Best wideangle considering resell value?

[Samiad]

At the moment I am stuck in the perpetual problem of choosing a badly needed wideangle lens. My two choices are the Canon 17-40mm L or the highly rated Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0 lens.

Now, the best prices (UK) I've seen mean I can have a Canon delivered from eBay for around £405 all in, and the ONLY place I can get a Tamron from is Warehouse Express - which would cost around £340.

I've seen Canon 17-40 lenses sell for around £430 second hand on UK eBay, but the Tamron sells for around £280 second hand.

Based on this information, which is the best to choose. Other than price, I don't really mind which lens I go for. I also do not know how likely I am to sell the lens, so it may be a completely moot point anyway!

Help? (perhaps you can tell me a place for a cheaper/imported Tamron? They don't appear on eBay very often at all!)

[cactusclay]

I just looked on ebay here in the states and didn't find any used Tamron's They are around 450.00$ U.S. . The Canon's go for around 600.00 on ebay and I only paid around 650 new, with rebate. I would have to say that a L lens would probably hold it's value more.

[Samiad]

It certainly holds it's value more - I know for a fact that if I pay the £400 for the Canon, I can sell it for £430 with no problems.

The Tamron would probably be sold for a loss of around £50, which isn't a massive amount.

Just wondering what others might do - or perhaps I might find a source for cheaper Tamrons. It seems every day I change my mind on what to go for. :(

[iwatkins]

A lens is for life, not just for Christmas. :)

I wouldn't worry about resale, unless you plan to ditch it straight away after buying it. Resale values now are not relevant in six months time when a new version of the lens comes out.

Anyway, buy the Canon, it's a cracker. :)

Cheers

Ian

[pierrot]

Don't buy anything, it will spare your the hassle of reselling and the disappointment of having lost some pounds... ;)