Replacement for my kit lens?

BIGEYE

BIGEYE

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Jim
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I am considering an upgrade of my 18-55mm kit lens for my Canon 500D. As I am on a budget, I was considering the Sigma 17-70 mm f2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM.
Any opinions on this lens?

Thanks
 
A good choice for a budget upgrade, the 17-70 has a great reputation
 
BIGEYE said:
I am considering an upgrade of my 18-55mm kit lens for my Canon 500D. As I am on a budget, I was considering the Sigma 17-70 mm f2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM.
Any opinions on this lens?

Thanks
Click to expand...

How do you find the focal length of the kit lens? And why are you upgrading? That will help point in the right direction!

You have two real options, you can either add some extra length (e.g. Sigma 17-70), or speed (Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Sigma 18-50 f/2.8). I went for the speed option as I was struggling with low light situations at the time, and don't use the long end all that much (that's what the 70-200 is for!).

So, length or speed, that is the question :)

Chris
 
My dad has that lens and he is very chuffed with it. He had the non OS version before and he said that the quality is as good but when you pixel peep there is more detail in the OS version. Well worth the money!

I have the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 non VC version which is good and the constant f2.8 is great! Sometimes i wish i had gone for the Sigma!
 
I have the 70-200, and was thinking that the 17-70 would compliment this. Now that you mention it, how often will I use the gap between the 50 and 70. The speed option may be better...which one Tamron or Sigma?
 
I use this lens on my 50D and am very happy with the results, would not hesitate to recommend it to you :thumbs:
 
I have that vrsion of the Sigma and its an excellent lens, check out my flickr,most of the recent pages were taken with this lens.

The one thing I do find lacking is not having 2.8 throughout the zoom range. I find the extra 20mm doesnt give me much more but im into my landscape shots so I would say that!

Tamron 18-50 2.8 would be my choice if I had to choose again.
 
BIGEYE said:
Now that you mention it, how often will I use the gap between the 50 and 70.
Click to expand...

How often have you used it so far :D. If you don't ever find yourself thinking 'I wish I could zoom in a little more', then go for speed!


BIGEYE said:
The speed option may be better...which one Tamron or Sigma?
Click to expand...

There's very little in it to be honest, some reviewers rate the Tamron slightly higher (and you get an extra millimetre at the wide end!!!), but a good copy of each lens and you probably couldn't tell the difference!

Chris
 
The Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is the poor mans Canon 17-40 f4L :D

Check on flickr groups for image examples of both the sigma and tamron.

You are looking at £250 for a good used one. I may be selling mine after me holiday as I'm thinking of going Primes only but will decide on the results of my holiday snaps.
 
AndyWest said:
The Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is the poor mans Canon 17-40 f4L :D
Click to expand...

And the 17-40f4L is the poor man's 16-35 f2.8L :D

I would say the Tamron was a great lens on my 40D, really sharp and decent focus. Keep an eye out they do come up on here, although I would say more £220 is the going rate at the moment.

f2.8 is great for speed and also throwing backgrounds OOF, you will not regret it.
 
:D I only made that remark due to the example images around the net looking very similar to the Canon 17-40mm f4L so it's a compliment to the Tamron...honest!:lol:
 
I went for the Tamron 17-50mm for my main lens, I couldn't reccomend it enough. Pin sharp, the only thing anyone has come out with that the 17-40mm L trumps it on is how loud the autofocus is.
 
Thanks guys for your help, after much thought I have gone for the Sigma 17-70 mm f2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM. I will now be punting my kit lens (6 months old).
 
Good choice, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Don't forget to pop up some images when you have taken some. :thumbs:
 
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