Which lense should I get for my Canon XTi?

[Jawo]

I'm getting a Canon XTi and looking for a good inexpensive wide angle to medium range lense. After reading through Yllus's awesome thread, and reading the reviews on FredMiranda.com and Photozone, it seems like both lenses are quite similar. I'm having trouble deciding and wondering which lense I should get and curious for other opinions.

Tamron AF 17-50 f/2.8
Sigma 18-50 F/2.8 EX DC

I'm most likely going to get the Canon 70-300 IS USM as my other lense, and possibly the Canon 50mm f/1.8 plastic fantastic.

 

[soydios]

Reviews:
Sigma
Tamron

First off, let me say that I would get the Tamron.

The only advantage the Sigma has is that it lets you focus closer (1:3 magnification ratio, versus Tamron's 1:4.5). The Tamron uses smaller (and cheaper filters), is a smaller and lighter lens, zooms out farther, and has better chromatic aberration performance.

 

[aphex]

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8

 

[Jawo]

Any other thoughts from the morning crowd?

 

[tfinch2]

17-40L

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
17-40L

I would love to get that...although its quite a bit more and only has f/4 (vs the f/2.8). Heck I would love to be able to afford andy L lense!

70-200 f/4 looks great, but I want a versitle lense, and it performs poorly in low light

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Jawo

Originally posted by: tfinch2
17-40L

I would love to get that...although its quite a bit more and only has f/4 (vs the f/2.8). Heck I would love to be able to afford andy L lense!

70-200 f/4 looks great, but I want a versitle lense, and it performs poorly in low light

If you want low light performance, get a prime with f/1.4.

Wide angle doesn't need much low-light performance, and in the rare occurance you do just crank the ISO.

 

[shocksyde]

Tamron.

 

[dandruff]

we lost our luggage recently at detroit airport .. need to buy all new lenses ... looking at :
24-105L (cheapest i found is $960 - trying hard to justify this price)
17-85IS
Tamron 17-50
Canon 28-135IS
Sigma 17-70

you also need to read forums at POTN: POTN

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

If you want low light performance, get a prime with f/1.4.

.

Good advice but there is a significant price difference between the lenses he listed and getting a f/1.4 lens.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: dandruff
we lost our luggage recently at detroit airport .. need to buy all new lenses ... looking at :
24-105L (cheapest i found is $960 - trying hard to justify this price)
17-85IS
Tamron 17-50
Canon 28-135IS
Sigma 17-70

you also need to read forums at POTN: POTN

I've been looking at those as well, but think that the Tamron or Sigma would be the best "general use" lense

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Anyone who has a Tamron 17-50mm has had to decide between it and the Sigma 18-50mm. I was not too impressed with the reviews of the Sigma, so I went with the Tamron.

Mine's definitely quite sharp but I think I have a defect on mine. The front plastic ring that the lens hood bayonets into got half-detached somehow, so now there's so free space between it and the front element. Now both the lens hood and the front element has some free play...

I would still recommend the Tamron though, as my problem is probably not common and is easily covered under warranty. It's kinda ironic that this is one of the few new lenses I've ever bought, and of course it has to break somewhat compared to all the used lenses I've bought that are still perfect, which definitely says something about the advantage of buying used lenses (you can be pretty sure of getting a confirmed sharp and non-defective lens).