£300 lens

Mint_Sauce

Mint_Sauce

Mint_Sauce

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I've got the 350D with the kit lens, I'm torn between keeping the kit lens and opting for a more wide angle lens which would also be good for general photography (up to a point). When I have shots that it can't do then I can swap back to the kit lens.

Or

Replacing the kit lens with a better lens of similar range and then saving up for a more extreme wide angle lens at a later date.

Not sure which I would get the most use from. I'll mostly be shooting general shots from sunsets to nice scenes (nothing out of the ordinary). Maybe a good general lens would be a better option even though I love the look of wide angle.
 
try to find a second hand 17-40 L or a 17-85mm, both of which can be had for £300-350 approx

I also hear the Tamron 24-135mm is really sharp and is £300 ish new - read the user reviews here
 
Thanks,

Not sure which would be better

17-40 L or a 17-85mm. I guess the 17-40 L takes sharper pictures but at the expense of the range?

I do have a voucher book from Canon, I think it gives £70 off the price of the 17-40mm L. How much are they new?

Edit: ERK, about £600. Perhaps i'll go second hand.
 
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I'm reading a LOT of good things about the new Tamron 17-50. I haven't seen a street price yet, but around £300 seems likely.
The reviews seem to suggest that it's at least on par with a 17-40L.
 
I would get the Tamron 17-50 F2.8 OR if you wanted more range at lower quality then the Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4.5. Reviews of these and many lenses can be found here:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

The Tamron apears to be sharper at all Apetures in the centre and edge than the Canon 17-40L! It does have slightly higher CA and vignetting though and of course it's not built like an L.

The Tamron is likely to be about £300 whereas the Sigma is about £230
 
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I will probably get flammed for saying this but every sigma i have tried has been soft, personally I would give the Tamron a try, if you look at the sample pics int at review Gregeff posted they are impressive if they are are the unsharpened originals
 
Yeah, I think the Tamron is a good lens from what i've read up about it. Now, wonder where I can find one to buy today!

EDIT: Doesn't look like it's in the shops yet. :(
 
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Mint_Sauce said:
Yeah, I think the Tamron is a good lens from what i've read up about it. Now, wonder where I can find one to buy today!

EDIT: Doesn't look like it's in the shops yet. :(
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I can vouch for Tamron quality. I have the 17-35mm and it's absolutely fantastic! Was £330.
 
Have you got any links to pics you've taken with it? I know it won't be exactly the same as they're different lenses but it would give me some idea. :)
 
Mint_Sauce said:
Is the Tamron worth the £70 more?
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Depends what you want! ;)

The Tamron is Sharper from Centre to edge and Has constant F2.8.

Th Sigma is £70 less and has an extra 20mm of range. -edit/ oh and the Sigma has relativly good macro performance too!

I'm probably just about to buy a Canon 350D and can't decide between these two lenses either!!
 
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Think it's the Tamron for me! Just have to wait about until they appear in the shops, bah.

How about a cheap, good performing macro/wide angle lens, around £150? I'd buy second hand. :)
 
Note that the Tamron 17-50 can be bought for £175 in Japan, if that's any use to you. As it's meant to be able to outperform a 17-40L, guess it's fairly good.
 
Well, I went out and bought a Sigma 10-20mm and it's wicked. Unfortunately my battery died just before I got to download the pics :(

Almost bought the Canon 10-22mm but the extra cost was pretty big and didn't come with a lens hood. From the pics I've seen the Sigma looks spot on anyway so opted for that.

Now I'm just waiting for the Tamron 17-50mm and then after that a zoom lens!
 
I took a pic with the Sigma 10-20mm lens, wow - what a difference in quality from the kit lens!

plant_small.jpg


LARGE PIC (4MB)

Really glad I bought this lens even if it does mean beans for the next month. I'm really hoping the weather will be nice tomorrow so I can go out and get some good shots with it.
 
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