help me on sub 500 lens quandry for 40d

• davgtrek

  Participant

  September 9, 2008 at 4:04 pm

  Hi all.
  I have a 40d , 10-22 & 50 lens.
  I have agonised over a new zoom lens choice. ( trying to keep this post short ) Whilst the obvious may be the 17-85IS I feel it is over priced and maybe not for me. My budget is max 500 and there are a few sigma,tamron lens that I feel represent better value and better choices. However I find it difficult to let the IS go. I have no experience with IS on an SLR but have had a s2is in the past. I see its advantages at bigger zooms but feel in the 17-85 that I am paying a lot for the IS to compensate for a lower quality lens when IS may be most advantageous from 60-85. ( haven’t needed it on my 50mm ). The build copy quality that is trumpeted a lot on forums for tam & sig is also a concern however there are considerable savings and a range of
  f2.8 lens available in these makes over the 17-85 canon.
  I do not manual focus ( yet ) and will have cam outside 2-3 times a week.
  So not major hard life for lens planned.
  FF is not a short term goal.

  I have the usual shortlist that all seeking the best budget lens have.
  These are all available for 300-400 euro.

  Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di-II LD ASP IF Lens
  Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 SP AF Di Lens

  Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro Lens
  Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX DG Macro Lens
  Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 EX DG Lens

  Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro Lens ( being only lens slower )
  Canon 17-85 IS ( being the main attraction for canon make and copy quality but that’s about it )

  My interests are Architecture, Macro & family shots of kids etc.
  I don’t usually carry round tripod. I always PP 90% of shots.
  I will usually carry 10-22 most places in bag.
  Warranty’s here are standard 1 year for all makes.

  Can anyone help me or advise me on their 1,2,3 from above list.
  Ideally if you have any of above then let me know what the real life cons are as I have all reviews read for these anyway but real feedback is vital for me.

  Thanks

  P
  suspectmonkey

  Member

  September 9, 2008 at 4:29 pm

  I’m in the same situation at the moment and after over a month of reading reviews, checking spec’s and making pro/con lists I am still no closer to actually buying a replacement for my 18-55 kit lens. Well to say I am no closer isn’t quite true as I have almost got it narrowed down to two: the Sigma 17-70 and the Sigma 24-70. To be honest I will most likely go for the 24-70 as the F2.8 constant appeals to me and I intend to get the Sigma 10-20 at some stage as well so that would give me good converage from wide to standard zoom lengths.

  I understand what you are saying about the Canon 17-85 and the price and the fairly negative reviews have put me off buying it. That said the IS appeals and to be honest I don’t know if I should read too much in to the test chart results when a search on Flickr for EF-S 17-85 will yeild some pretty impressive photos taken with one. Sorry that doesnt help you get any closer to an answer but at least you know I’m in the same boat and have the list down to 2/3 lenses :D
  davgtrek

  Participant

  September 9, 2008 at 9:06 pm

  Strange thing all this research and head scratching is over 3 or 400 euro.
  i spent half a day searching for a 10k second hand car a few months ago.
  doesn’t make any sense at all really.

  I have the 10-22 canon for wide stuff so sorted there.

  Yea suspectmonkey.. i suspect 80% of the reviews are created by pixel peepers.
  I also suspect that those who know just plump/save up for the L lens and get on with their photography.

  why did u rule out the tamron 18-50. it gets great reviews too.

  problem with being in Ireland and invariably buiyiong online is if you get a dodgy copy of the lens its real pain in the ass stuff shipping back and forward to england or EU or wherever.

  P