Canon Lens for Plane Sptting?

[Shawn White]

Hi all! I am buying a Canon 600D soon with a default 18-55mm lens, and I would like to know what extra lens to get for farther pictures (100-200meters away)? I would be using it for plane spotting and taking pictures of airplanes at the Beijing Capital Airport. Some people recommended the 55-200mm lens, or the 70-200mm lens, and others have said you want one that goes up to 300mm. I am confused, and don't understand a lot of the f-values or what the mm do, so could you give me a recommendation? I want to spend about $100-200. Thanks

[neuroanatomist]

With that budget, you're pretty much limited to the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III or the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS. Of the two, I'd recommend the latter.

[peety3]

Honestly, I'd recommend that you save your money. Plane spotting might be fun, but you might be better off taking some time to learn what the mm do and what the f-values mean before you put too much money into the hobby.