I've got that Canon lens and I think that it's a great value for the money. But I have another lens in mind which I have found to be better for everyday work: the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Image Stabilized AutoFocus Wide Angle Telephoto Zoom Lens. I've found that the zoom range is much more useful, since I can go from a moderate wide-angle to a moderate zoom in the same lens. Canon's Image Stabilization system is really sweet, and the lens gives wonderfully sharp images - much better than I was able to get with the 75-300.

It also costs about twice as much, but it's still within reason rather than being in the rarefied price range of the spectacular L glass.

Quote:
Hello,
I am looking into buying a lens for my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I bought it in January, and I have yet to buy another lens. I am looking into possibly buying the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 1:2 Auto Focus Macro Zoom Lens or the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Autofocus Telephoto Zoom Lens. Does anyone have either lens or have any information to share about either? Thanks.

I don't know what lens you now have, nor what you are interested in shooting. From your query on zooms-to-300mm, it sounds like sports. But I think you might want to take ChipDoc's advice to heart: the 28-135 [slightly wide-angle to more than 200mm in 35mm equivalence] covers the basic range for most general photography. If you can't afford the Canon, third-party lens-makers provide alternatives -- though none have IS and usually [but not always] are inferior to some degree in image quality. Sit down, write down exactly what you KNOW you want to photograph, then study like crazy various lens tests. Good Luck

I just wanted to comment that I am not buying the lens to shot sports, I'm not sure where the other person got that idea. I just want to get a longer lens so that I don't have to be so close to the subject to get a nice picture. It always seems that I am too far away from something, and it is not possible to get closer. I like to shot scenics, birds, animals, and flowers.

I am like the 17-40 f:4L and 300 f:4 L stabilized and 1.4X extender on my 20D.