Tamron 28-300 or Canon 28-135 IS lens?

[digi_luvr]

Hey everyone,
I'm so excited... I'm officially the proud owner of the Digital Rebel. When I bought my camera, the salesman advertised the Tamron 28-300 XR lens. It looks like a good all-purpose lens. So I bought it.

Since I'm new to SLR photography, I didn't know that the Canon 28-135 IS lens exist. My question is, should I return / sell the Tamron and get the Canon IS lens? Or should I just keep the Tamron? I'll most likely use the Tamron lens as a main lens (for now, until I have the money to buy more expensive glass)... and will be used both outdoor and indoor. Did I pick a bad lens?

Any help will be much appreciated! :D

Cheers,
Digi_luvr

[Cadwell]

I don't know the Tamron lens, but I have the EF 28-135mm and personally don't like it. I know a lot of people here do. It all depends on what you want to shoot. I find the EF 28-135mm too slow and the IS of no benefit to me, it may be right for what you want to do.

The best approach is not to say "what is the best lens", but to say "what do I want to shoot" and then decide which lens best matches your requirements.

[jimbeam747]

Can't really comment as I do not own either lens. I've read good and bad on both. In my opinion, I think you made a good choice. This lens will allow you to explore different types of photography. And then, someday, you might be armed with the knowledge to buy the glass you really want. Also, there is a review on your lens on the popular photography web site. Here is the link

http://www.popularphotography.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=257

Have fun with your new toy.


Smitty

[flyfishnj]

Personally - I would go with the Canon 28-135. I have the Tamron 28-200 and am not happy with it at all. It's fine for film, so it sits on my wife's K2. It's difficult to have a really good lens with that range. (It is the ideal range though.)

If I were to consider another Tamron lens - I would probably only consider the 28-75 XR DI f2.8

Also get the Canon 50mm f1.8 - for $60 - can't be beat

[defordphoto]

Canon. Always Canon. ;)

[John57]

I have had both of these lenses .....

I regret selling the Canon 28-135. It is not going to compete with an 'L' lens for contrast but I liked the one I had. For the price it is a good bit of kit.

I am afraid I have to say that the Tamron 28-300XR on my 10D was a complete disappointment. It was OK on a film camera but just did not produce results with digital. Compared to my other lenses it lacked contrast and detail. Yes it's small but I found at anything over about 125mm focal length the quality was just too poor to use. I did numerous comparison shots with a 28-135 and 35-350L (OK not particularly fair I know given the cost difference) and they both showed up the little Tamron ..... the 35-350 -unsurprisingly- particularly so.

It may be that my copy of the new Tamron XR was a poor one as others like the lens but I can only say as I found......