I live in dublin, ireland and recently purchased a canon eos 500 slr with standard 35-80mm lens which I use for general use, but might be interested in learning more specific tecniques. I am interested in buying a zoom lens but not at the expense of optical quality. Similarly, I do not want something that is heavy or bulky. The problem is that I have a voucher valued at IEP£60 (approx $60 / GBP£40) which I must use in a local camera shop to go towards a new lens, but the choice is limited. My choices are Sigma 70-300(DL-Macro); Sigma70-300(APO-DL Macro; Canon80-200(EF Motor);Canon75-300(EF Motor); Canon75-300(USM). Can anyone advise?

-- david smyth (david@webfactory.ie), April 17, 2002

Answers

Of those lenses you mention, you can immediately drop thoughts of the sigma 70-300 DL. That is, by most accounts, a rubbish lens.

The Sigma 70-300 APO is a very much better lens, with surprisingly good optics. The problem with it is that the AF is slow and noisy, tends to hunt, and the barrel extends and rotates during focus.

Unfortunately, all the Canon lenses you mention also extend/rotate. The 80-200 is a nice little lens, very compact and light weight (I had the USM version). The 75-300 is the standard consumer telezoom pretty much. Can you not afford to look at the Canon 100-300 USM? That would be my choice.

I'll leave it to those who've actually used the 75-300 to comment on them.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Your decision should depend on what you want to do with lens. What would you be shooting that would require 300 mm? Wildlife, sports, and portraits are often shot with longer lenses, but each requires a different set of skills in the photographer and functions on the camera.

Once you make some decisions about your interests, you will be able to decide on focal length and if USM or Image Stabiliztion or macro features are important.

Good luck.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), April 17, 2002.

In terms of quality, future compatibility, and resale value, you are always better off buying the Canon brand product. I thought the advice on the 100-300 usm was well served, this is a better made lens than the ones you mentioned.- good luck

-- joe cap (joemocap@yahoo.com), April 17, 2002.

I agree that the 100-300 USM is a better made lens, but it is also considerably more money. So of the ones you mention, I'd go for the Canon EF 75-300 (nom-USM). The USM version is only a little more but it's the micro-motor USM version, and the only thing it adds is quieter AF, but it's not really any faster.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), April 17, 2002.

I own the Sigma APO 70-300mm and from build quality, the sigma actually looks and feels "thougher" than the Canon. I've used both and like the Sigma.

-- Steve (Steve@medialake.net), April 18, 2002.