Budget 50mm - 70mm starting point zooms for Canon

[LongQ]

Looking for some quick breif input here.

A freind has a Canon 400D with kit lens. Wants something with a bit more reach but does not want to commit too much cash. Absolute quality not currently seen as a necessity, just something to provide acceptable tele facilities.

I'm thinking 50/55 - 200/250, 70-200, 70/75-300.

So, no L spec glass!

There are some fairly inexpensive offerings (below £200) from Sigma and Tamron and a couple around the £200 mark from Canon. Are any of these, within the constraints described above, bargains and obvious selections? Or are any to be avoided as if they came with pig flu for free?

What does the P&V brains trust have to offer no this subject?

Thanks for any suggestions and observations.

BTW he is in Majorca at the moment and I suspect might buy out there - anything especially good or bad about price comparisons for buying in Euros in Spain?

[Gold]

Canon 55-250mm IS is accepted as being one of the best value for money lenses in the Canon range and having bought one I can attest to that, you just have to learn to work with the autofocus not against it! The image quality however is great and the IS is fantastic.

[jon-]

You just need to give him 6 months then he'll be sure the 70-200 f2.8 IS is the only option!

[outnumbered]

Gold said:

Canon 55-250mm IS is accepted as being one of the best value for money lenses in the Canon range and having bought one I can attest to that, you just have to learn to work with the autofocus not against it! The image quality however is great and the IS is fantastic.

+1 for that. The build quality is about the same as the kit lens (so not great...) but it works very well, and you can't argue with the price.

[LongQ]

OK, that was one lens I forgot when I was talking to him earlier, though remembered it just after we finished the call.

I had seen variable comments previously but concluded that it seemed to be reasonable value for trhe money. Also it would leave him with no serious gaps in range whereas I find a lack of anything in the 50-70 area can be a little furstating in some situations, espcecially when the 'gap' is that little bt bigger on a cropped sensor.

Thanks for the advice. Any more suggestion or observations? Anyone got one of the rally low cost lenses - say a Tamron or Sigma 70-300 that comes in just over the £100 mark?

Edited by LongQ on Friday 31st July 23:43