First zoom lens purchase!

sarboo

sarboo

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Sarb
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Hello :)

I've been using my Canon 40D for about a year now with the 50mm/f1.8 firmly attached to the front. I've found it very useful for portraits and shots of nearby inanimate objects, but I'm starting to feel the need to zoom especially as I'm doing more photography where shifting myself around isn't having the desired effect/isn't possible.

I'm not planning to do anything flash (no pun intended) with my pics so I don't need to splash out large amounts of money, although I would like a bit of quality - I'm looking for a decent zoom for anything up to or around the £300 mark.

Is there anything out there for that budget? Thanks in advance :thumbs:
 
try to find used canon 70-200 F4 or maybe sigma 70-200
 
Shorter range: 17-50 f/2.8
Longer range; Canon 70-300IS


There's a lot of talk about the DX 'dream team' on other forums, but IMHO the Tamron 17-50, own-brand nifty fifty and 70-300IS USM [or AF-S VR Nikkor] represent the best way to high quality under £500 total.

All three lenses are superb for the money, and punch well above their respective weights.
 
Are you looking for something around the same range as your 50mm wish some either side - or do you want something with a longer focal length.

The Tamron 28-75 may be the lens for you. Very sharp, quite fast and fairly light.

If you are looking for more reach then the above applies.
 
danbroad said:
Shorter range: 17-50 f/2.8
Longer range; Canon 70-300IS


There's a lot of talk about the DX 'dream team' on other forums, but IMHO the Tamron 17-50, own-brand nifty fifty and 70-300IS USM [or AF-S VR Nikkor] represent the best way to high quality under £500 total.

All three lenses are superb for the money, and punch well above their respective weights.
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Please can you let me know how to get this combo for under £500?
 
TP forums, of course!

Yeah, otherwise I think it's fair to say I was quoting 2008 prices. Oops!

EDIT: a quick CPB check makes this lot £780 at today's prices. Given the OP owns the nifty, it's £700 - but as a high quality way to get 17-300mm, I'm not sure it could be beat. Could it?
 
Oh that is without a doubt the finest route form 17-300mm

Another good lens to throw in and bring the budget down is the 55-250 IS. Half the price of the 70-300 with much the same image quality. I've been pondering one of these over the 70-300 as a lightweight zoom for the days where I don't want to lug my current 300mm
 
RichardtheSane said:
Oh that is without a doubt the finest route form 17-300mm

Another good lens to throw in and bring the budget down is the 55-250 IS. Half the price of the 70-300 with much the same image quality. I've been pondering one of these over the 70-300 as a lightweight zoom for the days where I don't want to lug my current 300mm
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Me too Richard ;)

The OP doesn't state range, but I think Canon 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS is a very good way to go from 18-250mm for little more than £300, very good image quality, and IS, very light.
 
Wow - lots of great suggestions already :thumbs: The Tamron 28-75 looks interesting...I'm not after something very long-range, but just wanted some more flexibility than the prime can offer in some situations.

Definitely got a few options to explore now - thanks!
 
I have a 28 - 135 IS lens if you want i will be upgrading to another lens soon anyway so if you want it i would be willing to sell....definatly below £300

I have pictures of it too

I did send you a PM

Let me know if your interested
 
RichardtheSane said:
Oh that is without a doubt the finest route form 17-300mm
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I'd prefer 17-40L/17-55, 24-105L/24-70L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 300 f/2.8L IS in all honesty...
 
Of course you can spend whatever you'd like. As a Nikon fella, I'd like the 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200!

The Canon 'F/4 trinity' of 17-40, 24-105 and 70-200 f/4 are about £2000 [add £500 for the f/4 IS to make an eyewatering £2415.99 at today's best prices].

I've a good mind to rename the Tamron 17-50, 50/1.8 and Canon 70-300IS as the 'poor man's holy trinity' given that 'trinity' seems to be the in word at the moment....:lol:
 
third party lens if you cant spend more then £300. however 70-200 f4 would be very good if you can find one used for the price and can live with such a slow speed. I couldn`t so I sold mine :). I prefer good quality primes
 
Kryptix said:
I'd prefer 17-40L/17-55, 24-105L/24-70L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 300 f/2.8L IS in all honesty...
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Apart from the fact that this is a HUGELY expensive combination, there's also the fact that for e.g. 70-200 f/2.8L IS (as this is the only lens I've used) is a crazily heavy behemoth of a lens. Especially if you're coming from a 50mm, it might be something you might not appreciate, as the lens' weight makes a huge difference to its handling.

I personally went with the Sigma 17-70mm as I felt it would be the best compromise between price, performance and range. Was a toss up between that and the Tamron 17-50, but I picked the Siggy in the end because I felt restricted by the 18-55mm IS I was using previously and figured I would appreciate the extra 20mm (and £££ savings) more than the constant 2.8.
 
On upgrading to a Canon 40D at Xmas and some long deliberation, and a lot of research and reading, I went for the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5. If I were given the choice again, I'd go for the same lens. Its a very capable lens, and surprisingly so, for the price, given that it gives you 17mm at the wide end, with a decent focal range to 70mm. Its not too bad at macro either....hence my unreserved recommendation. Stopped down to f/4 or f/5 its a fantastic lens.

Check out this review
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/349/cat/all

And have a look at these macro shots with it..... (not to mention its non-macro capabilities on the flickr group!)

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma1770/discuss/72157594573938539/

As the guys have advised above there are other options, but it depends what you want to do with it. This lens will tick most boxes in terms of 17mm wide, 70mm zoom and has macro capabilities for a very reasonable price. Good luck.
 
Kryptix said:
I'd prefer 17-40L/17-55, 24-105L/24-70L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 300 f/2.8L IS in all honesty...
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LOL, guess who has money to spend on lenses..

I have most of the lenses mentioned in the 'poor man's trinity and find them very useful.
I'm a f2.8 ho though so I have to put in a vote for a mid range zoom like the Sigma I have.
but it's hardly essential unless you do a lot of low light stuff.

for general all round papping the 28-135 IS is very nice but no at all wide on a cropped body if you are looking at tourist shots.
I have to say, steer clear of the 17-85 IS...so lovely on first view but such a let down in the long term.

for much cheapness, I found the canon 28-105 (non IS) a very crisp lens for all round fun at a low price.
 
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