Good walk-around lens

[LikeLinus]

I'm currently using the kit lens on my XT. It's time for an upgrade. This is mostly going to be used as a walk-around lens and some indoor shots. I'm going to get an 70-200 f4 L for the long range later.

I'd like to stay around/under the $500-600 mark.

- Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
- Tamron 28-75 f 2.8 SP XR Di AF
- Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS
- Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD
- Tamron AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD
- Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS

The Tamrons both seem great because of the f2.8, but I also like the Canon's 135mm reach.

So many questions!!! Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[magomago]

I know for pentax the Sigma 17-70 is pretty popular, and is available in Canon mounts at the same time. I don't have it, but I've heard many good things about it

http://www.photozone.de/8Revie...ma_1770_2845/index.htm

Here is a review for the canon version

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've said this a lot, but 28mm is not wide at all on a 1.6x crop body. For FF, 28mm on the wide would be good for a walkaround, but it's not that great for crop bodies.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I've said this a lot, but 28mm is not wide at all on a 1.6x crop body. For FF, 28mm on the wide would be good for a walkaround, but it's not that great for crop bodies.

Ok, but what do you recommend? I have (4) 17/18mm lens on there and you can also provide your own suggestion.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: magomago
I know for pentax the Sigma 17-70 is pretty popular, and is available in Canon mounts at the same time. I don't have it, but I've heard many good things about it

http://www.photozone.de/8Revie...ma_1770_2845/index.htm

Here is a review for the canon version

I haven't looked at that lens. Great, another lens to go research

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
I've said this a lot, but 28mm is not wide at all on a 1.6x crop body. For FF, 28mm on the wide would be good for a walkaround, but it's not that great for crop bodies.

Ok, but what do you recommend? I have (4) 17/18mm lens on there and you can also provide your own suggestion.

It's really hard to recommend any lens. All have their ups and downs. It depends on your own needs.

18-200mm OS. Will not have the image quality of the others. Not as bright. But has IS.
17-50mm. Great image quality and bright, but 50mm is short compared to the others.
18-250mm. Again, will not have the image quality of the others. Not as bright.
17-85mm. Not as bright as the others. Expensive. Fast autofocus and has IS.
17-70mm. Not as bright as the 17-50mm. Longer than the 17-50mm.

I personally have the 17-50mm. I mean, it's fine. But I'm not going to be gung-ho about recommending it because it does have flaws.

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: magomago
I know for pentax the Sigma 17-70 is pretty popular, and is available in Canon mounts at the same time. I don't have it, but I've heard many good things about it

http://www.photozone.de/8Revie...ma_1770_2845/index.htm

Here is a review for the canon version

I haven't looked at that lens. Great, another lens to go research

I have that lens for my XTi. It seems to work pretty well for me although it's the nicest lens I own so I don't have much to compare it with. I really like it (although the zoom ring works backwards on it).

 

[LikeLinus]

Canon EF-S 17-85 IS
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD

Now to just decide if I need the f2.8 more than the extra range/IS/USM.

 

[dug777]

I love the fantastic flexibility of my 18-135mm Nikkor, I assume there's a similar range Canon equivalent?

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Canon EF-S 17-85 IS
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD

Now to just decide if I need the f2.8 more than the extra range/IS/USM.

That's basically the decision I came down to as well when I was looking for a general purpose lens. I got the 17-50 and have very much enjoyed using it once I found a sharp copy. I do wish it had the longer focal range, but then you start to get bad distortion (as with the 17-85. I also have the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM and the IS is nice but I wish it was more open at times. I have used Canon's 17-55 IS USM and do not feel that it is worth the $1000 Canon charges, the IS doesnt perform miracles and IMO really isn't that useful on such a short barrell. Read the reviews on FredMiranda.com and Photozone.de for some more insight.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Jawo

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Canon EF-S 17-85 IS
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD

Now to just decide if I need the f2.8 more than the extra range/IS/USM.

That's basically the decision I came down to as well when I was looking for a general purpose lens. I got the 17-50 and have very much enjoyed using it once I found a sharp copy. I do wish it had the longer focal range, but then you start to get bad distortion (as with the 17-85. I also have the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM and the IS is nice but I wish it was more open at times. I have used Canon's 17-55 IS USM and do not feel that it is worth the $1000 Canon charges, the IS doesnt perform miracles and IMO really isn't that useful on such a short barrell. Read the reviews on FredMiranda.com and Photozone.de for some more insight.

You summed it up nice. I REALLY wish the Canon 17-55 wasn't so overpriced. I'm not sure what they were thinking? I just keep hearing such good stuff about the Tamron. I totally agree IS at that range. I don't have any problems with the lens kit, so I'm pretty sure I won't with the Tamron.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: dug777
I love the fantastic flexibility of my 18-135mm Nikkor, I assume there's a similar range Canon equivalent?

Unfortunately, Canon only makes an 28-135mm IS. It's not wide enough for a walk around!

 

[randomlinh]

My vote goes towards either the Tamron 17-50 or Canon 17-85 IS, despite their respective flaws. Of those two, the tamron for me would win because I love fast lenses. It's loud though, which would put me back w/ a sigma 18-50 probably instead

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: dug777
I love the fantastic flexibility of my 18-135mm Nikkor, I assume there's a similar range Canon equivalent?

Unfortunately, Canon only makes an 28-135mm IS. It's not wide enough for a walk around!

I dunno, personally that's what I use as my walk-around and I like it. I guess if I were to do things over though, I'd have gotten that sigma 17-70...it wasn't around at the time.

One day I'll probably sell my kit-lens and 28-135 and get something less overlapping/more useful in terms of length 'cause I have no real long lenses right now either. probably that sigma 17-70 and a 70-300 IS.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Depends. I have the Minolta-branded version of the 28-75 f/2.8 and absolutely love it as a walk around lens. I haven't needed anything wider, but I don't tend to take a huge amount of wide-angle shots, and I like that the long end is reasonably useful for portraits, especially with f/2.8 available all the time.

My recommendation is either the 28-75 f/2.8 or the 17-50 f/2.8 because they're faster. But I tend to shoot wide open a lot, so the speed means more to me than the zoom range. Figure out what you like to do and then go for the lens.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

I use a 17-40mm f/4 L for my walk around lens. It's great for outdoors and indoors with a flash. A tripod helps capture early morning sunrises. I have a 50mm f/1.4 for indoor shots where I don't want to use a flash but it is really only good for portrait shots with a 1.6x crop camera, not group shots. I wouldn't use the 50mm at a party in other words unless your goal is to capture small groups of people. Both lenses are Canon.

 

[LikeLinus]

I placed an order with B & H for a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and 430EX Speedlite.

After researching the Tamron appears to be a great lens for the price range and I couldn't pass it up!

 

[soydios]

That combo should work fine. f/2.8 is good fast glass.

Tip: Experiment with using that swivel head for bounce flash. If done correctly, it can allow you to imitate daylight indoors. I usually bounce it off a wall to the side of a subject, or the ceiling (I use a SB-800 with a Nikon D50).

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: soydios
That combo should work fine. f/2.8 is good fast glass.

Tip: Experiment with using that swivel head for bounce flash. If done correctly, it can allow you to imitate daylight indoors. I usually bounce it off a wall to the side of a subject, or the ceiling (I use a SB-800 with a Nikon D50).

That's exactly what I'm going to do. I also picked up a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce diffuser for the flash. I look forward to trying different aiming methods and see what the results are like. Thanks for the tip!