Sharp walkabout for my 550d

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marlie

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Marlon
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Hi Guys, i am looking to buy a new lens for my 550d,

I already have a sigma 10-20 and a nifty fifty and want a lens to finish off my photograpy gear!!

budget around £500

I heard the tamron 17-50 is pretty good?

thanks guys
 
That's another i was looking at myself. Not sure though and i am sick of looking at review after review!! Mind bogling for me.
 
The tamron is a good choice but you're limiting your range to a max of 50mm, do you want anything longer?
 
I have a tamron 17-50mm. Would very much recommend it
 
I've been using the Tamron 17-50 non VC and the Canon 18-135 on my 550D. The Tamron is great and with the 18mp you can get some really sharp and detailed pictures but, I do find that its not long enough some times. This is where the 18-135 comes in real handy, image quality isn't as good as the Tamron but when you get the focus spot on its not too bad, especially with a little sharpening in post.
 
15-85 is a cracker of a lens :-)

Great range for a walkabout, the 15 is surprising wide :) and the 85 is reasonably long for a zoom in....

The contrast, colours and sharpness is excellent...

I love mine..
 
See, ask a simple question and you get several different answers!! lol
 
CSB said:
I've been using the Tamron 17-50 non VC and the Canon 18-135 on my 550D. The Tamron is great and with the 18mp you can get some really sharp and detailed pictures but, I do find that its not long enough some times. This is where the 18-135 comes in real handy, image quality isn't as good as the Tamron but when you get the focus spot on its not too bad, especially with a little sharpening in post.
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Indeed, the canon 18-135 is a great little lens, very underrated, and I find it needs very little sharpening on the 50d. Range is very useful and under certain conditions it's as sharp as some of my primes.
 
I had a Tamron 17-50 ages ago but sold it. I have another coming this week!
WOOP WOOP!!:love:
 
legarm said:
See, ask a simple question and you get several different answers!! lol
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My head hurts choices, choices. I have the kit EF-S 18-55 F/3.5-5.6 is
and 70-300 F4-5.6 is USM

Do I save up for a 24-70L or go for the Sigma 17-70. I also fancy a 30mm:thinking:

Canon 24-105 F/4L is USM about £570+
Canon EF 24-70L F/2.8 about £909+
Canon 15-85 F/3.5-5.6 about £500+
Canon 18-135 F/3.5-5.6 about £255+
Canon EF 85mm F/1.8 USM about £285+
Sigma EX 30mm F1.4 about £300+
Sigma zoom 17-70 F/2.8-4.0 about £290+
Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 XR Di LD [IF] about £245+
 
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mipevo6 said:
15-85 is a cracker of a lens :-)

Great range for a walkabout, the 15 is surprising wide :) and the 85 is reasonably long for a zoom in....

The contrast, colours and sharpness is excellent...

I love mine..
Click to expand...

I'll vouch for this. It might not be L, but for an EF-s lens there's very little that can beat it.

@Sausages, I have the exact same lenses as you, but decided I wanted something better as walkabout for a holiday, so I hired a 15-85 from Lensesforhire for a month. Loved it so much that I knew exactly which lens I wanted next. Eight months later, mission accomplished. :)

Second choice was the 24-105 for similar money, but rejected it because I didn't think it'd be wide enough for me (38mm equiv. on a crop body).

Hiring isn't a bad idea if you're not sure, though obviously it pushes up the final cost.
 
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legarm said:
15-85 is a nice lens. Has it got IS?
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Yup! IS and USM (Ultra Sonic Motor)

Out of all the above mentioned the Tamron and Sigma 17070 represent the best value for money in my opinion. The Canon 24-105 f4L is my fave as the IQ is superb from corner to corner and it feels really well made.
 
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MarkG thanks for the advice, I will have to give this ago, might also hire the
F/2.8 70-200L mmmm (wife's gona kill me lol)

I like the idea of lower light coverage offered by the Sigma zoom 17-70 F/2.8-4.0 but does anyone rate this lens, was hoping to use it at a wedding coming up for the indoor do and outside?
 
