Sharp Zoom Lens

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Simon
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Hi All,

Wondered if anyone can recommend a sharp zoom lens which wouldn't break the bank. I'm rocking a 400D and I think I've been spoilt by the Nifty Fifty! It's main purpose would be as a walkabout lens, taking family portraits - the only letdown of the Nifty is that it's not a zoom lens so in tight spaces it's rather limited.

I've also got the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS which I enjoy using, but I find the prime lens to be slightly sharper (which naturally it would be). I'm considering an upgrade to a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II - has anyone used this lens - would I be disappointed with the sharpness when compared to the Nifty? :shrug: Or can anyone recommend another lens that can beat it in the sharpness stakes? Unfortunately I'm not in the market for L glass as cash is v. limited! :(

Thanks in advance,

Si
 
I have both those lenses (50mm and 17-50) and the tamron is definitely sharper than the kit lens (18-50) but at 50mm wide open at 2.8 it is not quite as sharp as the 50mm 1.8.

This is reasonable though because the nifty has a max of 1.8 so at 2.8 it is really starting to get very sharp whereas the tamron is wide open at the full end of it's zoom.

In a comparison between the 18-50 kit and the 17-50 tamron though you will definitely see the difference since the 18-50 starts at 3.5 and by 3.5 the tamron is starting to get very nice and sharp.
 
Thanks Joe, really helps that you've got the same lenses for comparison! Great insight, thanks very much. Are there any decent competitors to the Tamron that you know of - do Canon or Sigma have a similarly sharp lens at similar pricepoints or is the Tamron the pick of the bunch?
 
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