EF 70-300 IS USM or EF 70-200 f/4L USM or ...?

[EricPvpi]

Thanks for all the great comments. I'll keep reading reviews and decide where to go. It is interesting to see how many people have been through a few lenses and end up with the 70-200 IS USM L lens in either the f/4 or 2.8. I can see where this can become an expensive hobby I can see myself justifying the $1200 lens in my head when I started the search thinking $500-$600.

In the short term, I pulled out my 20 year old EF 80-200mm 1:4.5-5.6 film SLR lens. It isn't quite up to what the newer lenses can do (and it was on the low end 20 years ago), but it will at least buy me a little time to research what to buy. Until summer kicks in, I'll still be mainly indoors or close distance with my 15-85.

Thanks,
Eric

[Sheiky]

It is interesting to see how many people have been through a few lenses and end up with the 70-200 IS USM L lens in either the f/4 or 2.8. I can see where this can become an expensive hobby I can see myself justifying the $1200 lens in my head when I started the search thinking $500-$600.

I think these are the first symptoms of L-disease. Good luck mate

Your idea sounds good though. Just see what you like and dislike about the 80-200 and go from there. Good luck!

[Kombi]

I think these are the first symptoms of L-disease. Good luck mate

I got that now.

I am also a beginner

--I bought the 55-250 as my first upgrade to my camera (t2i) Dec 2010, based on price and my kit lens ended at 55 --
I also thought I needed a zoom to capture the landscapes.. because they were in the distance

Anyway.. once I started researching and learning more about photography... I was happy with it until I started reading these forums.(Jan 2012)

The 55-250 met my needs for general image capture and online images. When printing some pictures to 5"x7" I was still pleased with results. However, once I bought my 24-105L lens the image quality is so much nicer, that I immediately started renting L series zoom lenses. Now that I'm making an effort to take better pictures I will definitely be replacing the 55-250.. still renting and testing for now.

If I was choosing today from the 3 you list I would go for the EF 70-200mm f/4L USM.

One plus for the 55-250 is it is very light when compared with any L series lens I've tried. So if your carrying it around or packing it in a day-pack you won't notice it's there.