Lens selection advice...

[slicendice]

Hi
I am soon going to be purchasing a 20d and having read various very favourable reviews of the Tamron 28-75, that was going to be my initial weapon of choice.

However, I was at Jessops (UK) yesterday trying the 20d out and the salesman there pretty much poo-pooed Tamron lenses saying that Canon lenses were infinitely superior and that I shouldn't waste time with Tamron. The lens he favoured was the Canon 28-135 IS USM - no denying it is a pretty good lens (v fast, v quiet focussing), but it's a little slow and some (although by no means all) sample images I've seen were not overly sharp, unlike Tamron samples. The Tamron doesn't have the same range as the Canon, but it's also noticeably cheaper...

Does anyone have any preferences? Are this salesmans views on Tamron justified?

One more thing......I know Canon lenses carry an international warranty - do the Tamrons have this as well?

Thanks

[CyberDyneSystems]

If you take a look at the Starter lens poll in the -=TOP 10=- recommended lens section here;
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56752

You'll see that members of this forum seem to prefer the Canon 106 to 60....
But the Tamron did very well, as the second place zoom on the list.

What you need to ask yourself then is which advantages are more important to you?

The Tamron has the larger aperture,. adn arguably according to most poepl the superior image quality of the two.

The Canon has longer focal range,. faster focus speed and IS for sharper pics hand held.

[Odin]

I have been in the same boat for a long time.

I longed for the full monthy of the "L's" as most of us.
I read and studied these and other forums, and I fell down with the Tamron. in fact I had a couple of pices with my Minolta 35mm.

But what a great surprice!!!!
It is fast focusing, and creates brilliant images. Some people complains about slownes...well not this pice, it is FAST. Some complains about it isn't as quiet as the "L" but frankly speaking: the sound of this lens it can hardly be noticed it in normal environmental conditions.

On these forums you will have so many kinds of people and they all have their own opinions. I admit I felt a bit nervous when I bought it but I made a decision; and I never regret. I saved the money so I could buy the heavy bast.... of 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM for indoor shooting.

Go for the Tamron, you will not regret. Good Luck!

[Cadwell]

The first, and possibly most important, lesson for you to learn in photography is to pay no attention to anything anyone who works for Jessops says.

The second lesson is to buy from somewhere cheaper and with better customer service.

[_dreamer]

I'm not a pro, but m recommendation is:

Buy the camera and the with the kit lens.
In the future prepare to purchase the following:
- 28-70 range, either Tamron (my choice) or Canon or Sigma).
- the super 70-200 4L or better.

I think that with these lenses you have it (almost) all covered,
the kit lens is nice for wide angel (not very wide but important of you only have 28+ lens).

[jboyd]

I had the Canon 28-135 IS (notice the "had") and my main complaint was the lack of sharpness in the images. I took it off the camera one day because I was finally fed up with the soft images. I needed to know if it was me or the lens. I put on my nifty fifty and made myself use it. Images very sharp. Tried the 85mm and images very sharp. So, I sold the 28-135 and bought the Tamron 28-75 and I have also been very satisfied with the images/sharpness from the Tamron 28-75. I would go for the Tamron over the Canon in this case.

[RaymondCheung]

I am at present using Tamron SP AF28-75mm F2.8 SR Di and I have no complaints on it. The pictures are sharp and great. Besides, this lens was selected as the "European Lens of the Year 2003-2004". I would say this is one of the best lenses that you should possess in your file.