Im honestly about to give up because trying to figure out which lens to buy for my Rebel T7 is giving me a massive headache. I just got the camera and it came with that standard 18-55 thing but it literally doesnt zoom in at all. I was looking online for a telephoto one because I want to take photos of my kids soccer games and maybe some birds in the backyard but I have no idea where to start and all the letters are making my head spin.
So I was thinking about getting this 75-300mm lens because it was super cheap on eBay but then I saw someone on a different site say it was the worst lens Canon ever made? I dont get it. My logic was that 300 is more than 250 so it should be better right? Like it would see further away? But then people keep mentioning something called STM and IS and I dont know if I need those or if they are just extra stuff to make it more expensive.
I really only have like $175 to spend since I spent all my savings on the camera body itself. I live in a pretty rural area so I cant just go to a store and try them out I have to order it and I dont want to waste my money on the wrong thing. Is there something that actually works for a beginner that wont break the bank? I just want my son to not look like a tiny blur on the field...
Be careful with the 75-300mm; its lack of IS causes blur. I would suggest:
- Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM The STM motor is better for tracking sports... dont skip it.
Honestly, I feel your pain with all those letters... it is a total mess. Unfortunately, that 75-300mm is basically a paperweight unless you are using a tripod in the desert with perfect sun. I had one for a month and it was so frustrating. Its cheap for a reason tho. The 300 is more than 250 logic makes total sense on paper, but in reality, the 300mm end on that lens is so soft and blurry you wont even want to use the photos. Plus, without IS, which is Image Stabilization, every tiny shake of your hand makes the photo look like a smudge, especially when you are trying to track a kid running across a soccer field. You really need to look for the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. The STM part stands for Stepping Motor, which is just fancy talk for the lens focusing fast and quiet. If you try to use a lens without it for sports, the camera spends way too much time hunting for focus while the action already moved. For $175, you might have to check used gear sites like MPB or KEH since brand new ones are pricier, but its totally worth it. I tried saving money with the cheaper 75-300mm and just ended up buying the 55-250 anyway after wasting my cash. Seriously, dont bother with the other one... you will just be disappointed when the birds in your backyard look like gray blobs.
Facts.
Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!
Like someone mentioned, that 75-300 is basically a trap. Unfortunately, I have to disagree slightly about the 55-250 being the absolute best bet. I bought one back in the day for track meets and was really disappointed by the autofocus hunting whenever a cloud blocked the sun. The plastic mount also felt like it was gonna snap after a few months of heavy use. If you want something reliable that wont feel like a toy, try to find a used Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD. It has much better glass and the ultrasonic drive is way faster for tracking kids running. Quick tips for that T7 setup:
- Use the center focus point only. The outer points on the T7 are pretty unreliable for sports.
- Keep your shutter speed at 1/500 minimum or the soccer players will be blurry no matter how good the lens is. I eventually moved to more expensive glass, but that Tamron was the only budget zoom that didnt frustrate me with soft edges at the 300mm mark. Its a bit heavier, but the build quality is night and day compared to the kit lenses.
Solid advice 👍