Yet again... finding a good all-around lens

[dallasimagery]

Don't underestimate the value of a constant aperture zoom. The Tamron 17-50 2.8 is worth looking into. If the Canon is as sharp or a little sharper, what does it matter if you can't use it in certain lighting situations where the Tamron would be useable? I realize you like the range of the Canon, but it's pretty slow glass and IS only does so much.

What makes Canon lenses so much better is the AF performance.

 

[clarnibass]

Thanks very much. Again, I'm not looking for a perfect all-around lens. You're right that the Canon 15-85mm is relatively expensive, but it does seem significantly sharper than the cheaper options (e.g. Canon 17-85mm, Sigma/Tamron alternatives, etc.).

I only have my limited experience with no more than 55mm focus but my impression is I don't need more than the 85mm as my all-around longest focus. Maybe I'm wrong. I get the impression that smallest focus of 24mm is too long or at least borderline. I did use 18mm or slightly more for some shots where moving further away was a problem (for technical reason, not landscape photos). I don't think I need the 105mm of the 24-105mm lens since I plan on buying a 100mm prime/macro lens anyway.

So the question really is, for what I need, do I have a better alternative than the Canon 15-85mm lens? I came to my own conclusions, but being a beginner, maybe someone here can find flaws with them that I missed. Keep in mind my main goal is the instruments and getting sharp photos of them and that I want very sharp photos for my website and possibly other situations, I'm not looking to become a photographer. Low light situations are a lower priority.

Prices here are significantly higher than in USA and I don't want to risk ordering from out of the country (expensive returning if necessary). Used is possible but hard to find, is relatively expensive too (obviously) and it's not so uncommon for people to say something is in great condition only to find there's a problem after you buy it... Coming from the musical instrument world, I constantly see people buying a used instrument in "great" condition only to find it needs a lot of repairs. So it's a bit of a risk. I don't think I'll spend more thand $1,000 local price. I'm leaning strongly towards Canon because I've heard abotu too many QC issues with Tamron and Sigma from local photographers.

Anyway, prices here for the lenses mentioned:
Canon 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM - $600 (found used for about $350-$500)
Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM - $1,500 (haven't found used yet)
Canon 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM - $1,000 (haven't found used yet)
Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM - $1,400 (found used for about $900-$1,000)
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM - $1,800 (found used for about $1,200)
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC - $800 (haven't found used yet)
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (no VC) - $600 (haven't found used yet)
Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 VC - $850 (found used for about $550)
Canon 10-200mm f/2 - $999,999 (found used for $999,998)

 

[Stryker]

How much money do you want to spend?

 

[Joshonator]

I got a tamron 28-75 f2.8 lens. I haven't mounted the kit lens since i got it. Excellent lens in terms of image quality. The AF is somewhat noisy though but still not as loud as the shutter. The cost is about 400$

Crops of it versus the canon 24-70L

Tamron 28-75 vs Canon 24-70L Photo Gallery by Dave Jr at pbase.com

 

[o hey tyler]

Canon 10-200mm f/2 - $999,999 (found used for $999,998)

Look man, I know you want it. Just refinance everything you own. Look into getting a child mortgage or something.

 

[Prince]

Need help getting a good telephoto lens for my Canon EOS 550D ,Please help.
Not sure which one of these are best


Tamron AF 70-300mm Di VC USD Canon

Tamron 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DI EOS

Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC EOS

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom AF Lens for Selected Digital SLR

Sigma AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro Canon Fit Lens



Please advise on the pros and cons. Thanks in advance

 

[Dao]

Please start your own thread.

Need help getting a good telephoto lens for my Canon EOS 550D ,Please help.
Not sure which one of these are best


Tamron AF 70-300mm Di VC USD Canon

Tamron 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 DI EOS

Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC EOS

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom AF Lens for Selected Digital SLR

Sigma AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro Canon Fit Lens



Please advise on the pros and cons. Thanks in advance

 

[clarnibass]

How much money do you want to spend?

As I said, no more than about $1,000 locally, which I guess is the same as about $700-$800 on Amazon.

 

[clarnibass]

I ended up getting the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. It's not perfect and I didn't think it (or any other lens) would be. It beat my other "finalist", the 17-55 f/2.8 IS, because I decided zoom was more important for me than the aperture and the price was much lower (here about $600 lower). Ordering from USA wasn't an option (with international shipping and tax it would be even more expensive than local price) and I couldn't find anything I wanted used. Other lenses I looked were Canon 17-85, Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 and 17-70 f/2.8-4, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (both VC and non-VC). The 85mm is definitely long enough (on my Kiss X4) for my walk-around.

I don't know, maybe my KIT lens (18-55 IS) is especially terrible, but here is a center 100% crop of the 15-85 at 85mm vs. 18-55 at 55mm. The KIT lens at 37mm actually looked even worse than this. 55mm is what I use a lot (in addition to under the 25mm-30mm range) so using the longest focus of the 15-85 for comparison.

 

[mrpink]

Wow, Canon kit lenses are junk.






p!nK

 

[clarnibass]

Wow, Canon kit lenses are junk.

The 15-85 is also a KIT lens, from some other more expensive (than mine) models. I don't know though, I keep reading how the 18-55 IS KIT lens is sharp and almost as sharp as any zoom lens... and I shouldn't expect a huge difference in sharpnes. Maybe mine specifically suck.

 

[T3HeavyShop]

Canon & Nikon Digital SLR Camera & Lens Comparisons

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