Hmmm, Potentially damaged 17-40L, or new Sigma 10-20

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ace_mcgraw

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ok, some advice requested!

My mate who I work with offered me a Canon 17-40L lens for £300. Now I know that this lens is a good one, and second hand seem to go for about £500 or so. I know that it did belong to a professional photographer who had it refurbed recently. But the reason my mate has it now is that he borrowed it and his 2yr old daughter dropped it, and did damage to the uv filter on the front - bent it so it couldn;t be removed. He took it to the local shop where they said that there wasn't much damage and that it didn't need repairing and managed to sort out the filter. BUt I'm worried that it may have knocked some of the glass.

My other option is to get a new Sigma 10-20mm for a little bit more money, and will also increase my range a bit more as I want a wide angle. But the glass isn't as quality as the 17-40L.

So which direction should I turn?
 
Another reason why sticking a UV filter on L glass (or any glass) is just silly...

....but, see if you can borrow the lens and take a few test shots, really this is the only way to tell for definate if its damaged.

EDIT - its worth noting that these lenses are completely different, an extra 7mm on the wide end for the Sigma might not sound much but it gives a completely different perspective than the 17-40, its much, much wider.
 
I dropped my 40D with an 18-200mm IS lens onto to a station platform lens first. It broke the UV filter and dislodged the mirror mechanism in the camera, but the lens works perfectly. You could end up with a bargain.
 
Firstly, the 17-40L can be had BRAND NEW for around £500 so maybe beat him down further - especially as it is an unknown quantity

Second, the Sigma 10-20 is an amazing lens - but as already mentioned it is a totally different perspective at 10mm - almost fish-eye when the subject is close up

Third, there are 2 versions of the Sigma 10-20 ...

The Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens can be had NEW for just under £400

The Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM is the newer version and costs around £550

What do you think you will be using the 10-20 for? if it is landscapes, building etc then you'll be using smaller apertures (larger f numbers) - in which case, the cheaper one will be fine.
 
UV filters on any glass will protect that glass to a certain extent.........as proved time and time again on many forums. Had the same experience myself and after much huffing and puffing got the damaged filter off to find my glass pristine.

As said ,you will have to make up you're mind as to what you want ,wide shots will mean the 10-20 ,I have one and love it.
If you decide on the L glass and as b10at3r says, pull a face at the damage and offer £60 less, if he don't go for it get the 10-20 :D:D
 
Just a note that the 17-40mm is a EF fit, whilst the Sigma is EF-S fit. So, if your ever thinking about full frame- then the 17-40 would be a better choice :)
 
towershot said:
UV filters on any glass will protect that glass to a certain extent.........as proved time and time again on many forums. Had the same experience myself and after much huffing and puffing got the damaged filter off to find my glass pristine.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. If it bent the filter imagine what it would of done to the lens had it not been on. Would rather bend a £40 filter than the lens... There are situations where filters are a pain, but in these situations they can be savour.

BOT: Buying dropped lens can be risky. Is there any way you can try it thoroughly before buying? Well worth beating him down a bit too.
 
thanks for all the help guys!

Having taken all the advice, I'm probably leaning towards the Sigma - as odd_jim said, the two are completely different lenses, and I'm not sure if I'm at a stage of my photography when I'd see the benefit of L series lenses - I think I'm still wanting to try different things, and as landscape and urban photography is what I'm interested in perhaps I should experience with a wide angle lens!
 
I'm very pleased with my Sigma 10-20mm, good colours and sharp. :thumbs:
 
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