Recommendations for standard Canon lens

Steeps said:
OS is Sigma's Optical Stabilization (IS), HSM is the focusing motor for quiet quick focusing.

The Sigma 17-70 should be a good walkabout everyday lens due to its features, but I haven't tried one to know what the picture quality is like. I have owned both a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (non VC) and 28-75 f2.8, both cost about £180 second hand and really enjoyed using both. :)
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I own the 17-70mm and have owned the Tamron and much prefer the Sigma.

The focus's faster and closer, the OS is great and the focal length more versatile.
 
Columbo said:
I own the 17-70mm and have owned the Tamron and much prefer the Sigma.

The focus's faster and closer, the OS is great and the focal length more versatile.
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but isn't the sigma an equivalent focal length built for non full frame cameras meaning it can't be used on a full frame?

Conversely, If i opt for the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, i take the focal range would actually be 27-80mm on a non-full frame.. Unless I'm misunderstanding eveything..
 
Admiral Huddy said:
but isn't the sigma an equivalent focal length built for non full frame cameras meaning it can't be used on a full frame?

Conversely, If i opt for the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, i take the focal range would actually be 27-80mm on a non-full frame.. Unless I'm misunderstanding eveything..
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Neither lens is designed for full frame, basically what ever the focal length is multiply it by 1.6 to get your full frame equivalent focal length, whether the lens is full frame compatible or not is irrelevant because you own a 400D which is APS-C

Both lenses are equivalent to 27mm at the wide end with differences at the long end, the Sigma is 112mm and the Tamron 80mm. The Tamron has a constant f2.8 and the Sigma closes down to F4 at its telephoto which is still none to shabby.

My advice would be to buy for what you want now, not for what you may or may not want to do in the future.
 
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Admiral Huddy said:
I'm looking to invest in a decent standard 35mm - 70mm standard lens for a Canon 400D. Probably prepared to spend up to around £300.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks
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What do you want to use the lens for?

Do you want a zoom lens that covers wide to normal that is useful for general walk about, or a fixed focal prime length that is less flexible but has a faster aperture?

Do you want a lens primarily for portraits, or landscapes, or a bit of everything?


When people want a standard/normal lens they often refer to a 50mm prime lens as used on a FF sensors, so look at a 35mm for crop. Unfortunately Canon don't have a lens like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 but there are a few options, sigma 30mm f/1.4 ART for example.

For zoom lenses it mostly comes down to a choice of a shorter zoom range with a faster aperture, or a longer zoom range and slower aperture. Personally I prefer the latter option and extensively use a Nikon 16-8mm f/5.6 VR as it is very sharp, contrasty, fast to focus, small, light and has a great zoom range from very wide to moderate tele. If I want to use a faster lens then I use prime lenses (35mm, 50mm and 85mm f/1.8). I have a very expensive Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 which I never use.

Other people will prefer one of the 17-50mm f/2.8 offerings.
Personally I would skip these and go for the sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 if the wider end was of more importance.
 
As D.P says, what're you using it for. I'm only a beginner still :p

Personally I'd be looking at a prime, depending on your budget you could be looking at the 50mm f/1.8 from Canon or also from Canon a f/2.8(unsure if thats the widest) 40mm Pancake. Both are good however are primes but primes are a very good starting point as they teach you to zoom with your feet :)

prime = fixed focal length :)
 
That's all well and good but the budget is £300 so how is he going to buy the sigma 18-35mm f/2.8!?

Focal length doesn't change, you just see a smaller portion of the image.

IMHO your budget doesn't facilitate a lens that will be worth carrying over to FF, nor will it be worth lugging around the extra glass on the front of a xxxD camera in case you ever go full frame.
 
I agree with Janesy B about the full frame part. I personally know that if I go full frame then I'll be able to afford to buy some new lenses. But again, it depends on what you want it for.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
So basically avoid lenses that are designed for APS-C cameras ( non full frame)? if intended to use it on a fill frame later.
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No, not at all, buy lenses for what you have now. Even if you go full frame I'd say keep the 400D anyway. Two bodies are always a good idea.

Don't get too hung up on the full frame focal equivalence, I probably confused things, apologies. Once you know how 10, 18, 50 and 70mm look through the viewfinder on your camera, that's all you really need to know.

