deal or no deal?

**crystalb** · 10-19-2009, 08:53 PM

Ok peoples.....being a newbie, I was curious what your opinion would be on this lense:

Canon telephoto lense - 75 - 300 mm 1:4 - 5.6 with Tiffen Haze filter

for $150

I am told it was only used a couple of times.

What do you think?

**zenon5940** · 10-19-2009, 09:07 PM

You have to try it and see if the image is sharp enough for you, specially at the 300mm end. I just had a good deal on a lens, only to find out it does not give me the details I want to see... might as well say it is of no use and the money I put on it was a loss.

$150 is not much if it suits you but it is a lot if your not going to like the results. Just my

**casil403** · 10-19-2009, 09:16 PM

I don't know much about this kind of stuff so ican't comment really but I will say my general opinion always is:
A) If it sounds too good to be true...it usually is.
B) If you have even the slightest odd, uncomfortable feeling about it then listen to your gut because it speaks for a reason.
I always try to live by these 2 rules.

**Mad Aussie** · 10-19-2009, 11:07 PM

Is this the EF 75-300mm f/1:4-5.6 ll USM version?

**crystalb** · 10-19-2009, 11:14 PM

It doesn't say, so I'm guessing not.

**Mad Aussie** · 10-19-2009, 11:19 PM

I certain they did one ages ago that didn't have USM or IS. That older lens was known for being soft above about 200mm from memory as Zenon has already suggested. It was also quite slow on to focus being that it doesn't have the USM.
Without the IS you are going to struggle to hold it steady about the 200mm mark also more than likely.
I think it also rapidly got to it's 5.6 stop as you went through the zoom ...which is ok but not ideal.
Having said that all the shots you've seen me post today were with a lens that is f4-5.6 so if you have good light (or a good external flash) then you can get around it.

**Michaelaw** · 10-19-2009, 11:53 PM

You get what you pay for comes to mind but sometimes you also find a good deal that works. To me it's kind of a 50/50 chance game without more specifics on the lens leading to research, without specific info one can only plunge or not plunge (read in a Yoda voice)

**Mad Aussie** · 10-19-2009, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Michaelaw

without specific info one can only plunge or not plunge (read in a Yoda voice)

"Arrrrrr Plunge or not plunge you must!"

Seriously though it's good advice. Great deals can exist but they are usually hard to find among the myriad of bad deals.