Walkabout lens suggestions

G

Greenninja

Messages
420
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
No
On my 50D I have an EFS 17-85 IS USM F4-5.6 (the standard kit lens). It has some limtations - particularly Light fall off and Barrel distortion when wide open (it makes using a polariser a nightmare).

So I'm going to look into a replacement lens for general walk around use. I did favour the Canon 17-40 F4 L, but this lacks some long end. Other L lenses are little out of budget (at the moment).

So I wondered if anyone had anyone could suggest some ideas - quite happy with third party lenses and as I'm not planning on going full frame EF-S or Sigma DC are also in the frame (pun not intended, but slightly amusing all the same!).
 
I use the Tamron 17-50 on my 50D, its a nice lens and constant f2.8 which is nice but lacks a little on the long end. If you dont need the speed the Sigma 17-70 looks like a good lens also.
 
What is your budget? Would it cover say a 2nd hand Canon 17-55 f2.8? It's a lovely lens if the focal length suits.
If you search on the forum for that lens there are quite a few comparisons between that and 3rd party variants which may be of help :)
 
Just brought myself the tammy 17-50mm 2.8 and could'nt be happier, been a constant 2.8 is very useful in those low light conditions and its sharp as a tack to, i went to a water and light festival last sunday and used the tammy for the 1st time properly, i'll post up a few shots from it, all were taken with the the tamron 17-50 2.8 with no flash (PICS TO FOLLOW ) :thumbs:
 
Pics were to follow, but i carnt seem to find them :suspect:, leave it with me:shrug:
 
Greenninja, would you care to show some examples of what is wrong with the 17-85? I'm debating on what to buy at the moment and I thought the kit lens for the 40d might be a decent walkabout lens. I do have plans to buy a 10-22 and nifty 50 but wanted something with a bit of range when I just wanted to take body and lens with me.
 
rob13 said:
Greenninja, would you care to show some examples of what is wrong with the 17-85? I'm debating on what to buy at the moment and I thought the kit lens for the 40d might be a decent walkabout lens. I do have plans to buy a 10-22 and nifty 50 but wanted something with a bit of range when I just wanted to take body and lens with me.
Click to expand...

I tried a friends 17-85, the only disappointment was the distortion and chromatic aberrations at 17mm which were quite extreme compared to the Tamron 17-50.
 
You might also want to wait for some reviews of Canon's latest lenses, the

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

and the

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

If you can afford a 17-40 L you should be able to afford the 18 135. Canon has been doing quite well with their most recent EF-S lenses so let's hope the 18 135 is optically better than the 17 85 IS. Given that it has a wider range, you wouldn't expect it to be, but again I think Canon has been building quite a strong line-up in the EF-S range recently so we might get a pleasant surprise.

The 15 85 is optically likely to be the better one of the two, but it seems it might be out of your price range.
 
Thanks guys - went and had bit of a look today - the tamron looks pretty good as does the efs 17-55. I like the idea of fast constant aperture.

The new ones from canon could be the answer - both the suggested examples do have very attractive zoom ranges.

This is a thorny area as there is sooo much choice !

Re the main issues with the current kit lens - the main (most annoying problem) is the light fall off at the short end - if you use a circ polariser it turns the corners black (beyond repair). CA is a minor issue when wide as is some distortion. All of these problems disappear if you twist in to about 20-24mm (it's just sometimes I forget!)

I'm going to search the web for some further info on the tammy and EF-S 17-55 2.8.

I'll report back my final decision (after much deliberation!)
Cheers all
 
For a pretty scientific comparison of the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 versus the Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, have a look here:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=474&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

This allows you to see how the different lenses resolve the same test chart at the same focal lengths and the same apertures. Looks like the Tamron outperforms the Canon EF-S 17 55 at f/2.8 at most focal lengths in the test above. But then again it doesn't have IS, although a "VC" version of the Tamron has just been announced...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top