I need something wider than my 50mm 1.8 (£500 budget)

No1Joker

No1Joker

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Tony
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I'm getting really annoyed at not being to get the photos that I want and 99% of the time is because I can't get far enough away from the subject with my 50mm (on my 30D).

I am now definitely looking for an additional lens for the kit bag which covers than range wider than the 50mm.

I already have a 55-250mm IS in case that sways anyones recommendation.

I have a max budget of £500 and I need something which can handle low light (mostly indoors without flash) I don't really want to be shooting ISO1600 all the time.

I've lined up a possible 17-40 L f4 (£400) or a Tamron 17-50mm VC 2.8 (£200). I'm looking for the best bit of kit within my budget for this range.

Cheers. Tony
 
I have never owned one, but I have never heard a bad thing said about the Canon 17-55mm F/2.8 IS. Second hand around £550 though...
 
17-40 f4 might not be wide enough on a crop body like yours, also f4 is not ideal for low light indoor shots.

Tamron 17-50 f2.8, some good reviews and excellent for the money. Check Amazon on price, I am seriously tempted to buy this lens myself.
 
I would also vote for the Tamron 17-50, you would really need to jump to the Canon 17-55 2.8 to better the IQ.
 
The Greek said:
17-40 f4 might not be wide enough on a crop body like yours, also f4 is not ideal for low light indoor shots.

Tamron 17-50 f2.8, some good reviews and excellent for the money. Check Amazon on price, I am seriously tempted to buy this lens myself.
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Might be worth saying that the 17-40 and 17-50mm are the same width at the wide end.
 
whom said:
I have never owned one, but I have never heard a bad thing said about the Canon 17-55mm F/2.8 IS. Second hand around £550 though...
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Here's a bad thing about the EF-S 17-55: it pumps in dust like a mother!
 
Eddzz!! said:
Here's a bad thing about the EF-S 17-55: it pumps in dust like a mother!
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Its also like going out for a walk with a lead weight tied around your neck :gag:
I had the use of one on a walk once, ended up locking it in the car boot.
 
What about 10-22mm EFs...
On a crop gives you an equivalent 16-35mm...(I realise the irony as it only fits crop due to it being an EFs mount)
It's only £505 on digitalrev
Not as fast as you'd like I realise though...
 
Thanks for the suggestions, it looks like the Tamron is topping the list right now.

Would I be right in thinking I've read the non-VC version is actually better than the VC version on this lens?
 
No1Joker said:
Thanks for the suggestions, it looks like the Tamron is topping the list right now.

Would I be right in thinking I've read the non-VC version is actually better than the VC version on this lens?
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Don't forget the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Depending on whether speed or range is your priority
 
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No1Joker said:
Thanks for the suggestions, it looks like the Tamron is topping the list right now.

Would I be right in thinking I've read the non-VC version is actually better than the VC version on this lens?
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According to internet reports, yes, but I have seen some excellent (very sharp) example images from the VC version as well.
 
Slight curve ball... How about two lenses... The Canon 35 f/2, basically the equivalent of the 50 f/1.8 for crop cameras and a Tokina 11-16 (or 12-24). That would give you good low light ability and great image quality/versatility. Buy used and they should both fit into your budget I think.

I've tried the 17-50 and found it rather plasticy, light and small but it felt like it would break if you even held it wrong... In fact mine did after a week (although from electrical problems). Ended up buying the 35 f/2 to go with my 12-24 as I was looking for something of a food all round lens with good low light capabilities.
 
I used to have the Tamron 17-50 non-VC and it was outstanding optically. The AF is a little noisy but otherwise a superb lens.
 
I had the Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 VC and it was tack sharp wide open the problem with it was that it was very stiff to zoom the lens and it made a clicking noise as it went past 24mm so I returned it and exchanged it and the new lens was very smooth to operate but had terrible optics, and even at F/8 it was no where near as sharp as the first copy! I returned that too and bought a canon 15-85 instead and it's a world apart from the tamron even tho it's not F/2.8. I would definetly consider the tamron but try a couple of copies before parting with ur cash.
 
Best idea ever.