If you're going to be taking photos in good light and don't need aperture, also don't discount superzooms if you're starting out on a budget. I have a Tamron 18-270 f3.5-6.3 with image stabilisation, and I still use it when I want to go light. Some spit on superzooms, but apart from (easily correctable) distortion on mine at the wide end, I rate it as a lens. Sure my 70-200 f2.8 is sharper if I pixel peep, but at the cost of weight, expense and flexibility.
 
Looking and landscapes and buildings for now but I see your point about not worrying too much about the ff. I guess there's always an oppertunty to sell if I go down that route. I already have a Canon 50mm Prime f/1.8 but not used it much yet.

The Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 seems like a good choice for me if i can get one second hand. Then a bit further down the line a 28-75 f2.8.

So just to be clear on this .. on my 400d, the 17-50 will be is will be 27-80mm as it's a APS-C type camera, always multiply the focal lengths by 1.6?

edit..

CGrieves said:
No, not at all, buy lenses for what you have now. Even if you go full frame I'd say keep the 400D anyway. Two bodies are always a good idea.

Don't get too hung up on the full frame focal equivalence, I probably confused things, apologies. Once you know how 10, 18, 50 and 70mm look through the viewfinder on your camera, that's all you really need to know.
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Sorry i was typing as you posted CGrieves.. I see your point and thanks for the advice about not getting too hung up about the full frame..

Edit 2 - thanks to everyone actually.. Things are a little clearer. Not not made a final decision but the Tamron does sound like a good choice.. Been reading some excellent reviews too.. An ideal replacement for the 17-50 stock lens i have.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
I guess there's always an oppertunty to sell if I go down that route. I already have a Canon 50mm Prime f/1.8 but not used it much yet.
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Ah, awesome, you can have a lot of fun with the plastic fantastic!

So just to be clear on this .. on my 400d, the 17-50 will be is will be 27-80mm as it's a APS-C type camera, always multiply the focal lengths by 1.6?
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Kinda... the "standard zoom" or general walkaround lens for a 35mm camera (that's 35mm sensor/film size, not focal length) was around twenty something to seventy something mm. To get the equivalent framing on a crop sensor you divide by 1.6 for Canon or 1.5 for Nikon because the sensors are smaller. So that's what gives you 18-50 for a standard zoom for crop.

There's no rules to this though, so plenty of people use 24-70mm full frame lenses as a standard zoom on a crop camera. Depends what you consider wide enough for your purposes.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
If I use a 35mm lens on a standard camera it will be 56mm.. but if I use it on a full frame, it is quoted 35mm. Have i got that right?
?
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No such thing as a 'standard' camera - there are different film and sensor sizes.

Your 400D has a 'cropped' sensor, i.e it is smaller than full frame. Full frame equates to the sensor size being the same size as a traditional 35mm film negative.

A 35mm lens is always a 35mm lens.

What you will see people referring to is the fact that on a crop sensor a 35mm lens will give the equivalent angle of view of a 56mm lens on full frame (i.e 35mm multiplied by by 1.5 (Nikon) or 1.6 (Canon).

The following article is a bit equation heavy, but it explains sensor formats and their sizes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format

This next article illustrates crop factors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

The only thing you need to watch out for is if you are purchasing lenses that are designed for Crop sensor Canons, you cannot use them on Full frame Canons (if you upgrade in the future). In the case of Canon lenses it is easier to differentiate between the two

EF-s = for Crop sensor cameras and cannot be used on full frame
EF = can be used on Full frame AND crop sensor bodies.
 
^^ And for Nikon lenses design for crop sensors are labeled DX.
On nikon all DX lenses will also work on FX cameras but have a reduced image circle, so you can either use them in a DX crop mode or crop the images yourself later in post. Many DX lenses work well with the 1.2x crop that most Nikon FF cameras offer.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
That a very useful clear and precise post Andy90. Thanks :)]




I have decided to go for the Tamron SP AF17-50mm f2.8 . I don't think it designed exclusively to crop lenses:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-AF17...-Mount/dp/B002OED6ZQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I've just seen this in camera world
http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/used-tamron-17-50mm-f2-8-di-ii-yc-canon-eos-fit.html

I take it they are not the same lens.
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Looks like the same lens to me. The VC version isn't as good optically as the non-VC version (http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...LensComp=679&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0 for an excellent comparison tool). But bear in mind if you're shooting static subjects, hand-held in low light a lot, the IS may be more beneficial than the better IQ....

For Tamron lenses "Di" in the model name means "crop only"- i.e. the lens won't work on full-frame bodies.
 
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