Which budget standard lens?

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squishy

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Adam
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I'll be off on holiday soon, so I need to get myself a standard lens for landscapes and other general use. I've been putting off spending the money for a while, but my widest lens at the moment is the short end of my 100-400, so I'll really regret it if I don't get a shorter lens for the scenery.

I'd really like to not spend very much. £200 is my absolute limit really.

I've narrowed my options to either a used 18-55mm IS which is about £75 in good condition, or a used tamron 17-50 non-VC for about £200

The question I have is, do you think it's worth spending more than twice as much on the 17-50? I know it's best not to scrimp on glass, but this type of lens isn't so important to me, I just want to have the focal length covered with reasonable quality.
I know the 17-50 is sharper, faster and better built (I've held one, and though it's cheap feeling plastic, it's much more tightly constructed than the 18-55), but the 18-55 IS seems to fair pretty well on the sharpness front, especially at wide angles and small apertures where I'll use it most.
The 18-55 also has a few advantages despite being a lot cheaper, it's smaller and lighter, has IS and has a smaller filter thread (I already have a couple of 58mm filters I could use with it, I don't have any 67mm filters).

Do users who've tried both lenses see a big difference between the images? And how useful is the IS at the wide end, because it seems to me it would be very useful for walkabout stuff where I want to stop down so the tamron's speed advantage is negated.
 
Is the Canon 17-85 IS or the Sigma 17-70 worth considering?

Sure both can be bought for sub £200??

Rob
 
I had thought about them, but the 17-85 doesn't have a brilliant reputation for IQ and the extra length doesn't bother me, I've got the 100-400 for more telephoto stuff, the 50-100 gap doesn't really bother me.
If I'm going to spend more, the 17-50 seems the best option for me.
 
I've gone for a 17-50 off mpb for £199 + P&P, which seems a good deal.
I'll keep it when I get back, I could do with a standard lens generally.

I think in the long run I would have regretted not spending a bit more on the tamron.

I'll let you know what I think when I get it.
 
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You cant go far wrong with the Tamron 17-50mm as the standard 18-55mm kit lens doesnt even begin to compare (massive pile of poo to be honest after I did some tests between the two recently) so you've made a very good choice. And to be fair thats a reasonable price too as i've seen them go for much more on Ebay.
 
The 17-50 has arrived (great service from MPB).

First impressions on image quality are good, there is however a problem.
The plastic ring at the very front of the lens that has the filter and lens hood threads is quite loose, it rattles around a lot (and so the lens hood and caps and any filters on the lens also rattle around. A quick google shows this is a fairly common problem.
There is a fairly easy looking fix (remove a ring and tighten some screws), but I'm wary about doing anything that'll void the 6 month warranty.
It's annoying because it's not a big enough problem to want a re-fund on it, but too serious for my to just put up with it (if it works it's way even more loose that could be trouble). I'll get in contact with mpb, see what they say about it.

But that aside, I think this is a good lens for me.
Some pics to come and updates on the issue.

Thanks for peoples advice :).
 
An update, I was just focussing the lens through live view and noticed when the lens hood wobbles the left side of the image becomes hazy and soft.

The front element is loose as well as the filter/lens hood thread, so I'll be sending it back for a re-fund.
 
If I can't find another 17-50 before I go away I may just settle for a 18-55IS for the trip then sell it and upgrade to a tamron when I get back.

I went out shooting with it today, and on the images where the front element is lined up properly (:bang:) the IQ was great. I'll try and find another one (or maybe they'll offer to repair this one, but I'm doubtful it would be returned to me in time for the trip, which is when I REALLY need it for) if I get a refund, seems to me if I can get a fully working one it'll be a great little lens.

It's odd, you think mpb would have noticed something as obvious as the front element actually wobbling with the lens hood. It can't have happened the in post, it was very well packaged and the box it arrived in is spotless.
 
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I was just going to say maybe it was damaged in transit but if it was well packaged like you say and all packaging was in tact then unlikely it could have been dropped along the way so it does sound like it was like that when it left them.

Just had a quick look on Ebay and there doesnt seem to be any 2nd hand Canon fit ones on there at the moment. Hope you get one sorted out.
 
An update on this for anyone who is interested.

I rang MPB and was told (I quote) "send it to us and we'll have a look at it" and was given a reference number to send it back with.

Sent it, then didn't here anything for a few days, so rang them up. Apparently the reference number I was given was a refund number (news to me) so the money had been refunded (no confirmation email or anything).
The lens itself has been sent for repair, and I was told it should be back for sale by this (past) Friday.
The lens hasn't yet come back up for sale, so it' looking increasingly like I'm going to have to buy a kitlens instead just to have something for the holiday (leaving on Sunday).

I'm not that pleased with MPB now. To be fair to them, they didn't quibble the return at all and their service has been fast, but their communication leaves a bit to be desired.
 
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