A all round walk about lens?

atmax1 · 27 Dec 2011 at 14:37

Hey guys & girls,

I am looking for a all round lens for when im walking about london, I have a Canon 500D and was thinking about a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 SP Di for £359.95 is this a good pick? or should I save up for a 60D or a 7D and carry on walking with the 50mm and 55-250mm?

(lenses I have: Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 55 - 250mm and a Sigma 10 - 20mm DC lens)

theheyes · 27 Dec 2011 at 15:11

I'd go for the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 non-VC version as I'd miss the wide end more than the long. It's a great lens and fairly well balanced on a 500D.

Sig226 · 27 Dec 2011 at 17:12

If the F2.8 part isn't an issue you could try the 15-85mm EF-S, I got mine with my 7D and have to admit its a pretty good general lens.

Regards Simon

SMed · 27 Dec 2011 at 17:30

If you have the money, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. If not, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8.

atmax1 · 27 Dec 2011 at 23:08

Thanks for the post back guys,

I dont have the money for them more costly canon lenses at the moment but I dont mind saving a bit more if its worth it? (can most likely streach to £600ish next month) I was looking at the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 but can somebody email me via trust to the non vc one? or post here if you allowed?

hyster · 27 Dec 2011 at 23:26

Don't bother with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, its a cracking lens, its quiet and better built but the images are just as good with a good copy of the Tamron.

I've owned both, if lack of IS and a wee bit of motor noise is not an issue, save some cash and buy the Tammy.

theheyes · 27 Dec 2011 at 23:37

If you search "tamron 17-50" on the rainforest site it's the one at £262

ARD · 27 Dec 2011 at 23:46

Depends on what you want, if speed isn't too much of an issue then go for the Canon 17-40 f4L - cracking lens, wide enough on your 500D for most landscape shots, and enough zoom to get that bit extra if needed.

Lead_Head · 30 Dec 2011 at 11:07

What about the Canon 24-105mm f4 L lens? You could then potentially sell the Canon 55-250mm to help fund?

Second hand they are usually around £600.

Nazbit · 31 Dec 2011 at 18:34

The first decent lens I bought was the Canon 24 - 105 L F4 IS, I wanted one lens to do as much as possible, before I had the funds to invest in others.

I've since bought a couple of faster zooms and primes that I love, but while each lens excels in a particular area, if I just want one lens to walk about with I still go to the 24 - 105.

It doesn't do any one thing spectacularly, but as a single lens compromise its a pretty good all rounder. Its got a decent zoom range so it can handle most landscapes at the wide end (in my experience, some people prefer UWA) and at the long end its good for architecture and travel with portraits somewhere in the middle.

Its often compared to the 24 - 70 L F2.8, which is obviously a stop faster, but I think that for me the 24 - 105 has a more useful range, plus it has IS and is smaller, lighter and cheaper.

A lot of people also recommend the 17 - 55 F2.8 IS for crop cameras but I don't have any experience of it.

The 17-55 is within your budget, the 24 - 105 would have to be second hand.

julianhj · 31 Dec 2011 at 19:26

I've got the Tamron 17-50mm and my wife has the 17-40 f4L. I'd have the 17-40 if I could, but the Tamron is very good. You can get the 17-40 for about £585 at the moment.