Alternatives to Canon Eyewateringly Expensice lenses

CockneyViking

CockneyViking

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Canon do two really hot zoom lenses - the 17-55 mm f2.8 and the 24-70 mm f2.8. Both cost an arm and a leg.

What other lenses are good alternatives for either of these?

Might try and get something good on ebay.
 
The Tamron equivalents would be the common recommendations.

If you have a crop body then typically you would want the 17-55 and if you have full frame then you would need the 24-70.
 
It all depends what your priorities are:

IQ, there's affordable alternatives from tamron, sigma etc.

If you're looking for focus speed and accuracy, there's no alternative.
 
17-55 can be has for around £430 on eBay if you're patient. It's a corker...
 
Second hand 17-55 can be had for not a lot these days.
If you want new then I can vouch for the sigma 17-70, but as stated above, whilst the quality was good it was nowhere near as fast as the 17-55.
 
Phil V said:
It all depends what your priorities are:

IQ, there's affordable alternatives from tamron, sigma etc.

If you're looking for focus speed and accuracy, there's no alternative.
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The USD focus on the new tamron 24-70mm and the HSM on the latest sigma 17-50 OS lens is very very close to the performance of the canon and for 50% of the cost is pretty impressive stuff.

I agree if your a pro making a living go the canon route or if your loaded do the same but if your a hobbiest on a budget then you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere.
 
a1ex2001 said:
The USD focus on the new tamron 24-70mm and the HSM on the latest sigma 17-50 OS lens is very very close to the performance of the canon and for 50% of the cost is pretty impressive stuff.

I agree if your a pro making a living go the canon route or if your loaded do the same but if your a hobbiest on a budget then you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere.
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That's exactly my point though, we have no idea whether the OP is planning a career or just a hobbyist. Which is why I said it depends on your priorities.

The fact is, most of these threads are full of hobbyists talking about IQ when there's much more to 'performance' than MTF results. And that needs recognising.
 
As has been said, Sigma and Tamron are 2 other alternatives for the Canon lenses...

Really depends on budget and what you want from the lens, I would if possible try the lenses out and see which you prefer...

I've the Sigma 10-20mm UWA lens and love it, for what I want and for my budget, it was the best lens for me...
 
Phil V said:
The fact is, most of these threads are full of hobbyists talking about IQ when there's much more to 'performance' than MTF results. And that needs recognising.
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This.

All to true, and all to tragic. Way to much discussion on gear minutia. Not near enough on technique, fundamentals, past and present masters, motivation, creative process...

But to answer the OP's question....try the Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5. An older lens, but nicely made and can turn out some lovely images. I owned one up until I sold my Canon gear and I really liked it. Can be had relatively cheaply.

But if you looking for L quality at third party prices....not going to happen. There are many reasons why expensive things are expensive.
 
Thanks for comments so far. I should have mentioned the lens is for an EOS 700 aka Rebel t5i which is crop frame. I believe some of the lenses in the 24-70 range are designed for full frame, so might be wise choice.
 
I have the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 ex DC macro and it is every bit as sharp as the Canon, it just lacks IS but it is about 1/3 of the price!
 
f/otographer said:
But if you looking for L quality at third party prices....not going to happen. There are many reasons why expensive things are expensive.
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Except it is beginning to happen plenty of people are choosing the new sigma 35mm f1.4 over the canon L equivalent simply because it is a better lens and yes this does include pro's.

For a few years now the third party players have been right up there in terms of raw image quality and they are now upping the game construction wise as a moment when Canon seem to be doubling the price of everything leaving a massive hole in the affordable quality bracket. I expect Sigmas new 50mm to take even more L lens sales as if it's as good as the 35mm and as competitively priced only the crazy rich would take the canon 1.2L and Sigmas 24-105mm F4 is by alot of reports better than Canon's and cheaper throw in the 18-35mm f1.8 for crop users and you can see a clear trend of Sigma upping the game. Tamrons latest 70-200mm seems to indicate they are following suit.
 
When I was in LCE in Lincoln last August to collect my 70D the assistant was saying they were 'supposed to become a Sigma centre of excellence' in the near future. With the increase in quality of Sigma's and Tamrons recent releases they are becoming a great alternative to the more expensive Canon lenses. I have just sold a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 IF EX HSM lens and got a Canon 24-70 f2.8L II however and even after just a few test shots, in less than good light conditions, there is a clear difference in IQ between the two makes when the lenses are wide open. It'll be interesting to see what Sigma's next incarnation of the 24-70 f2.8 will be like though and Tamrons 24-70 f2.8 VC has been getting some very good reviews although I haven't been able to use one myself yet to test.
 
Not sure want you want to shoot but I go a sigma 17-70os and to be honest its is a good all round lens
 
its the newer sigma and tamron stuff that have really closed the gap, or surpassed the brand name stuff
 
a1ex2001 said:
Except it is beginning to happen plenty of people are choosing the new sigma 35mm f1.4 over the canon L equivalent simply because it is a better lens and yes this does include pro's.

For a few years now the third party players have been right up there in terms of raw image quality and they are now upping the game construction wise as a moment when Canon seem to be doubling the price of everything leaving a massive hole in the affordable quality bracket. I expect Sigmas new 50mm to take even more L lens sales as if it's as good as the 35mm and as competitively priced only the crazy rich would take the canon 1.2L and Sigmas 24-105mm F4 is by alot of reports better than Canon's and cheaper throw in the 18-35mm f1.8 for crop users and you can see a clear trend of Sigma upping the game. Tamrons latest 70-200mm seems to indicate they are following suit.
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True, I had forgotten about the strength of the new Sigma offerings due to the fact I mainly shoot old legacy lenses and I havent really been keeping up with the new AF stuff. I have always admired Sigma for keeping their production in Japan and it seems that they are narrowing or completely closing the gap with themselves and Canon's (or any OEM's) desirable glass. Thanks for reminding me.
 
Jin said:
I wasnt a fan of the Sigma 24-70 when I was looking for a 24-70 but I have to admit my Tamron one has done a great job for £700 brand new.
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Sigma have yet to make a 24-70mm that is worth owning hopefully they will put that right in the next 12 months with an art series lens that has OS and a performance close to the new canon mkii fingers crossed for a sensible filter size too which tamron failed to deliver even though there new 24-70mm vignettes as badly as any other!
 
Jin said:
Define "newer" in terms of "the last x years/months".

I am wondering if I should start to reconsider Sigma.
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Last 12 months or so give or take, tamron have released a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm that are brilliant for the money and sigma have released a whole series if great lenses some if which like the 35mm f1.4 have people moving away from canon l glass.
 
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