18-250mm

I have come across a 18-250mm for around £180 now I would like a general use, are these worth it, in this kind of range I have the 18-55wr and 55-300 I do tend to prefer the 55-300, am I just succumbing to the LBA side of me or is this a real option that would have me leaving the previous mentioned at home?

It's very good for what it is, and you might leave the 18-55 at home. But the 55-300 is more capable and if you like what you get from that lens - especially at longer lengths - you may end up using the super zoom less than you hope.

In your shoes, I'd look for something completely different to enable you to do things your lenses can't. That would mean getting a faster lens for me - either something like the Sigma 17-70 macro (you will dump the 18-55, and the macro capability is very useful), or a proper macro lens that could also double as a portrait telephoto, or - and this would be my preference - a bag full of old manual focus primes. Only when you do the latter will you truly get in touch with your LBA side

A 14:1 Focal Length ratio is always going to compromise on image quality compared to zooms with a lower FL ratio, but you've got to weigh that up with with having a large range of focal lengths almost instantaneously on hand on one body.

Often getting the shot is more important than maximising IQ.

I borrowed one form a friend (thanks Mr. Bonney) for a holiday and as an all round lens it was great. As Smeggy says you will not get perfect picture quality but still very good IQ nonetheless. A very versatile lens that remained on the camera for almost the entire holiday.

Here are some Sample shots

Thanks, I have been thinking of getting it really for snapshots when paddling about with the family, as invariably have either on one isn't long enough the other not short enough, but to make my dilemma a bit worse now they have just received a pentax 17-70 in which I have been after for a wee while now.

I just cannot decide as the 55-300 has given me some crackers when out with the bairns and I haven't really had a chance to stretch its legs out on the fells yet, but the large super-zoom range does have its draw.

I never mentioned earlier and maybe should have, I do have a 90mm Tamron, for macro mainly, the 35mm f/2.4 and a couple other manual lens

Give a thought to the 18-135 although it might be a tad on the short side if your most used lens is the 55-300.

The 18-135 is my most used lens by far - the ergonomics are superb, the image quality pretty good and I believe better than the 18-250. My next most used lens is the 55-300, but nothing like as much as the 18-135 - the only drawback may be the cost.

Thanks for the input, have decided will get the 18-135 when I upgrade the camera, as for now succumbed to the 17-70, even with the 55-300 the shots of the family mainly under 90mm range (that took along time to go throught the exif, there must be an easier way to hunt this info)

download Exposure Plot just load a folder,full of images and you will have a bar graph of focal length,aperture,shutter speed and iso for the whole lot. excellent little tool. dont forget to set actual focal length as your requirement.

Nice one thank you, downloading now