10D and OEM lenses

[k-j-m]

Hey all - am almost ready to purchase my 10D and I have a question about lenses. I really like what I have heard about Tamron's XR 28-300mm, and am considering getting one to use with the 10D. My supplier is recomending against it, saying there have been "problems" (although he did not elaborate) with OEM lenses and says I should stick with a Canon lens.

Anyone out there use a Tamron with their 10D? Advice? Comments? Thanks in advance!

kjm

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Hi,

There is a big "battle" between Canon users and NON-canon users.
I stay in between :D to be save.
Go with Canon lenses if you can afford them, but immediatly start to shop in the medium/high budget area.

I have used some cheap Canon lenses and they sucked big time.

At the moment I use Sigma, and especially the 70-210 f2.8 Apo will challenge a L lens from Canon, the other ones will beat Canon in the same price range.

Best would be to start out with for example Sigma, Tamron or Tokina and start saving for L-glass from Canon, on the other hand...... what do you do with your camera, for me as a hobbyist Sigma will be the best I ever need. But again I don't buy the cheapest Sigma arround, the 70-200 f2.8 retails over here for arround € 1100,00 (I bought the 70-210 f2.8 Apo second hand for arround € 450,00).

Hope this helps a bit.

Greetings,
Frank

[Belmondo]

You have entered the twilight zone.
This is the area of greatest controversy among Canon users, and here are the combatants:
1. Use Canon lenses only.
2. Use Canon ‘L’ lenses only.
3. Use third-party lenses.

You will read all sorts of arguments favoring each position, and many (although not all) will be reasonable and well thought out. The point is, these are just opinions, and they are based in large part on the experience and needs of the writer. In no way do they represent any kind of consensus among Canon owners.

One of my favorites is the rhetorical question, “Why buy a $1500 camera and put a cheap lens on it?” The answer is, “Many of the ‘cheap’ lenses are quite good and will give very adequate performance.” It all depends on your own needs. Questions you’ll have to ask yourself are, “Do I need the best price-is-no-object lens, the best lens for the money, or the least expensive lens I can find?” After you figure that out, you’ll have a much better idea of how to proceed with your lens search.

You will also read many horror stories about reliability problems with third-party lenses as well as compatibility issues with AF programming. My own experience with a Sigma lens falls into this category, but I’m far from being an anti-Sigma evangelist. To the contrary; I’ve read enough favorable comments from satisfied users to be satisfied that my problem, although not unique, was still the exception.

Anyway, don’t be bullied into thinking the only way you can derive satisfaction from your photographic experience is to spend obscene amounts of money on Canon ‘L’ glass---there are alternatives.

Good luck.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Hi,

Why do people always call Sigma cheap lensen ???

I own 3 Sigma's and one was only € 269,00 the other one was € 1150,00 and € 799,00. That are NOT cheap lenses.

Greetings.
Frank

[Joytek]

I have only two lenses. The 17-40 ef f4 L and the 70-200 ef f4 L. Both are well priced, for an L lens that is. Both perform really well and I would recommend them to you, as long as you have the cash to buy them (about a grand cad. each)

I don't know anything about non-canon lenses. Sorry.

w.

[MediaMagic]

Hi k-j-m,
I use an older Tamron lens. I also bought Canon L lenses. The L glass is better, obviously, but that doesn't mean the new Tamron 28-300 will not meet your needs. The main thing is to take your 10D (or just buy a CF card and reader first and use a 10D there since you don't have yours yet) up to your local camera shop and try the Tamron lens you are interested in purchasing. They will let you take quite a number of shots with different lenses. I've yet to be in a shop that won't.

I think the consensus with Tamron is that you either get a great lens, or you get not so great. I guess it's a QA issue. But, the only way to know if you are getting what you want/need is to try the lens on your 10D, and then also try some others in the same price range, and then try some more expensive glass. That way you'll be comparing apples to apples, and also throwing some oranges in there to see how that lens rates against the more expensive options.

Take your CF card home and compare the shots. That way you will be able to make an informed choice. Don't take anyone's "opinion". Only your own eyes can determine if a lens will meet your needs. If the 28-300 will meet both your needs and sharpness criteria, then buy that sucker and shoot away because your own eyes saw and were satisfied.

