• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

URGENT HELP NEEDED! Looking for a superzoom DSLR lens

Status
Not open for further replies.

HST43257

Established Member
Joined
10 Apr 2020
Messages
1,393
Location
York
So, I currently have a Canon EOS 2000D with an 18-55mm kit lens. I use this for nature, scenery and railway photography. I mainly focus on the rail photography part, though - and I’m looking to get a new longer zoom lens.

Balancing cost and effectiveness, I think I’ve narrowed down my search to 2 options.
55-250mm - £230 ”Renewed” on Amazon
75-300mm - £200 ”Renewed” on Amazon or £240 ”New” on Canon website or Amazon

There’s a few factors for me. First of all, I don’t want to be changing the lens too much, so I’d intend to keep the long lens on the camera and rarely use the kit lens. Currently, I rarely use anything less than 55mm on my kit lens. So I’m a bit cautious about the 55-75mm gap if I got the 75-300mm, especially given what I said about mainly just using the new lens. It would create a situation where my minimum was 75mm, when there’s still some shots which I’d ideally take at 55-60mm. I just don’t know much about what the 75-300 would unlock in terms of distance, creating for and against arguments.

Another factor is dimensions. With a kit lens on my camera, there is just under 6cm of free space. The 55-250mm looks like it is 3.8cm longer than the kit lens and the 75-300mm is apparently 5.2cm longer than the kit lens. Both would fit but the 55-250 keeps a little room available.

So my thought process is: I’m aware that the 75-300mm is really good and reliable, but the 55-250mm has a fair few benefits. I’m leaning towards the 55-250 but I do see why the 75-300 might be better.

I’m just not sure how to balance all of this, so some advice would be appreciated. Also, if anyone has any better suggestions for a similar price then they’re more than welcome.
 
Last edited:
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

46223

Member
Joined
12 May 2013
Messages
93
Location
Lancashire
Sigma do an 18-300mm. I used one when I had a Canon EOS 450D. It saved changing lenses and the quality was very good.
It was compatible with Canon's EF-S mounts but not EF.
 

1369

Member
Joined
25 Jun 2019
Messages
126
Location
South Devon
Can I ask, why do you not intend to change the lens very much?

I have a 24 - 105mm and a 70 - 300mm lens.

I mainly use the small lens for railway photos but just in case, I always take the other when I go out.
 

HST43257

Established Member
Joined
10 Apr 2020
Messages
1,393
Location
York
Can I ask, why do you not intend to change the lens very much?
I’m slightly worried about a potential buildup of internal dust or anything else that could happen during a change.

Sigma do an 18-300mm. I used one when I had a Canon EOS 450D. It saved changing lenses and the quality was very good.
It was compatible with Canon's EF-S mounts but not EF.
Thanks, I’ll look into this one. Looks like it meets my needs a fair bit so I’ll definitely near it in mind.
 

DelW

Established Member
Joined
15 Jan 2015
Messages
3,834
Like 46223, I like the option to carry just a single lens on my SLR. I use a basic Nikon D3000 fitted with a Tamron 18 - 200mm, which covers almost all the range I ever want.

If you're looking to carry just a single lens, I'd choose the 55-250. The visible difference between shots at 250 and 300mm isn't very significant (and you can always crop a bit anyway), but between 55 and 75mm is quite a difference, and you can't "edit in" a wider angle.

Even if you plan to carry both lenses, I'd say it's better not having a coverage gap between 55 and 75mm, so for me the 55 - 250 edges it again.

So unless you think you're likely to do a significant amount of shooting at maximum telephoto, I'd pick the 55 - 250mm.
 

Bevan Price

Established Member
Joined
22 Apr 2010
Messages
7,320
Like 46223, I like the option to carry just a single lens on my SLR. I use a basic Nikon D3000 fitted with a Tamron 18 - 200mm, which covers almost all the range I ever want.

If you're looking to carry just a single lens, I'd choose the 55-250. The visible difference between shots at 250 and 300mm isn't very significant (and you can always crop a bit anyway), but between 55 and 75mm is quite a difference, and you can't "edit in" a wider angle.

Even if you plan to carry both lenses, I'd say it's better not having a coverage gap between 55 and 75mm, so for me the 55 - 250 edges it again.

So unless you think you're likely to do a significant amount of shooting at maximum telephoto, I'd pick the 55 - 250mm.
Having a zoom lens that caters for a wide angle option (28mm or less) can be useful if you are ever likely to want to take photos in some stations, museums, etc.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top