Pretty good buy...
Pros:
Light, Inexpensive, Good range
Cons:
Sort of cheap build, a little soft
The Bottom Line:
If you are on a tight budget, Go for it.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
When it comes to camera lenses, like pretty much everything else, you are going to get what you pay for. Optics aren't cheap, and good optics are just plain EXPENSIVE. Now, having said that, don't completely discount a lens like this for all uses!
No, it is not going to perform like an "L" series lens. But- it is about 1/10th the price- This lens will cost you less than an extended warranty would on a canon L.
Build quality is about what you'd expect for a lens in this price range- Adequate, but not robust by any means. Lots of plastic. But, under normal usage conditions, it should stand up just fine.
What about the important part- Image quality? For the money, it is great- You will be able to get a lot of great shots with the lens, and probably will never notice the distortions and softness that are inherent in less expensive optics like this, especially if you use your images on the web for the most part, or in smaller prints. Again, it doesn't compare to a 'pro' grade lens, but for many casual photographers, it'll do JUST fine.
It is most certainly an outdoor lens. F4-5.6 is pretty slow. At 300mm, You'll either need to be REALLY steady, or use a tripod, to avoid camera shake. Personally, I couldn't shoot handheld with this at 300 mm with any success.
Autofocus is decent- Not fast by any means, so this isn't a great choice for moving subjects. If the subject is standing still, that won't be an issue!
Bottom line- It's a LOT of lens for the money. You are far better off using an inexpensive lens like this and getting out there to actually TAKE pictures, rather than sitting at home wishing you could afford something more!