I'd certainly advise faster glass for indoor use, but whether the Sigma is any good is another matter (friend has one and I've heard it is). Plenty of wedding 'togs around here who can advise on that specific subject if you need.
 
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The Sigma is definitely sharp and I'd highly recommend it as a walkabout lens but as your considering the lens for wedding use I'd say the Tamron 17-50mm would be the better choice. The Tamron has a constant f/2.8 aperture which will be more important in low light.
 
Mark.A said:
The Sigma is definitely sharp and I'd highly recommend it as a walkabout lens but as your considering the lens for wedding use I'd say the Tamron 17-50mm would be the better choice. The Tamron has a constant f/2.8 aperture which will be more important in low light.
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That seems like a decent lens and not too pricey either
 
legarm said:
15-85 is a nice lens. Has it got IS?
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If you know it's a nice lens then you must know if it's got IS?

Why not look up the Canon website or Warehouse Express or a multitude of other websites to find this info before asking here, it would take you seconds? :cuckoo:
 
Jackwow said:
If you know it's a nice lens then you must know if it's got IS?

Why not look up the Canon website or Warehouse Express or a multitude of other websites to find this info before asking here, it would take you seconds? :cuckoo:
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Sorry but being dyslexic has its problems. Didn't notice the IS sorry.
 
i would put in the Sigma 18-125mm OS i told my brother and his lady to get that as a nice little run around lens, gives a nice range and is not overly huge or expensive

£255 from WE
 
I carnt believe nobody has mentioned the canon 17-55 2.8 IS, i have just purchesed this lens a few weeks ago and its amazing, very sharp, super fast focusing and great in low light with the 2.8 and IS is a huge bonus, and for £500 you should be able to pick up a nice s/h one.......
 
Andy77 said:
I carnt believe nobody has mentioned the canon 17-55 2.8 IS, i have just purchesed this lens a few weeks ago and its amazing, very sharp, super fast focusing and great in low light with the 2.8 and IS is a huge bonus, and for £500 you should be able to pick up a nice s/h one.......
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Maybe because it is SO expensive? Great lens though, one of the very best!
 
if you want an f2.8 fixed then why not consider the new Sigma 17-50 f2.8 OS EX- built for a crop sensor:thumbs: it's reviewing better than the Canon 17-55is.
 
Depends if you want speed over range, not to mention cost.

I had the 15-85 IS USM and loved it; for me the range was more important than the faster aperture, but your needs may vary.
 
Speed isn't as important as range, but I don't want to compromise the sharpness, what is your views on the sharpness and CA between them?
 
If you mainly take images in good light then the 15-85 would be absolutely fine. I had a 24-105 f4L which was very usable even in late afternoon summer light when the light started fading. If you shoot indoors a lot then the f/2.8 may be worth it but you will lose the long focal length.

Out of the 2 i would go for the 15-85 as i mainly shoot out doors in good light.

If you ever get worried buy a monopod to steady the camera so you can have longer exposures.
 
Hope said:
Speed isn't as important as range, but I don't want to compromise the sharpness, what is your views on the sharpness and CA between them?
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Have a look at the flickr group....
http://www.flickr.com/groups/canon1585/

I went for the 15-85 as I wanted the range....

As a walkabout on a crop sensor it is fantastic...

The sharpness is excellent, but it is supposed to have a little CA at the wide end, but I never see it.
 
i am looking at the 15-85 or the 24-105 but cant decide
 
lee.e said:
i am looking at the 15-85 or the 24-105 but cant decide
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On what camera ?

24 is very restrictive on a crop.....

Try your kit lens at only 24 and above and see what you think...
 
Another vote for the 15-85. I got one with my 7D at a price that would be rude to refuse. I didn't use it much to start with but the other day I had a play with it, and was impressed at it's resolving power.

IMG_0425.jpg



100% crop

IMG_0425crop.jpg
 
mipevo6 said:
On what camera ?

24 is very restrictive on a crop.....

Try your kit lens at only 24 and above and see what you think...
Click to expand...

sorry on the 550d, i agree i think the 15-85 is going to be the choice for me
 
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