lens advice

Pete McC

Pete McC

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Sorry if this has been done to death, but I'm looking into buying a Sigma lens for my Canon 400D for taking pics at a friends wedding. So far I've looked at:
Sigma DC 18-50mm f/2.8
Sigma EX 24-60mm F/2.8
Sigma EX DG Aspherical 24-70mm f/2.8

They all seem to get decent reviews online with the occassional bad one, but nothing to say that one is better than another.
I was going to go with my old 35-135 USM Canon lens but now I'm not even sure that any of these will be better than that. without trying them it's hard to know and as I'm on a budget it's going to be an online auction purchase.
Any advice on these lenses welcome - or if you have any other recommendations fire away, I am on a pretty low budget though so no L series! most of these^^ can be picked up second hand for around £70 ish so that's what I'm aiming for (yeah I know it's not great)
 
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The 18-50 2.8 for £70? That sounds very cheap..

What about a 50mm f1.8?

(BTW, VW PeteMcC?)
 
Yep VW PeteMcC, where do you know me from then? :)
I have a 50mm 1.8, wanted something with a bit more of a range than a fixed length lens, so you're saying the 18-50 would be the more desireable lens? I really have little idea about them as they all seem fairly similar to me, hence this thread!
 
Hi Pete Justin(oval) here. ;)

I just suggested the 50mm as it's an f1.8 lens, and around £70 - very handy inside where lighting can be poor.

If the 18-50 is 2.8 through the full range (and not 2.8-4.5), I'd grab it. I was looking at one for €380 last week.
 
I can't see the sigma being any better. I use sigma and tamron before and they both the same to me. Canon and Nikon is much better build.

If you don't abuse your gear then it will be alright. I had my tamron for 1 year and is still as new and perfect, i use it all the time.
 
Agree that both manufacturers feel quite the same in build quality. I had Tamron 17-50 f2.8, after two years of good use (no abuse at all) the internal parts failed (zoom ring will not turn without cracking plastic sounds). Must say Tamron Germany was very good at dealing with lens that was 2 years old, they fixed it for free and it came back feeling like a brand new lens. :)

edit - It was my most used lens at the time, it got constant use. Maybe Tamron was not designed for that.
 
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Ah Justin, long time no speak, hope you're well mate :) no I think it was a 2.8-4 so only 2.8 at the wide end, still, would have been useful for close up portraits and such. It's more optical quality I'm after, not necessarily best build as that doesn't come across in the pictures! :) I have a squeaky old plastic tamron 28-200 which is just awful though so I know where you're coming from, but if it took decent photos I'd live with it, it doesn't though.
 
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