I’m not an amazing photographer, but I do want the ability to take great pictures. Most of my pictures I take with a 35mm f/2.0 prime lens, which is great for getting those “feel like you’re there” shots. It also performs well in very low light situations. But you can’t reach out with it at all. So a picture of a bird on a tree is just a picture of a tree. So to (somewhat) round out my bag, I added this lens.
The only downside for me to this lens is that it does extend out when you’re fully zoomed in, so there’s nothing discreet about taking long shots, but if you get over that, then this is the perfect lens for your kit.
When I buy camera equipment, I shoot for solidly middle of the road. Not the cheap stuff but not the super fancy, drool over it type equipment. This lens fits that bill wonderfully. It’s Image Stabilized so helps keep your images sharp. And the 70-300mm range is great for reaching out but still letting you take shots of things happening in front of you without having to swap lenses.
Amazon.com $649