topic Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i in Gear Guide

Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

connor_y123 — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:24:53 GMT

Hey everyone! I’m a 17-year-old amateur photographer currently shooting on a Canon EOS Rebel T3i, and I’m looking for advice on a good telephoto lens upgrade. I’ve been saving money from working a summer job for the past year, and I only have around $700 total to spend.

I mainly shoot:

Sports
Events

Right now I’m trying to find something with:

Good zoom range
Sharp image quality
Decent autofocus

Since I’m an amateur and don’t have unlimited money, I’d really appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks so much!

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

ebiggs1 — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:32:05 GMT

Well $700 isn't going to buy much new. The best you can do is a used Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. A good used copy should be in your wheelhouse. The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG is another choice and would be my second choice and might be a little cheaper. Either will serve you well.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

ebiggs1 — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:35:11 GMT

BTW, IMHO, avoid going the tel-con route even though some may suggest it. There is no free lunch in photography you always give up something to get something. Always.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Tintype_18 — Sun, 17 May 2026 16:40:41 GMT

I have the Sigma 150-600mm lens. What photos will you be shooting that requires a telephoto lens?

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Waddizzle — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:10:03 GMT

“

mainly shoot:

Sports
Events

Right now I’m trying to find something with:

Good zoom range
Sharp image quality
Decent autofocus

Since I’m an amateur and don’t have unlimited money, I’d really appreciate any recommendations.“

Hello/1 Welcome to the forums.

First and foremost, there isn’t a single lens that can do it all. If there were, then there would not be a variety of lenses to choose from each manufacturer. Shooting sports, I assume outdoor sports, requires a lens that has a very different focal range compared to one used for invents, I assume indoor events.

Let’s start with what lenses do you currently have. It is likely that one or more could be suitable for indoor events.

As for outdoor sports, I think you could do well with a used lens. I would suggest something in the 70-200mm family of lenses, which will give you a focal range similar to using a 100–400mm on a full frame lens.

I would recommend shopping for a Canon EF 70-200mm, Canon has released a handful of variants over the years. Purchase form a reputable used camera dealer. Not eBay or any other online marketplace. I use KEH.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Waddizzle — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:20:01 GMT

i just found this at KEH.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

LeeP — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:35:54 GMT

^^THIS^^

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

stevet1 — Mon, 18 May 2026 13:26:31 GMT

connor_y123,

Another suggestion might be the 55-250mm.

It might not have the reach of the 400 or 500mm range, but it's well within your budget.

For years, it was the only lens I had.

Steve Tmas

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

ebiggs1 — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:40:37 GMT

"Another suggestion might be the 55-250mm."

"I would recommend shopping for a Canon EF 70-200mm, ..."

"I mainly shoot:

Sports
Events"

OP,

You post is pretty vague. However, if you intend on shooting any outdoor sports I.E. soccer, football, baseball, track, etc., 200mm FL isn't going to be enough. It does depend on what you are satisfied with since it may not be what I would consider to be good and OK.

"...there isn’t a single lens that can do it all."

So true but don't we wish. Most of us real enthusiasts carry three lenses almost all the time and some more. Myself, I always have my Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens and my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens. If I am in need a fourth lens the Sigma 150-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens goes along.

If I had to choose just one lens and one lens is all I could afford and sports was in my wheelhouse it would be the big Siggy. Especially if you got the standard kit lens along with your Rebel T3i.

If you could be a bit more specific on exactly what you want the lens for it would help a great deal with recommendations.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

ebiggs1 — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:53:50 GMT

"It might not have the reach of the 400 or 500mm range, but it's well within your budget."

Making the decision based solely on "it's well within your budget." is almost certainly going to guarantee you will buy the wrong lens. Of course money is an important factor, it has to be a weighted factor. Saving a bit longer and getting what you really need is a better course.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

LeeP — Mon, 18 May 2026 15:17:10 GMT

"It might not have the reach of the 400 or 500mm range, but it's well within your budget."

A person should stay within their budget. If the lens is within your budget, it's the "right" lens.

Not everyone has unlimited resources to keep up with the cameras as jewelry crowd.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Waddizzle — Mon, 18 May 2026 17:46:33 GMT

“ You post is pretty vague. However, if you intend on shooting any outdoor sports I.E. soccer, football, baseball, track, etc., 200mm FL isn't going to be enough. It does depend on what you are satisfied with since it may not be what I would consider to be good and OK.”

A 70-200mm on a crop sensor would be equivalent to a 116-360mm, which worked great on my 7D2. However, I was shooting from the sidelines, not the stands.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

LeeP — Mon, 18 May 2026 20:12:03 GMT

^^THIS^^

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

connor_y123 — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:22:02 GMT

I'm primarily a swimming photographer.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

connor_y123 — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:23:20 GMT

I'm trying to get into concert photography and currently do some sports photography

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

stevet1 — Tue, 19 May 2026 03:14:55 GMT

Connor_y123,

I was lucky enough to have been gifted a Canon 18-135mm f/3.5 -5.6 IS USM lens a while back.

It stays on my T8i camera maybe 90-95% of the time. It's a sharp, well rounded lens that can be used in a variety of situations. It has image stabilization and sells for about $600 now.

It's an EF-S lens, which means it was made for crop sensor cameras like your T3i or my T8i.

Steve Thomas

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Waddizzle — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:56:05 GMT

“ I'm primarily a swimming photographer.“

Reset. What lenses do you currently own? From where, what shooting location, do you use for swimming?

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

ebiggs1 — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:23:33 GMT

"Not everyone has unlimited resources to keep up with the cameras as jewelry crowd."

Even more of a reason to not buy solely on," If the lens is within your budget, it's the "right" lens."

You could buy a 50mm f1.8 which is within almost everybody's budget but if shooting the Moon is your goal no matter how "within the budget" it is, it is a total waste of limited money supply.

Re: Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS Rebel T3i

ebiggs1 — Tue, 19 May 2026 14:34:15 GMT

"A 70-200mm on a crop sensor would be equivalent to a 116-360mm,..."

Well I certainly have no objection to anyone buying a 70-200mm and it might do a reasonable job with football and/or soccer, etc., and if swimming is the op's goal it should work well. I did swim meets about 50😁 years ago and that is what I used. Actually a Vivitar 70-210mm F/4.5.