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Go for the 55-250 with your eyes closed. I just picked up that lens last month and enjoying every moment with it.

But no articulating LCD screen, may be that explains the $100 difference.

What would be the point of that? In the Olympus Zuiko lens series, only the low-end lenses are not weather sealed. But the high grade and super high grade lenses are all weather sealed. All the lenses I regularly use are weather sealed.

Can be still used?:)

Anyway, I have been using the Olympus E-3 since 2.5 years and have been very content with the ruggedness and image quality. Not a single lens/accessory purchased in the last 2 years, don't feel the need. Not even the release of E-5 is tempting me to upgrade. That alone is worth the $1700 I paid for it.

What is the use forthe tephoto? Are you going to wildlife photography? If yes then go for 75-300 or 100-400 Canon L series lens

Not sure why would you say that, but E-5 looks like a nice camera to me, for the price it comes at.

Wild Life ( I dont think so) but yes for macro's and portrait's landscapes type of photography sure it will be..!

If you are looking at macro and portraits, its best to go for a 100mm Prime. Remember no zoom lens can match the performance of a prime. Secondlythe lighter the lens, easier it to carry and lesser the shake while shooting.

I have just bought a 70-300MM DG Macro for my Canon and holding it for long periods is a pain.

Oh and for landscape, you need a 10-20 Wide Angle or a fish eye lens

That is a bit too much information for a novice like me though, i am still learning and until i reach "your stage" these lens name/config seems to be a total jargon for me.

Theoretically holding those lenses is also a pain especially if travelling and i agree on that.

However, I have only two options mentioned earlier ;

Canon 550D/t2i (18-55) + 75-300 = 849$
OR
Canon 550D/t2i (18-55) + 55-250 = 939$

I think either of this should suffice since i am new migrant to the DSLR field.The only thing is , which one of these is the right investment as pointed out by ( @jaguar :for 55-250) I am still analyzing which one to go for.

For the needs that you have mentioned go for the 2nd option.
If you are not leaving US before Thanksgiving I would wait for more deals.

Well I'm also a pretty new entrant in the DSLR arena so am also as much of a newbie as you :). For Macro you need a good magnification but also need sufficient distance so as to not disturb the subject (in case its a live object like insects). So a 100mm Lens is an optimum lens IMO.

A prime lens is one which has a fixed focal length. So in order to change the magnification / field of view, you need to move unlike in a zoom lens wherein you rotate the zoom ring.

Please remember the higher the focal length the lesser the Angle of View or the width of the frame that you can capture. So if you want to shoot landscapes, you need a lower focal length lens that will give you a wider angle of view.

Hope this pictures clarifies your doubt (taken from Tutorial: Lens Choice)


I would disagree.

Unless the first option is without IS (Image Stabilisation), go for the first. Once you start shooting, you'll realise how beneficial is 50mm extra focal length.

BTW please share the details of the lens config for better clarity.

Cheers

I agree with the first part and disagree with the second. Heavier setup gives a better stability. Check this out while using (hand held) slow shutter speed.

I guess am still at an absolute rookie stage as in my case the shake is quite pronounced in in 70-300 on slow shutter speeds. :(

Not to undermine your photography skills but hope you are holding the camera in the correct way with the base of the lens supported by the palm of your left hand, while you hold the camera body with your right. (for a right handed person).

I have seen many people hold their DSLRs like how one would hold a point-and-shoot camera, both hands holding the camera body with the lens unsupported.

I think Fraz33r wanted a suggestion on choosing between the two options he mentioned

Canon 550D/t2i (18-55) + 75-300 = 849$
OR
Canon 550D/t2i (18-55) + 55-250 = 939$

I suggested him the 2nd because it is better to have the 55-75mm range than the 250-300mm if you are not interested in wildlife and IS on the 55-250 helps. Again I suggest that because he gave us only 2 options. May be he found a package deal online.

If he had asked for other options I would suggest him a 18-200mm and a 40D or 50D body. We dont know what budget he has in mind and what deals he is looking at. For a starter a macro lens needs a lot of getting used to. May be a Raynox DCR250 macro conversion lens for 60$ will help him experiment the possibilites.

Hold your DSLR like you'll hold a gun. This hold is for both short and long lens. Here your palm will act as camera/lens support.

If the option one is Canon 75-300 lens which in all probability is then please bear in mind it is an old lens with crappy image quality and Do not buy that
Canon 55-250 is any-day better.

If you need 50mm extra focal length then cosider following lenses

1. Canon 70-300 IS USM , I am sure this will be much costlier option then combination 2 , In my estimate some 250-300 $ costlier at-least then option 2 but it is worth.

2. Sigma 70-300 DG OS :
A very good lens and optically stabilized will work cheaper ( around 100$ cheaper) then the canon 70-300 IS above VFM option.
No USM motor so focussing will be little noisy and slow but perfectly workable.



3. Tamron 70-300 SP Di VC USD
Image stabilized , Ultrasonic motor for fast focussing.
slightly cheaper then Canon 70-300 IS USM

4.Sigma 70-300 APO DG.

Budget option , Gives you 50 mm extra over Canon 55-250 IS in nearly same budget but not image stablized so for above 200mm you need to use higher shutter speed and tripod always.
So choose what you want 50mm extra or Image stablization to decide between this and Canon 55-250IS

In nutshell if you can increase the budget study and compare 1,2 and 3 and buy any one of them in the list above.

If your budget is fixed choose between Canon 55-250 IS and Sigma 70-300 APO DG depending on what is your priority Image Stabilization or 50mm extra.