Lens choice - help required!

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otisthedog

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Tim
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Hi folks,

New to this forum and wondered if anyone can please help... have spent ages googling but have totally confused myself!

I shoot outdoors (fishing in wild places primarily) with a Canon 30D. I have a 50mm f1.8 and Canon 18-55mm IS. I'm not 100% happy with the IQ of the 18-55IS and am therefore looking for an alternative.
Ideally the lens would be a touch wider and it's got to be good in very low light (carrying a tripod is a hassle as I often need to hike a long way and already have to carry fishing kit).
My budget is around £400, £450 tops (happy to buy used if necessary) so I can't quite stretch to the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS (which I seem to think may be the best option), but what lens would be my best choice to see a noticeable change in IQ over the 18-55IS?

Many thanks

Tim
 
How about Canon 15-85mm? If you like wide..

For low light you may get away with F2.8 depending how low it is.
 
Thanks for that, but the 15-85 isn't f2.8 - is it? Nice zoom range though if the IQ is good. The other one in mind was a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 - would that be noticeably better IQ than Canon 18-55IS and, if so, should I go for the VC version considering the low light factor?

Please keep suggestions coming!

Thanks
 
The Tamron 17-50mm is a very nice lens, nice and sharp, but people don't seem to like the VC version, so you might be better off going with the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM, but it is more expensive.
 
Thanks Joe,

Have just ordered a Tamron 17-50 (non VC) from onestop. Can't persuade myself to part with the extra cash for the Sigma and it seems from all reviews etc that the Tamron should the best IQ for that price. I went for IQ over low light performance but at f2.8 I s'pose it should be ok anyway. We shall see...!
 
Have been using this since Christmas, very happy with it so far, and a big step up from my kit lens
 
otisthedog said:
Thanks Joe,

Have just ordered a Tamron 17-50 (non VC) from onestop. Can't persuade myself to part with the extra cash for the Sigma and it seems from all reviews etc that the Tamron should the best IQ for that price.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's the same conclusion I came to when I got mine :)
I'm sure you'll enjoy using this lens
 
Get the non VC tamron, its as sharp as a sharp thing and has no downside apart from no USM.
 
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