I am honestly so over this kit lens that came with my Rebel T7. The 18-55mm is fine for like, birthdays or whatever, but it is absolutely useless for what i actually want to do. I live out in a pretty rural part of Pennsylvania and we get these gorgeous deer and hawks in the field behind our house every evening but by the time I try to zoom in they look like tiny brown blobs. I tried cropping the photos on my computer later and the quality just falls apart completely because i have to zoom in so much. Its just so frustrating to see something beautiful, think you got the shot, and then look at the screen and realize it's garbage.
My budget is really tight right now because i just had to drop six hundred bucks on new tires for my truck so i really cant spend much more than maybe $200 or $250 tops if i stretch it. I was looking at those super cheap Altura or whatever lenses on Amazon that are like $80 but the reviews say they are manual focus only and sound like a total nightmare to use. I just want something that actually works with the autofocus on the T7 because the deer move fast and i dont have the patience to fiddle with a ring for ten minutes while they walk away.
I heard the 75-300mm is bad? Everyone online seems to hate it but then some people say it is fine for beginners so i dont know who to believe anymore. Then there is the 55-250mm STM one which people say is better but i cant find it new anywhere for a decent price. Is it worth buying used from places like MPB or KEH or is that a gamble? I just want to be able to see the eyes on a deer from 50 yards away without spending a mortgage payment. What is the absolute best budget telephoto lens i can get for a T7 that actually takes sharp-ish pictures?
TL;DR: Get the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM used. The STM motor is lightning fast and the Image Stabilization gives you 3.5 stops of correction. On your T7 crop sensor, that 250mm reach is effectively 400mm! Buying from MPB or KEH is totally safe and hits your budget perfectly. Ignore those cheap manual Amazon lenses, theyre junk. Youll love this glass!
Just saw this thread today and wanted to chime in. Basically, the consensus here is right... that 75-300 is a total waste of money. Like someone mentioned, the 55-250 STM is usually the winner, but there is one other decent option if you need that extra reach for those PA deer.
- Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is the smartest pick for your T7. Its light and very sharp for the price.
- Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (the older version) can be found used within your $250 budget. It is a bit heavier but gives you more zoom for wildlife.
- Stay away from the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III even if it looks cheap, it will just frustrate you. Buying used from MPB or KEH is standard practice and totally safe. They offer actual warranties, so it isnt a gamble like buying from a random person on Craigslist. If I were in your shoes, I would grab that 55-250 STM and call it a day. It works well and leaves you some money in your pocket for gas.
> I heard the 75-300mm is bad? Everyone online seems to hate it but then some people say it is fine for beginners Unfortunately, I fell for that trap years ago and it was a total mess. Every photo of birds I took looked like it was shot through a screen door. I also tried one of those cheapo manual lenses from Amazon once and it was basically a paperweight. I missed a beautiful buck because I was too busy fiddling with focus. Definitely avoid those budget deals because theyll just break your heart.
