lens

[slysam]

Hi all
I have a chance of buying a Tamron 28-200 af aspherical ld lens which i would like to use as my main walkabout lens as i find i have to chop and change alot with my current 17-35, 35-80 and 70-300mm lenses but friend has told me i,ll loose alot of quality with the tamron lens. I'm on a tight budget and the tamron lens is going to cost me £140 (used but in good condition). thanks Sam

 

[Canon Bob]

Sam,

The normal trade off for a large zoom range is image quality....that's the balance you need to rationalise.
I'm guessing that you're using Canon gear and the 17-35 is the L version...maybe I'd wrong.
I have a 35-350L.....very nice range (if a little heavy) for a walkabout but it can't compete with the 2x or 3x zooms within its class...the 17-35L, 28-70L and 70-200L. I use these for comparison as they are supposedly the same quality.
If the 28-200 was going to give you additional coverage then it would be worth it but you might find that you're still swapping lenses...only this time it'll be for quality rather than length.
Bob

 

[dcash29]

Sam

What do you normally use now? because the tamron would only fully cover two of your exsisting lenses.

Now i wonder if you take the majority of shots between 28-200? That would be worth looking at.

Otherwise i would have bought an image stablising lens, either secondhand/new or a 70-200 as Bob suggested.

Can you test or even borrow the Tamron?

I'm only thinking of your tight budget as once its gone id be worried you'd be dissapointed with your purchase, although on saying that you might be able to claw back a good part of your outlay by selling your 35-80 & 70-300.

see here for comparision chart. Have a look throught the list and comnpare to your own if available.

Dave