[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1287972253' post='3765']
Welcome! I guess this is your first lens in this range and you want to give it a try? If you're concerned about IQ, there are better and more serious lenses out there. So, asking which 70-300 is better is like comparing which brand of instant noodles is better <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> So if I were you, I'd get the cheapest one to get a feel of it and then save my money so I can put it towards something better in a more specific focal length that I might like in that zoom range.
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Not everybody uses lenses the same way as you do. Not everybody is willing to lug around a heavy f/2.8 pro zoom for stopped down landscape shooting. Not everybody is made of money - but they still have a right to get the best lens for the money (for them, it probably matters more than for those made of money). IMO, the 70-300 VR & Co. are excellent for the prize, size, and weight. No, they're not up there with a fast prime, but sometimes, they're the right tool for the job...
Being a snob doesn't make you a better photographer, and it doesn't make you more helpful either...