Lenses - canon, sigma, tamron

[Yisehaq]

Hey Guys,
I am trying to buy some gears and I am doing some research before I make my decisons. I have previously asked about cameras and now I have decided on 50D.

This time it's on lenses.
Is there any significant difference between canon, sigma and tamron standard zoom lenses, say for example 75-300 non-IS? Is it worth paying for canon which seems more extra money.

[scorpio_e]

I have a Tamron 28 to 75. I use it on almost everything I shoot. It is a sweet lens. Constant F2.8. It is a bit noisy when focusing but heck the equivalent L lens is close to 1200.

Every lens manufactured has good lenses and bad ones. You have to do a lot of research !!!

Canon 70 to 200 F4 L...SWEET!!!!!
Canon 70 to 300 non IS ...JUNK
Canon 70 to 300 IS Good

The canon 28 to 105 is a pretty good lens.. Had it sold it
The Canon 28 to 135 IS... Not so good...Had it sold it.

I have the

Sigma 10 22.. Great lens
Canon 85 1.8 SWEET
Tamron 28 to 75 SWEET
Canon 20 to 200 F4 L SWEET

Research before you buy ANY lens:)

[Marko]

Scorpio is BANG on here.
Research every lens you intend to buy.
Although I have mostly name brand lenses (Nikon or Canon) I also have the same Tamron lens as scorpio and it's awesome.

I'd say...if what people think is not at all important to you...there's no real reason to buy name brand lenses.
3rd party lenses are MUCH cheaper and chances are that some company will offer a decent lens (again DO the research) at the focal length that you are looking for. http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/ and http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/index.php (3rd party and major brands) and http://www.kenrockwell.com (major brands) are just 3 of many places that review lenses

Hope that helps - Marko

[casil403]

I have that Sigma 10-22 and it's my fave lens these days...I love to wide angle!
It's awesome!

[squirl033]

i have two lenses that i use 99% of the time... a Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L, which i use with my 40D for wildlife, and a Tamron SP 24-135 f/3.5-5.6, an outstanding all-around lens that resides on my 5D. i have other lenses, but these two do everything i need, pretty much.

every manufacturer has good and not-so-good lenses. Canon's "L" glass is usually VERY good, but also very expensive. Sigma makes some very good lenses in comparable focal lengths for substantially less money, and if you get one of their top-of-the-line lenses, and it's a "good" one, it will perform right up there with the Canon "L" lenses. but their quality can be spotty, and i've heard of people having to send Sigma lenses back 2 or 3 times to get them to work just right. i used a Sigma EX80-400 (now discontinued) for a couple of years with superb results, until an unfortunate accident relegated it to emergency back-up duty behind my 100-400L. personally, i've had mixed results with Tamron - the SP 24-135 is just excellent, in spite of lacking IS and USM, but is no longer listed in their lineup. their SP 17-35 f/2.8-4 works great on crop bodies, but totally sucks lemons on my 5D. moral of the story... read the reviews, do your research, and shop around.

one added point... do not scrimp on lenses. get the best lenses you can afford right up front. "bargain" lenses do not provide the clarity, sharpness, and contrast that top-grade glass offers, and if you try to get by on the cheap, you'll only wind up disappointed and buying the good stuff later on anyway. a cheap lens in front of a good digital body is like having 20/20 vision and putting a plastic sandwich bag over your eyes. don't waste the money.

also, if you can, avoid lenses that only work on APS-c bodies - choose lenses that will work on FF cameras as well, so that if you move up to a full-frame body in the future, you won't have to buy new lenses for it.

here are a couple of more sites to check for information and reviews...
http://lens-reviews.com/
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/2

[Yisehaq]

Thank you all very much for your input. I will do my research.......

[Yisehaq]

I did some research and I have short listed the following lens based on affordability.
Canon 17-85 IS
Canon 18-200 IS
Canon 28-135 IS USM

I already have a sigma 75-300 APO DG 3.5-5.6 lens Which I find is okay.

Looking at Adorama and B&H the 28-135 is sold with the 50D for a total price around USD 1200 and I am thinking about that.
But I thought may be a bit longer for the wider side. 28 X 1.6.
Therefore, may be 17-85 is better.
I think these lenses provide close price vs value ratios.


kindly waiting what you think.

[Marko]

are you thinking about buying all 3 or just one of the three?
These lenses have different focal lengths so they will offer different perspectives...but they all overlap...I'm a bit confused on these choices.

[Yisehaq]

Thanks Marko,

Not all three but I am looking for one walk-about lens (a mid range zoom). I already have a 75-300 sigma which I am planning to keep. I short llisted those three from what I found when I research (price being an issue). Any other, suggestion is welcome.

I am going to buy a 50D and I am not planning to spend much on lens this time around.

[AntZ]

I did some research and I have short listed the following lens based on affordability.
Canon 17-85 IS
Canon 18-200 IS
Canon 28-135 IS USM

I already have a sigma 75-300 APO DG 3.5-5.6 lens Which I find is okay.

Looking at Adorama and B&H the 28-135 is sold with the 50D for a total price around USD 1200 and I am thinking about that.
But I thought may be a bit longer for the wider side. 28 X 1.6.
Therefore, may be 17-85 is better.
I think these lenses provide close price vs value ratios.


kindly waiting what you think.

Is the 17-85 IS the EFS lens? If so that was the kit lens with my 40D. It is the only lens I have in that range, and while not up to the quality of my 70-200 f/2.8L lens it the lens I use the most for general photography. Really the only thing it lacks s a large aperture. f4.0 max and f5.6 for much of the range, I find I have to use flash as times where I would prefer not. For the price I don't know of an alternative.

[Marko]

Given the lens you have already, if the Canon 17-85 IS gets great reviews it's the one I would choose. That way you carry two totally different lenses with the least overlap and have a large focal range covered. Jmo though.

[Yisehaq]

Thank you Antz and Marko,
for now it will be 17-85 IS and I will start saving for a better lenses. :( :(

[ArtTwisted]

backing up the Tamron here, my 17-50 which i got for 375 mint with the hoya thrown in is wicked sharp. As long as you dont need fast auto focus and dont mind a plastic lens (still sturdy though) id say Tamron.

[dulvari prestige]

Have you looked at sigma's 17-70 2.8-4.0 OS HSM, great lens for the money.

[Wenddyr]

Scorpio is BANG on here.
Research every lens you intend to buy.
Although I have mostly name brand lenses (Nikon or Canon) I also have the same Tamron lens as scorpio and it's awesome.

I'd say...if what people think is not at all important to you...there's no real reason to buy name brand lenses.
3rd party lenses are MUCH cheaper and chances are that some company will offer a decent lens (again DO the research) at the focal length that you are looking for. Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/) Camera Lens (http://www.tmart.com/Camera-Lens/) and FM Reviews - (http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/index.php) (3rd party and major brands) and KenRockwell.com: Photography, Cameras and Taking Better Pictures (http://www.kenrockwell.com/) Camerafilters (http://www.tmart.com/Camera-Filters/) (major brands) are just 3 of many places that review lenses

Hope that helps - Marko

Yeah, i agree with you. :D