Canon 300 zoom lens

[mawallace]

I Have a Canon 300 zoom lens the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 II - but it very slow in focusing.

Does anyone have an alternative "cheap" lens with similar range which they regularly use with a Canon 450 D SLR (or similar model) which they could recommend?

 

[Track Basher]

I Have a Canon 300 zoom lens the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 II - but it very slow in focusing.

Does anyone have an alternative "cheap" lens with similar range which they regularly use with a Canon 450 D SLR (or similar model) which they could recommend?

Your problem here is that with lenses cheap is not as good quality. The one not to buy is the Sigma with the same range. The quality is very suspect at the end of the ranges. I ended up buying a more expensive Pentax lens much better quality.

Try using it with manual focus. I a lot of cases this works best with moving trains as you focus on the point you want the train to be when you take the picture.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

I have the same lens and generally use the manual focus, it is mostly used for airshow photography though and not many lenses are good at focusing on planes.

 

[codenamecuebal]

I Have a Canon 300 zoom lens the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 II - but it very slow in focusing.

Does anyone have an alternative "cheap" lens with similar range which they regularly use with a Canon 450 D SLR (or similar model) which they could recommend?

Get a new EF-S 55-250mm, should do you fine and you'll have more on the wide end, plus image stabilisation.

 

[Donny Dave]

The one not to buy is the Sigma with the same range. The quality is very suspect at the end of the ranges. I ended up buying a more expensive Pentax lens much better quality.

I'm of the opposite view, I find Sigma lenses are better than the Pentax equivalents. I use this lense (Pentax mount though), and it takes some stunning pictures all through the range.

 

[codenamecuebal]

I'm of the opposite view, I find Sigma lenses are better than the Pentax equivalents. I use this lense (Pentax mount though), and it takes some stunning pictures all through the range.

Sigma have a reputation for horrible quality control, even up to their 30mm f/1.4 EX, which is a beastly lens.

 

[Track Basher]

I'm of the opposite view, I find Sigma lenses are better than the Pentax equivalents. I use this lense (Pentax mount though), and it takes some stunning pictures all through the range.

We have our own view. I have had a different experience with this lens. This is the same lens I was using with a Pentax KA mount. In the middle of the range it is OK but when you get towards the extremes 70mm or 300mm you start getting lots is graining in the pictures. I then bought a Pentax 55mm - 300mm and there is no comparison. I have also found that the Sigma has problems with internal reflection/refraction ghosting. This is particulary a problem with trains with more modern brighter spotlights later Class 66s and 57/3s in lower lighting conditions.

 

[142094]

I have the Sigma 75-300 lens as couldn't afford anything else at the time. Has done me well over the past 3 years, although of course is much better when there is a tripod to hand. It is a good starter lens but in the long run I'll be saving up for something better.