topic Re: How important is IS? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

How important is IS?

hawksbjammin — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 05:25:11 GMT

EOS Rebel T5 bundle with 2 lenses, etc. for $500 seems like a pretty good buy. 70-300 lens lacks IS. Getting the same basic stuff with IS lens would cost about $175 more. Bundle will be a gift for 14-year-old daughter - first "real" camera. Is getting IS worth the additional $$? Thanks for considering.

Re: How important is IS?

jrhoffman75 — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 12:42:15 GMT

In my opinion, for a teenager's first camera I would not pay a 35% premium for an IS lens.

Re: How important is IS?

RobertTheFat — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 13:48:55 GMT

I'm having a little trouble figuring out what the options are. The Canon site lists three 70-300 lenses, two of them a good deal more expensive, but all with IS. Is the proposed lens a refurb? Or even not a Canon lens?

Re: How important is IS?

ebiggs1 — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:36:06 GMT

By all means make sure you are getting real Canon stuff. Don't even consider any of the "packages" offered by some retailers that have off-brand lenses with them. They are cheap for a reason. Bad!

Now my take on whether you should buy IS or not buy IS. If there is a lens out there and I want it, if it does NOT have IS, I will still buy it and give it no thought. Remember for most of our photography shooting liftime, there was no IS. We did just fine without it. However, if that lens I am interested in has a twin brother, as many do, that has IS, I will always go for the one with IS.

IS is not and end all. That is why it has a on and off switch.

Re: How important is IS?

ebiggs1 — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:44:19 GMT

Check this out. Rebel T5 with kit lenses <---click here.

This is just an example. You can find this kit at several places. Like Canon, Adorama, Best Buy, Cosco, etc.

Re: How important is IS?

hawksbjammin — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:32:12 GMT

thanks, ebiggs1. The package I've been looking at is a bit different:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/canon-eos-rebel-t5-dslr-camera-with-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lenses-black/1004002.p?id=1219459331617&skuId=1004002

It's also sold by several big-box retailers. I think my questionis whether I should give us IS on the smaller lens in the package you linked to in exchange for a larger lens and camera bag.

Re: How important is IS?

hawksbjammin — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:33:25 GMT

Robert,

Here's the package I'm looking at - pretty sure it's all Canon stuff:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/canon-eos-rebel-t5-dslr-camera-with-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lenses-black/1004002.p?id=1219459331617&skuId=1004002

Re: How important is IS?

RobertTheFat — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 16:13:05 GMT

@hawksbjammin wrote:
Robert,

Here's the package I'm looking at - pretty sure it's all Canon stuff:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/canon-eos-rebel-t5-dslr-camera-with-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lenses-black/1004002.p?id=1219459331617&skuId=1004002

Well, OK, but that package has a 75-300 lens, not the 70-300 you mentioned in your original article. They're different animals. And the two versions of the 75-300 differ from each other, as I read the specs, not in whether either has IS (neither does), but in the speed of the autofocus motor. My take would be that for your daughter's purposes, a faster autofocus motor would be worth more than IS. If that's actually the choice you're facing.

You'd better be sure you've done your homework before making a final decision.

Re: How important is IS?

cicopo — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 17:47:01 GMT

There's more to the cost difference than IS alone. There are reviews of both here that may provide some guidance but considering it's a gift & maybe their first attempt at photography using a changable lens system they may very well just be happy with the extra range.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/27/page/2/sort/7/perpage/20/stype/

Re: How important is IS?

TCampbell — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:04:25 GMT

AHHHH! It's the 75-300mm...

Canon's 70-300's are pretty decent lenses. But the 75-300 is an ecnonomically priced lens and they do (or rather don't do) a lot ot keep that price point low for entry-level use.

The image quality (if compared to other zooms) will be the weakest in the line-up.

The real question becomes... how will the camera be used (e.g. what are the typical types of subjects that it will be used for.) If it were being purchased primarily for, say, birding... then that would imply the long telephoto zoom would live on the camera most of the time and you'd want to carefully consider the quality. "Action" photography (sports, wildlife in action, etc.) are pretty demanding on equipment as well.

But for typical every-day photography (indoor shots, shots out in the park, walking about town, vacations, etc.) then the long lens would probably only occasionally be used and it's not necessarily worthwile to spend a lot on a lens you hardly ever use (btw, you *can* rent lenses if you have an occasion for which you want to make sure you have good glass.)

Re: How important is IS?

hawksbjammin — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:30:35 GMT

Thanks, very helpful.

Re: How important is IS?

hawksbjammin — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:30:59 GMT

Thank you for replying. Very helpful.

Re: How important is IS?

hawksbjammin — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:31:44 GMT

Guess we're quickly uncovering my lack of camera knowledge (or even ability to accurately report what I'm looking at.) I appreciate your help very much.

Re: How important is IS?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:42:33 GMT

"... we're quickly uncovering my lack of camera knowledge ..."

We were all there at one time!

The link I gave you and the package it offers is a way better deal and buy for you and your new photographer. You are about to start her on a fantastic, either hobby or career. She will be entering the wonderful world of phtography.

Re: How important is IS?

Skirball — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 21:15:54 GMT

The package that eBiggs linked, with the 55 -250, is a far better lens, but unless there's a deal on it I'm not seeing the package is also 50% more than what you're looking at. That's a significant difference in price.

If you are looking for something around the $500 mark you can get the same kit from B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1040758-REG/canon_eos_rebel_t5_dslr.html

I highly recommend buying from someone like B&H over Best Buy when it comes to camera equipment.

Re: How important is IS?

Skirball — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:56:00 GMT

Just saw this come up:

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras/eos-sl1-18-55-is-stm-lens-kit-refurbished?WT.mc_id=C126149

It's a SL1, which is smaller than the normal rebels, but it's a better camera than the T5 that you're looking at. And a 14 year old girl might like the smaller size. It's refurbished, but comes straight from Canon with a full warranty. I wouldn't recommend used, but I have no issue with refurbished. Some do though.

It's only $350, with that savings you could buy the 55-250 too. In fact, here's the previous generation of the lens for $130:

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses/ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-56-is-ii-refurbished

And here's the latest version, with some improved optics (but work AF system in my opinion):

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses/ef-s-55-250mm-f4-5-6-is-stm-telephoto-zoom-lens-refurbished