I hope you use a tripod with lense mount... I wouldn't be able to hold that too steady without one! Remember it's not the size of the lense but how you use it. I remember my wife saying something like that to me on our honeymoon!!

 

actually that size isn't too bad at all handheld, looks about the size of my 55-250, maybe a bit bigger.

With new lenses, the amazing thing is IS or OS (image or optical stabilization). I can get a really steady shot as full zoom on the 250 and gain back 2-3 stops handheld with the 18-55. I love my 60mm f2.8 macro, but without the IS I don't want to use it a lot. Getting a 50mm f1.8 that should be great in some low light too!

 

It is a 70-300 f 4.6. The next one will go to 500mm. That is about all the budget can handle. After that the glass gets a little "spendy". My son works in a camera shop, so I have him watching for a deal on a used lens, as this one was ($100).

 

good deal and sounds like my budget too. I don't go for any expensive L glass or anything, too many hobbies to support. After the 50mm f1.8 (only $100 for a fast good prime) I really want to get a good walking around lens. I found a sigma 18-250, so that I can just carry one lens, but the reviews were mixed. I just hate lens changes when I am out hiking etc.

 

Since I have a Sigma camera, and no one else makes glass for them, I'm stuck with them. That being said I'm happy with the 28-300, and really happy with the 17-35 I have for it. I have some Sigma glass for my Minolta, and it's on par for it's price point.