Replacement of the kit lens: Sigma 18-50/2.8 or Tamron 17-35 ???

[yffic]

Hello Everybody.

I have a 300D with theses lenses:
18-55 3.5/5.6 Lens kit
Tamron 28-75/2.8 (which I like a lot)
Sigma 70-300 3.5/5.6 APO MAcro II

I felt in love with my Tamron but 28mm isn't very wide and when I take back the 18-55 I find the picture very soft and not very sharp.

I can't buy me a 17-40L /4 which is too expensive for me in Europe.

What lens do you tell me to buy in replacement of the 18-55 ?

My first opinion was to buy the Tamron (who seems to be sharp) but the new Sigma 18-50/2.8 EX DC seems to be a great competitor !!!

Can you help me in my choice ?

Thanks in advance.

Yves

[Andy_T]

Yves,

welcome to the forum :D

I also have the 18-55 and the Tamron 28-75/2.8, and I agree with you.
Still, I find the 18-55 usable at f/8 ... not stellar, but usable.

Other options might include
- the Canon EF 15/2.8 Fisheye
- the Tokina 17/3.5 AT-X Pro
- the (older) Canon 20-35/2.8 L (going on eBay now and then in the 400-450$ range)
- The manual focus MC Zenitar 16 mm fisheye with M42 adapter (150$ new)

And ... last but certainly not least ... bear in mind that at www.canonextrapromotion.com you can get a 100 EUR cashback voucher for the 17-40/4.0 :shock: ... if you are not living in one of the European countries that are excluded, like Italy or Denmark.

Best regards,
Andy

[yffic]

Thanks a lot Andy for your fast response.

I have seen the extrapromotion for the 17-40L. The problem is that it's a 400 Euro more expensive (with the promotion) more than the Tamron and 300Euros more than the Sigma....

And I can't negociate this price with my wife.... (;-))


I have look for the 20/35 2.8L which is in my price (in the 400-450$ range) but I can't find any of these... The only one has a level price of 649 Euros...
Best regards.

Yves

[Andy_T]

Maybe this one: http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80378&item=7520647797&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V

I heard some good things about the Tamron 17-35/2.8, e.g. here ... just a small mention (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-june-05.shtml).
Haven't used it, but my Tamron 28-75/2.8 is a great lens.
I know, this doesn't say much, but it might be worth the try.

Best regards,
Andy

[cactusclay]

I have to say that I think the 18-55 has gotten a bad rap. No one really has any reviews on it, but most people say it's a junk lens. Pesonally, I think it is a better bargain than the niffty fify. My copy seems to be sharp wide open, from edge to edge. The build quality isn't the greatest, but it is pretty darn sharp. I just took this picture a few minutes ago of a book. It was shot at 50mm 5.6 at a 50th of a sec with widow light. And it really focuses close. Looks sharp to me. This was hand held too.

[cactusclay]

I've been looking at the 18-50 2.8 Sigma as well. FM has some reviews on it and most of them are positive. I've also been looking at the 24-60 2.8 Sigma, but I can't really find much in the way of opinions on it. If you get the 18-50, let us know how it is.

[Bodog]

I bought one of the first copies of the 18-50 f2.8. I am well pleased. I'm now gravitating to primes and it is the only zoom I still use regularly. My only complaint is it is not HSM and the focusing ring seems to be just where I hold the lens. I'm afraid someday I'll be gripping it too tightly as it focuses and I'll strip a gear or something. It seems well made and the zoom and focus are very smooth. Images are sharp with good contrast.

[Jackal]

Cactus, is that a 100% crop?

I see the text getting blurry towards the corners.

I own both the kit lense and Tamron 28-75 and the Tamron just spanks it.

http://etischer.com/300d/Tamron28-75.html

Review with corner 100% crops (where most lenses are weak) of some lenses (dont bother looking at the 70-200 F4...he seems to have screwed that one up)

[yffic]

Maybe this one: http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80378&item=7520647797&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V


This one has a low limit price of 550 Euro
And I think the price will rise more....

Thanks Andy for the link.
The Tamron seems to be the Choice...

Yffic

[olz]

I think the ef-s 18-55mm is okay sharp for the price, i don't understand all the talk about it being a crap lens. People should remember the price paid for this Lens.

It's actually fair up-close. This was taken handheld in low light (overcast weather):
EF-S 18-55mm
Sprucetree (http://www.olz.dk/eos20defs1855.jpg)@ f/5.6 (Warning - large file)

Cheers
Kristian

[Andy_T]

This one has a low limit price of 550 Euro
And I think the price will rise more....


There is no low limit price on European eBay, as far as I know.
You are right, maybe it will rise more (you never know at eBay until the very last second :wink: )

Best regards,
Andy