new lens brain ache..

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bluesilver

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Hi all,

I want to buy the Canon 24-70mm lens but no-one has it and the only info I can get from people is that it 'may' take 3 months or more for anyone to have one. But it could be a lot longer too. And I want my new lens soon.

So, my brain ache is this. I want to shoot family portraits but also weddings. I have a crop (7D) so I am aware of the crop factor that a 24mm has and for group shots it might be problematic, especially if I am in a confined area. But in all other aspects it would be a great portrait/wedding lens.

BUT...as the 24-70 is practically impossible to get hold of I thought I'd look at others that might suit as well. So the Canon 17-55 lens is meant to be good, but the new Sigma 17-50 sounds like it might be better and cheaper. But both give me little reach... aaaaaaaaaahhhh!!

Basically, I want a lens that has 2.8 aperture, that can do group shots without me standing half a mile back and is sharp enough to cut my grass!

Price wise, under £900 really.

any suggestions because I'm going :cuckoo:
 
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I think the 17-55 is the best ranged f2.8 you're going to get. You've got the sigma and tamron variants but all pretty much the same focal length.

If you're needing to go wider than 2* then it limits the lens a lot more. For weddings though the 17-55 should be ideal paired with a longer lens.
 
Thanks for this draiman, I am just a bit concerned about the lack of zoom....

I'll have a think...:thinking:
 
Your the same as me, I'm thinking 17-55 f2.8 and maybe the 70-200 f4, you may be able to get both second hand for around your budget if your lucky.
 
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I've phoned a few camera shops and they've all said that the 17-55 is just not as sharp as the 24-70, so I think in many ways there is just no point of getting it.. :bang:

I think I'm just going to have to wait for either the 24-70 to start being available to UK shops or more likely wait for the mk2 version to be released, which apparently is going to be on sale some time this year. Even tho reports that are appearing say that it has problems...hopefully they will be ironed out by the time of official release..

I'm just going to have to be patient..I wait 4 years to be able to afford the flippin thing and now no-one has one...:sulk:
 
find someone who wants a 5dII and buy the kit, you get the lens, they get the body
2 happy people, now you just need to find that person or shop willing to do a split
 
In stock at B&H for 1399 USD

900GBP X 1.6 (today's exchange) = 1440 USD so hits the mark there.

don't know all the details for ordering in the UK as I've only bought from them in the USA but there service is tops, I had bought a lens and later found out they had a instant rebate I was not aware of at the time I ordered. I emailed and with out hesitation they credited my bank account, and I returned two items because a newer version was available but only realized after order arrived (mkIII TCs) RMA issued via email next day no issues. Great service and they always have what I need. Andorama also shows 24-70 in stock, I think they are in Canada.
 
Thanks DucDuc.

After a huge amount of thought I have decided that with the new 24-70 HOPEFULLY coming out at some point this year I will wait for that. This will either force the prices of the origional one down or I will buy a new 24-70, whichever represents the best value for money. I just think that if I bought one now I could be:

(a) buying old stock
(b) paying too much at the moment
(c) some 24-70's seem to have quality control issues and I wonder if those are the ones that are mainly left in stock
(d) I think I would kick myself really hard if the new one is released in the next 4-6 months and I bought now.

So quite frustrated but I think :thinking: I'm doing the sensible thing..
 
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bluesilver said:
I've phoned a few camera shops and they've all said that the 17-55 is just not as sharp as the 24-70, so I think in many ways there is just no point of getting it.. :bang:

I think I'm just going to have to wait for either the 24-70 to start being available to UK shops or more likely wait for the mk2 version to be released, which apparently is going to be on sale some time this year. Even tho reports that are appearing say that it has problems...hopefully they will be ironed out by the time of official release..

I'm just going to have to be patient..I wait 4 years to be able to afford the flippin thing and now no-one has one...:sulk:
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I'm sceptical about the Canon 17-55 not being as sharp. If it really isn't as sharp, it's going to be something that only shows up on MTF charts and never in realworld images. It's supposed to be equal to or better than the Tamron 17-50 sharpness wise and superior in build quality and AF speed, and the Tamron outresolves the D7000 sensor IME, which is near the same density as the 7D's.