For 500 quid you can get a 5d! Then your 50mm will become wider by 1.6 :D
 
If you main frustration is indoor shots requiring higher ISO, then the other option is to embrace flash - no joke! Angled, bounced, diffused flash will drop your ISO right down, and give you far better working ISO than any realistically priced budget prime or zoom.

18-55 and decent flash [unsure about the Canons, I know Nikon myself] = shots at lower ISO than even using some wonderglass such as a 24/1.4 with available light. Budget £150 of your £500 for a decent flash unit with angle and diffuser, and spend the rest on a zoom or prime of your focal length choice. You might even find the kit 18-55 to be a great lens if you're stopping down beyond f/4, and if you just need a well lit 24mm indoor equivalent then I just saved you £350!

Of course, the best choice is to buy a Nikon and go for the 35mm f/1.8..... Always here to play devil's advocate if you need me... !
 
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Good to see my choices are going from a simple Tammy 17-50 into 3 other options of prime, 5d or Nikon!

I got a bit worried when consensus was pointing to one main option, this feels much more familiar now.

Whom - I am very tempted by full frame, but I think I'll stick to the glass options at the moment. Good idea though.

Dan - I'm pretty sure I can resist the Nikon temptation right now.

I will be having a look at some primes as an alternative to the zooms too: 28mm and 35mm obviously look favourite since I'm still after a decent portrait lens.
They also have an advantage of being reasonably fast given my regular shooting conditions.
 
No1Joker said:
Whom - I am very tempted by full frame, but I think I'll stick to the glass options at the moment. Good idea though.
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The 5DI is the best value camera out there in my completely unbiased (not) opinion. Using it with your 50mm would give you shots that would require a 31mm F/1.1 on your 30D (from the same distance).

But it does make future glass more expensive.
 
whom said:
The 5DI is the best value camera out there in my completely unbiased (not) opinion. Using it with your 50mm would give you shots that would require a 31mm F/1.1 on your 30D (from the same distance).

But it does make future glass more expensive.
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It also makes his 55-250IS redundant.....
 
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Gives a pretty much normal field of view with APS-C and plenty fast for low light.
 
whom said:
Nobody said sell the 30D...
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You would not get on well with my misses! I have a designated kit bag, which remains quite small and I don't think the management would appreciate me deliberating over camera bodies too!

I'll see what I can get off the forums between a 28mm, 35mm and the Tamron 17-50mm

I'm happy to let fate tell me which one is going to be best.
 
No1Joker said:
You would not get on well with my misses! I have a designated kit bag, which remains quite small and I don't think the management would appreciate me deliberating over camera bodies too!

I'll see what I can get off the forums between a 28mm, 35mm and the Tamron 17-50mm

I'm happy to let fate tell me which one is going to be best.
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Buuuuttttt..... If you DID sell the 30D and 55-250mm you'd get around £350. Then you could get a 70-200mm F/4L for £350... and that £500 spent on a 5D....

Hahaha :whistling:
 
Sadly whom, I will resist your attempts to launch me into FF.

Instead I have news of a WANTED thread which has begun by looking for either a 17-50mm or a 28mm 1.8 so if you know someone who is looking to get rid, please point them in the direction of the thread. Thanks.

In an ideal world I'll try and find both, then sell on the one i'm least fond of.
 
No1Joker said:
Sadly whom, I will resist your attempts to launch me into FF.

Instead I have news of a WANTED thread which has begun by looking for either a 17-50mm or a 28mm 1.8 so if you know someone who is looking to get rid, please point them in the direction of the thread. Thanks.

In an ideal world I'll try and find both, then sell on the one i'm least fond of.
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Ah well, it was worth a try!
 
Alastair said:
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Gives a pretty much normal field of view with APS-C and plenty fast for low light.
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Well this is what I have picked up off the forum.
I can't wait to get home and have a play about.

I have put my 28-105mm up for sale, as I can't see myself ever picking this up again with the 30mm, 50mm and 55-250mm in the bag.

I just need to save up for a 70-200 2.8 L IS, then I'm sorted!
 
I would go with the tam 17-50 none vc and sell the 30d for a nikon! :)
 
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