L series lenses. [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

mcneguy

10th of March 2004 (Wed), 18:22

I have decided that I want a 20-75ish zoom so I wander down to my local store, they have both the Tamron f2.8 and the Canon f2.8L in stock. The Tamron - $360, the Canon L - $1325.

I am not a pro. I am a hobbyist who takes shots of whatever I find and I love processing and printing the good ones. I have just started working with RAW on my 10D and I find it both frustrating and fascinating.

Is the Canon 4 times the lens for a guy like me?

drisley

10th of March 2004 (Wed), 18:37

I don't think so.
The Tamron is supposed to be very good.

http://64.42.93.248/Lubow/tamron-canon-test.htm

MediaMagic

11th of March 2004 (Thu), 00:46

Is the Canon 4 times the lens for a guy like me?

Not necessarily. If you did have the Canon, you'd probably like it more, but, you have to consider how *you* will use it. That Tamron lens is very capable, clear, etc. If you were taking 500 shots a day every day, then maybe the Canon would be a wiser investment. If you just like making some nice photographs, then you'll probably be very satisfied with that Tamron.

Just because some of us have sold our souls to Canon (or should that be 'bought our souls from'?) doesn't mean everyone should. There is no question that the Canon is a better lens than the Tamron, from the glass to the motor to the construction. The canon will still be functioning years and years from now, the Tamron may not.

Will the Tamron be enough lens for you? Only you can answer that question. It *will* take some nice shots. I would suggest this. Buy the very best you can reasonably afford that can reasonably be justified by the type of photography you practice. Don't buy L to be part of the "in crowd". Only buy it if/because you *need* it for your photography. You're already part of the in crowd. You are a photographer. :wink:

scottbergerphoto

11th of March 2004 (Thu), 07:15

Tamron makes different lines of lenses. They used to call their better lenses SP, now I think it's XR. I used Tamron before I could afford Canon. Buy, the best that you can afford and enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be fun. (Unless of course you do this for a living.)
Don't stess it.
Scott