good luck in daytime, and gotten pretty decent results under the lights for high school football (shooting from the stands). Overall I've been quite happy with it, especially when comparing the price to the f/4 and f/2.8 zooms. I'll post some pictures when I get a chance.

 

[Frantasmic]

I second Thurl. Best bang for your buck for daytime zoom pictures is the 55-250.

Other options, but more expensive:

70-200 f4 Canon L lens. About twice the 55-250 but it will open your eyes to what your camera can do with the right glass.

the 200 f2.8 Canon L fixed lens is also a good lens (I've seen some used lenses for about $650 recently)

The sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens is supposed to be nearly as good as the Canon L equivalent but at about $750. Non IS.

Finally, if you want something that will get the shots you really want, look at the 300 f4.0 L lens. Expensive, but you'd get some great shots!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

-Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
-Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens

Either of these are respectable entry level zoom lenses. You'll probably get slightly better IQ from the 55-250 as, I think, it's a newer lens and has recently been updated....

-Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

This one is not very good ... I guess for its rock-bottom price it's acceptible, but it's a "light hog" and, without IS, it only takes decent pictures when the light is very good. I have it, and really wish I'd done as much research on the lenses as I did on the bodies when I bought my T2i!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Concur everyone's thoughts about the 75-300mm. I have it, and it worked ok for daylight football games / baseball games when the lighting was good. But it was absolute garbage once the sun started to set.

 

[photo_chick]

Concur everyone's thoughts about the 75-300mm. I have it, and it worked ok for daylight football games / baseball games when the lighting was good. But it was absolute garbage once the sun started to set.

Agreed. The 75-300 was a solid entry level tele zoom with my 35mm Rebel, but it just does not cut it with digital. I did manage to shoot my daughter's dance recital with it, but it took some pushing.


The 55-250 costs just a little more and you get a better lens. Honestly, I'd choose it over the 70-300 IS as well.

 

[ThurlFan]

Here's a couple shots with the XSi and 55-250 at high school football. I was 10-15 rows up in the stands, which were across the track from the field. These are uncropped.

One shot under the lights

One with partial sunlight

 

[Shutterbug]

I have the 70-200 F4 L (Non-IS) and I really am impressed with what it can do for the price. Its not a heavy lens at all. I had it mounted on my camera all race weekend long and it never got to heavy being around my neck.

Though if I had to do it over again I would save up for either the F4 IS version or the 2.8 lens

 

[Bstanley]

Be very careful ... The 70-200 F4L is a 'gateway drug' to a Canon 'L' lens addiction ...

The picture below was taken with the 70-200 F4L and a Rebel XS at a distance of about 50 yards from the Eagle (2-3 foot tall bird). If you click on the picture it will take you to a Smugmug page where you can look at the full size version (and count the feathers...).

At $600 (non IS version, $1000 for the IS version) it is more money, but I believe the only reason I would ever replace it is if I switched to another brand of camera

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Very nice pic of the eagle!

 

[disneydave2003]

I second Thurl. Best bang for your buck for daytime zoom pictures is the 55-250.

How does it do for night time shots? Fireworks? i saw the pics you posted, they look great. but just wondering about nighttime. reviews i have read on this lens say good for daytime but i haven't seen much about how it performs in dark/night.

 

[bob100]

How does it do for night time shots? Fireworks? i saw the pics you posted, they look great. but just wondering about nighttime. reviews i have read on this lens say good for daytime but i haven't seen much about how it performs in dark/night.

The reviews say daytime because the minimum aperture for the 55-250IS is f4.0 - not a "fast" lens for night time sports. A good "night time" low light Canon f2.8 telephoto zoom with IS will set you back at least $1,500 !
At $199 the Canon 55-250IS is one of the best value telephoto lens


Canon 55-250IS with Canon XSi (450D) -

 

[Frantasmic]

For fireworks, the 55-250 would be good, especially with a good tripod. You are taking 2 sec or longer exposures to get the trails so the aperture doesn't matter as much.

Any night-time action shots with the 55-250 are going to require flash. In other words, this isn't the best zoom lens to capture a parade (although you can get a decent shot or two with patience and experience).

However, the lens can surprise. I used it for an indoor graduation and was surprised by the results (I knew little to nothing about photography back then when these were done. It's not on automatic settings, but it was more equipment than technique).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/msf61_fwtx/sets/72157619027450167/