Replacing Sigma 70-300 APO DG with Canon 55-250 IS - worth it?

dfrear · 03-06-2008, 11:34 PM

I have been considering replacing my 70-300 with the newer Canon 55-250 IS. Now I know the build quality is going to be lesser on the Canon, but I keep hearing such great thing's about this lens and feel the IS would be a wonderful thing to have!

I nearly always shoot hand held and find myself unable to get a lot of shots simply due to being unable to keep the lens steady enough.

Do you guys think it would be worth the switch? I doubt theres much in it, length wise, between 300 and 250 - having looked at it through the 300 there's barely any difference.

I would mostly be using it for wildlife photography with a view to upgrading to a 100-400 L in the future.

T0MAT01 · 04-06-2008, 8:31 AM

I would say that it sounds like a very worthwhile upgrade to me.
OK, so you could save your money and buy the 100-400 sooner, but the 55-250 looks like pretty good value so I can't see it depreciating very fast if you did decide to sell it on.

I've never used either lens, but I would be quite surprised if the build quality of the Canon was a step backwards from a £120 Sigma lens...

As for IS, it's invaluable in a long lens. I almost never carry a tripod with me, so for me it's a case of being able to get the shot or not. I don't think you'll be disapointed!

dfrear · 04-06-2008, 8:36 AM

Well the Canon is a budget lens and not having a metal mount put's me off a little - I would consider a plastic mount gives it the award of "lesser" build quality against the Sigma.

The 100-400 L is more of a pipe dream, it will be a long time until I have around £800 to spare to spend on a lens, possibly two years!

T0MAT01 · 04-06-2008, 8:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfrear

Well the Canon is a budget lens and not having a metal mount put's me off a little - I would consider a plastic mount gives it the award of "lesser" build quality against the Sigma.

Ah, fair point, although I would be looking more at how much slack each lens has at full zoom etc.

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about the plastic mount, just be aware of it and always use the neck strap. I think I would be more put off by the lack of weather sealing than by a plastic mount but if you don't use your camera in bad weather much then that's not too much of a problem either.

dfrear · 04-06-2008, 9:08 AM

Well only having a 400D I don't tend to take it out in bad weather anyway. Im intent on getting a camo rain cover from one of the bird watching suppliers in an effort to carry on using the camera in all weathers.

Sound's like im leaning towards the 250 - may have to pop into Jessops or somewhere and try one.

loz · 04-06-2008, 9:28 AM

Dunno where you live, but if it is in the Thames Valley area, you are always welcome to come round and have a play with my 55-250mm.

dfrear · 04-06-2008, 9:46 AM

Thanks for the offer loz, im quite a fair way out of reach though

Up near Preston/Manchester.

bomboman · 04-05-2009, 4:45 AM

I used to use both lenses and I can tell you that Canon 55-250 IS gives better image quality than Sigma. Moreover, IS works pretty good.

I have my test in my blog and I hope it may help you. http://www.digitalshuttermania.com/2...0-apo-dg.html:)

jonnypb · 04-05-2009, 7:47 AM

I have the 55-250IS and am very happy with the IQ it produces. I would say yes for the money it is worth upgrading from the Sigma as you'll benefit from better IQ and also get Canons newer 4 stop IS which will help greatly for hand held shooting.

OK so the build quality isn't anything like the 70-200L or 100-400L but it's a fraction of the price and would be a good stop gap until you can afford your 100-400. I also use to have the Canon 70-300IS and apart from the 70-300IS being better built the 55-250IS is alot smaller, has the newer IS system and the IQ is on par with it