:shrug:
 
Yeah, I've never used the 17-55 IS, but it's supposed to be a great lens, just not the same build quality of the L lenses. Don't know what rumour is saying that there will be a 24-70 II, but even if there is and it has IS, it'll cost a fortune and probably won't affect prices of the 24-70 too much.

Also, on a crop camera the 17-55 is roughly the equivalent of 24-70 on full frame which I find a great length for most things. Use it most when I'm out and about.
 
I would suggest you go for the Tamron but if you're shooting weddings, I'd lean on the Canon 17-55 as the Tamron can hunt a little and is fairly noisy. Otherwise its a cracking lens and very affordable.

If Canon do offer a newer 24-70, you'd do well to get hold of one. I remember the new 70-200 2.8 IS II was impossible to get hold of for ages and it will never be near the £900 mark.

Furthermore, I think you'd really struggle with an effective range of 38mm-112mm at a wedding. I would personally get something like an 85mm 1.8 with the change left over from the Canon 17-55 2.8
 
Have you considered the Canon 15-85mm?

Using one on my 7D and I'm more than happy with the results :)
 
i hated the 24-70 length ona crop body... its so awkwardly long. I personally cant praise the tamron 17-50 non vc enough. my copy is razor sharp and quick to focus... shame i have to sell it as i am now full frame.
 
The canon 17-55 is designed for APS-C so the build quality isn't up to L standards bit from all the reviews I've read it's right up there. Unless you're planning on going FF I think this is a great choice. Check out Photozone.de for some very good reviews.
 
If the 24-70 is sharper than the 17-55 it must be some lens especially without the benefit of IS
 
tijuana taxi said:
If the 24-70 is sharper than the 17-55 it must be some lens especially without the benefit of IS
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IS doesn't make a lens sharper. Makes it more usuable, I agree. I have used both and to me the feel of the 17-55 just wasn't to the same standard. That said. When I only had my 50D the 24-70 was too long. I would recommend the 17-55 unless a move to FF is planned shortly.

Another lens is the tamron 17-55 is a cracker. I have seen the results and they are great.
 
I'm looking to buy a 24-70 for my 7D, I've found the length perfect for what I want if for.

Why is it taking you 3 months to get one? The stores I've been looking at have them in stock.
 
daveharlow said:
I'm looking to buy a 24-70 for my 7D, I've found the length perfect for what I want if for.

Why is it taking you 3 months to get one? The stores I've been looking at have them in stock.
Click to expand...

This is the thing its hard to say whats gonig ot be best for everyone, there isnt one fixed rule. When i used mine on crop with a 10-22, i was forever changing lenses.
 
daveharlow said:
I'm looking to buy a 24-70 for my 7D, I've found the length perfect for what I want if for.

Why is it taking you 3 months to get one? The stores I've been looking at have them in stock.
Click to expand...


Which stores have you been looking at that have them in stock for under 1K though? Lots have them listed, but from my experience practically none have them actually available to buy.. please give me a list and I'll investigate.

The 17-55 is very tempting..
 
33L said:
This is the thing its hard to say whats gonig ot be best for everyone, there isnt one fixed rule. When i used mine on crop with a 10-22, i was forever changing lenses.
Click to expand...

That's very true, I want one for portraits, my little boy is starting to grow up fast & the focal length the 24-70 offers after I hired one is spot on, I have a nifty fifty but found myself forever having to take a step back, I'd like another prime, I also hired a 35L but my budget really won't stretch that far!
 
ok - having now considered things more - the 17-55 lens seems like a fine option instead of the canon 24-70..

Now tho is the next connundrum..which one. Canon, Sigma or Tamron..I know this is thread is escalating but it seems like a lot of people are in the same boat and this thread might be useful for a lot of people so I thought it might be good to try and work out a ranking system for the 3 main lenses

Now I know price is key, but forgetting price for a moment, which is the best lens in regard to:

(a) sharpness

(b) flare control

(c) fast AF?


Now, the really hard question...

Compared to the Canon 24-70 how close to the quality is it?
 
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