It's all about the glass (Canon fit)

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Matt
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Hello to everyone. Now that I've had a good few years under my belt with DSLRs, I've learnt the (financially) hard way that you can upgrade bodies to the latest model as much as you like, but if the lens is mush, the shot is mush. There are a couple of changes that I would like to make to my lens lineup with an improvement to the images produced. My hobby work is transport photography mainly, mixed in with some landscapes and family photos. Work wise I do weddings and events and also promotional photos for transport operators. I've read a fistful of reviews on fredmiranda.com and am struggling to choose between Canons 24-70 f2.8 and Tamrons 28-75 f2.8. The Canon is rated at 9.3, the Tamron 8.7 but the Canon gets marked down on value for money. The Tamron is around £350, the Canon is £1020 and that's a BIG difference! The Tamron would work full frame if I ever went that route, as would the Canon. So, I need to know if the Canon really does make the treble price count, because I'm after images with near enough no compromise, not a 'considering it's £350' point of view. I'm also after something in the range 70-200 f2.8 where again the price of the Canon L vastly exceeds all of the competition (haven't decided on IS, but that's more cash!).

All advice will be taken on board, I've looked around at lots of tests too, some saying one thing, others saying another, it's just so confusing. After all, I can ill afford to overspend by £1000, but I don't want to save money only for my images to suffer.

Thanks
 
I have a similar dilemma and have probably read similar reviews. I am lusting after some "L" glass but wonder if it is just for the sake of it! Some side by side comparison pics I couldn't tell much difference when the full shot was viewed but could see on the 100% crop. I guess it depends how big you want to print the pictures on that basis...

On a different note, onestopdigital have the tamron for £250 at the mo. That red ring does look cool though!!
 
If I spend a grand on the Canon L I have a feeling the lens won't be the only one with a red ring, the wife has very pointy shoes. Are onestopdigital a reliable place that don't do import stuff???
 
They are HK based but promise to pay any vat back. They have loads of reviews in the Shopping and bargains section. At least if you are using the lens for work you can claim at least 20% tax relief on it. That may help justify it to the wife if stiletto surgery is threatened!!
 
PM Kerso on here for a price on the 24-70 L, he is an advertiser on here and his prices are usually very good.

The 24-70 is a beast of a lens, very heavy, quite big. But i doubt many people (including me) regret buying one. I had a Tamron 28-75 and wasnt that impressed with it, is the Canon 3 x better, in build quality definitely, image quality depends if you pixel peep i suppose.
 
I'm in a similar position - want the 24-70L f2.8 but too expensive. I was looking at the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 instead?
 
Thanks for the advice Euan. I've been digging around a bit more and am alos hearing favourable things about the Sigma 24-60 f2.8, my main worry is I don't want another front or back focussing lens giving me grief, especially as this would be the workhorse lens at a wedding. PS - I shoot with 2x EOS 450D currently, so crop sensor only lenses not currently an issue.
 
I'm surprised that you are asking this question, given your opening gambit. I think you know the answer, but don't want to pay the price that goes with it ;)

If you shoot at mid-range apertures, you will not be able to distinguish between the Canon and Sigma in terms of IQ. The difference comes at lower f/numbers, and at the edges of the frame. Plus focusing speed, plus better IS (on other lenses), better build, weather proofing etc, plus that very important L-factor that few will admit to but is undoubtedly part of the pleasure of ownership.

Perhaps to cheer you up a bit, or maybe just as a bit of defensive ammo for the missus, check out the used prices - Canon L lenses hold their value really well.

Then buy from kerso - he's a well respected independent importer on here, gets stuff from the US but they carry full UK warranty. Check out his feedback in the For Sale section. You'll need to check the latest price with him, but it will be around £875 for a 24-70L. Send a PM to kerso

Edit: if you're after a walkabout-range lens on a crop camera, EF-S 17-55 2.8 is at least as sharp as any L, plus it runs f/2.8 throughout and has IS. You can't get anywhere near that spec on a lens that has to cover the full frame format.
 
Having the same dilema here re the 24-70L - I currently own the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 and although its very sharp and produces great images I occasionally get some odd colours from it - I hear the Canon is much better for colour rendition... For that reason alone I am tempted to sell the Tamron and spend the extra £675 on the Canon L. Kerso's price is currently £875 as suggested by Hoppy.
 
You're right in that I'm 90% sure the answer is L all the way. I'll message kerso and ask, plenty of mention all the time so I have confidence in everyone on here enough to not need the feedback thread. I have to raise funds first though, that and flights out to Australia for a family wedding that I'm the shooter for. I have a feeling it'll have to be one of the third party lenses due to the money/time compromise and then get the L later on.

Thanks for all the help, if only I had more time free to promote and get more work going it could be possible, but the tog work is currently an aside to full time employment, and it's hard striking a balance currently.
 
If you are planning on staying with a crop camera as Hoppy says you will be very hard pushed to beat the 17-55 IS. Its a fair bit cheaper than the 24-70, doesnt have the build quality or the red line round the end but is very very sharp.
 
Scarecrow said:
One of the cheaper places I found when looking for my 24-70 was the Camera Centre in Cardiff. http://www.cameracentrecardiff.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=39&products_id=509

They were cheaper than Kerso's quoted prices (unless he does a discount if you speak to him directly).
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I'm another one about to buy this lens, have decided on the Canon but ntot quite enough pennies yet. Kerso quoted me last week and he was much cheaper than the camera centre in cardiff - thanks for the link though, will keep an eye on them when looking for new stuff.
Pip
 
I was typing a reply eariler to this thread and decided against it after 3 drafts and it still sounded stupid.

Anyway, I had sent my mind on the EF-S 17-55 due to the reviews. Then thought well I should look to the future and it will hold a full frame body I'm sure so thought 24-105 f/4L due to the weight of the 24-70. I went to the US and tried to buy a 24-105, fortunatly sold out everywhere. I had about a grand to spend and was looking 24-105 and a 70-200 both f/4 I thought I would have been sorted with those.

When I got home a mate said you can never have too much light getting to the sensor, too much you can compensate with faster shutter but too little and your shutter needs slowing and the chance of blur and so on and I thought yeah he was so right. I was then asked if I would shoot at a wedding a day later. That was the point I contacted Kerso and ordered a 24-70 and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Budget blown out of the water more than twice what I planned to spend spent but it was the best decision I made, I know I wouldn't have the remorse of thinking I should have bought the other lens, ok I spent more than I wanted but I had the cash sat in a savings acount earning peanuts due to pants interest.

The problem is now I want a wider lens as I'm on a crop sensor and the same thing is rearing its head, first thoughts were sigma 10-20, then the red ring of the 17-40 f/4 and now the budget blowing 16-35 f/2.8.

Back to the 24-70, its awesome, I rarley take it off the camera now. I think buying the tamron you will loose a fair whack in depreciation which doesn't seem to be as high with canon L lenses.
 
Pippy_Neville said:
I'm another one about to buy this lens, have decided on the Canon but ntot quite enough pennies yet. Kerso quoted me last week and he was much cheaper than the camera centre in cardiff - thanks for the link though, will keep an eye on them when looking for new stuff.
Pip
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Actually I've just checked their site again, and they are now £90 dearer than when I bought mine, and that was only 3 or 4 weeks ago. :eek:
 
I really regretted buying my 24-70L for the first few weeks, then I started to get used to it, and now am smitten.

I'm not sure on my next two body's yet, perhaps a 1DIIn and a 5D, so I'll hold on the 17-55 for the moment.
 
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