Best "ulra-zoom" lense for Canon 40D????

[DavidBailey]

Hi Camera guru's,
I have now decided on my first DSLR I am buying a 40D, as something I can "grow into" coming from a Lumix FZ20.
My First use is likely to be away in a very sandy, hot enviroment & I have decided to start with an ultra-zoom lenses only so i don't need to carry lots of lenses & i don't have to take the lense off in a hostile enviroment.
My logic is if i really get into the DSLR thing I can add other lenses later, but will always still find use for the ultra-zoom when travelling, so it will be a decent investment.
So two questions.
1/ Will the lenese below in combination with the 40D give me a good sized step up in image quality over my FZ20.
2/ Which of these lenses should I opt for, as I need a decent zoom for wildlife which is the main subject of my photos, whilst also wanting to take landscape photos!...
Tanrom 18-250mm (3.5-6.3)VC (stabilisation)
Tamron 28-300mm (3.5-6.3)VC (stabilisation)
Sigma 18-200mm (3.5-6.3) OS stabilised
or any other ideas?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Garbz]

While lenses like this a great all around holiday lenses and are good for landscapes to a degree, you could write them off for wildlife

Even with image stabilisation it will be difficult to shoot wildlife at f/6.3 unless the subject is in the sun. Plus all of these lenses are less then stellar on their far end.

It's a good travelling lens so if you're into that first and fore most I'd research the sigma as from what I know of the Tamron it's the worst of the pick.

1) None of these lenses unless using them under very ideal conditions will go well with the 40D. Even a 350D would benefit from better lenses than these for image quality. That's the way of the superzoom.

 

[DavidBailey]

Thanks for the reply appreciated.....................
This choosing lenses stuff ain't easy!
After posting in a few places I'm left with two thoughts

1/ Go for Canon gear for best compatability with the 40D & choose two lenses to get the range & best optical results:
EFS- 17-85mm USM IS + EFS -70-300mm IS USM
(bundle available at similiar price to Tamron 18-250m +40D)
....or the new EFS-55-250 Is instead of the 70-300, as its far more compact!!!

2/ Or go Tamrons latest offering with VC!

 

[The Digital Mage]

Tamron lenses.. well, I had a 28-300 and it worked fairly well, for about a year. Then the coating started flaking off the lenses - the INTERIOR lenses.

The 70-300 IS lens you mentioned is one, fine lens. Hard to go wrong with that one and I think it's on sale right now at circuit city for about $100 off... Wish I could, but I just bought a car