Good luck!
David

[SemieE]

The place I got my 10D from doesn't sell anything but Canon lenses (for the EOS range). I asked about Sigma that the guy said something about their main customers are mostly professional so they don't sell Sigma (or something like that).

Needless to say I've been sticking with Canon because I really don't want to shop anywhere else here as most other stores are more expensive.

About Canons vs. Canon L lens: I've been reading about this quite a bit and from what I gather someone like me (that doesn't have thousands to spend on one lens) can get away with buy good Canon prime lenses and get great optical quality and sharpness that comes damn close to what you would get on a L zoom lens. (That's why I've decided to by a 20mm 2.8 over a 17-40mm 4.)

But anyone may feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm still fairly new at this and most of what I know is what I've scoured the internet for.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Lots of prefoessionals use Non OEM lenses (by the by,. OEM means Canon or Nikon,. Non-OEM means Sigma or Tamron on a Nikon or Canon body)

I have a mixed bag including "Cheap" basic Canon,. "Expensive" Canon "L", and "cheap" basic Sigma and "Expansive" Sigma "EX".

I will say this,. you get what you pay for in most instances,. BUT that does not rule out other brands. As JAF said,. Non_OEM manufactureres like Sigma make good lenses and bad lenses,. so does Canon.

I own a Sigma 28mm-300mm lens similar to the tamron. It is "The worst" lens I have for quality,. but I still use it. It is far too handy to give up. I think it makes a great walking around lens.

But!, I feel I NEED the 300mm even on my "basic" lens as I shoot wildlife,. and to nbe caught without a long reach would really bug me. Otherwise I would use a 28-135mm Canon for the sae purpose.

Once ou decide to go for more specialized high quality lenses, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal that Sigma's "EX" line. I use mine much more often than my Canon "L" lens.

[k-j-m]

Thank you all for your sound advice - I appreciate it. Perhaps I may go ahead and order my 10d without a lens (I can use the 35-80mm off of my Rebel initially) and, as suggested, take the camera to various stores and test run some different lenses. I do like the L series from Canon, but considering how long it has taken me to save up enough for the camera, it will be awhile until I can consider those!

kjm

[jim monroe]

Let me add my 2 cents.
First, all the above comments seemed to me based on reading this forum to be, for lack of a better word, tame and reasonable advice on what can become for some a very hot topic.
I purchased a 10D 2 months ago. At the time was a complete novice and went by generally the advice of the local camera store where I purchased the camera. They recommended exactly the Tamron lens mentioned in the start of this thread, XR 28-300 mm. I wanted to shoot a large variety of subjects so I guess it made some sense to get a zoom with this much variation in focal length. Also they sell mostly Tamron lenses based on what I see in their store. Since I think it was SemieE who said his store strongly recommended Canon lens and sold mostly Canon lens you can see a store may have a particular bias based on clientele etc.
Sometimes I read about compatability problems with third party lenses. I have had none with my Tamron. I have taken good shots and I have taken bad shots and the bad shots I blame on myself. I'm certainly not knowledgeable enough to blame the lens.
After purchasing the Tamron and using it for about a month and based on comments from this forum I have also purchased the very inexpensive Canon 50mm/2.8 II. I do believe it is sharper (of course it is a prime lens) although again I have stretched the limits of the lens and in doing so taken some not so good pictures, especially in terms of sharpness.
Several people at times on this forum have suggested starting with the Canon 50mm/2.8 II and learn to use the camera while at the same time thinking about what you want as your next lens. Personally I think that seems like a pretty good approach unless you demand the variety of focal lengths a zoom lens gives you from the very start.

[msvirick]

In my Office, every day I have Drug Sales Reps, taunting how the generics are not as good as the real brand names. Then I find out both the brands are made by the same chemical plant.
Lens, I know are different, but the commerce is same. People sell things that they make most margins for them.
Pick up a lens , try it, if it works well, it is good. Expensive things are not always better because they cost more.
I have a Tameron 19-35, it takes good panorama, but is soft on protraits. Then I will not buy a 19-35 as a potrait lens.