Lens recommendations please

AndyBorzi · 26 Apr 2006 at 11:45

I'm umming and arring over what to spend some money on!! Options are: New PC, New camera (30D or 20D) or new lens! Don't think I can justify spending 800-900 on new camera or PC though.

I have a 300D and I want to upgrade from the kit lens for general purpose use. I have come across these lenses in my initial research which will suit my style of photography:

Canon 50mm f1.8 - is a given!!

Sigma 18-50 F2.8 - approx £300
Canon 17-85 IS F4.5-5.6 - approx £400
Canon 17-40 F4L - approx £530

I know SDK recommends the 17-40L but does anyone have any experience of these other lenses? Or can anyone recommend another similar?

Also what web sites do good reviews/tests of lenses?

Cheers

AB

SCM · 26 Apr 2006 at 12:35

The 17-85mm IS lens is an ok lens but i have found it can be soft at focal lengths under 50mm and these days i am not using at much as i used to. Well not since i got the 50mm F1.8 as this tends to be my walkabout lens now and the walking about to get the subject in frame i can take for now.

The 17-40mm L is on my list to buy sometime later in the year.

SCM

Braeden · 26 Apr 2006 at 12:43

I have the 17-85 IS USM lens and overall I am very happy with it. At 17mm it can tend to be a tad soft and has some barrel distortion if you are taking shots of buildings etc (some would call it perspective).

It is a very good walkabout lens though, with a decent zoom length (I tend to use 24mm upwards to avoid the distortion) and the IS is great.

If your main subject is landscapes and you want to use the widest angle most of the time, then I would say go for the 17-40L as from what I have seen and read, the two don't compare.

I have been toying with the idea of replacing my 17-85 with the 24-105L IS USM for some time as I tend not to do too many landscape shots - maybe another lens to consider?

Braeden · 26 Apr 2006 at 12:45

Also, for reviews, go here:

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

AndyBorzi · 26 Apr 2006 at 14:15

Just seen another which got a fairly decent write up on PhotoZone: Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4 - tis only around £240 as well.

Does anyone have any experience with the Sigma 18-50F2.8 or the 17-70

I like the idea of the 17-70 reach though