Need some advice please.

[i_will]

I'm going to be buying a 350D body within the next few weeks and selling off my G6. I narrowed it down to:

One of these to as my general lens:
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 17-85 f/4-5.6 IS USM
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di IF
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF

And one of these for the sports photography I'm going to be taking this upcoming semester:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
Sigma AF 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO HSM

I'm thinking about getting the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8.

I don't think that the Canon 17-85mm and 28-135 will be fast enough so the f/2.8 on the Tamron would be real nice. I'm pretty much gearing myself towards sports/action/portraits so and I don't think I will be carrying around a 70-200mm all the time. How is the noise on this lens?

It would be nice to own an L but that f/4 doesn't seem like it's going to cut it for something like...night time outdoor sports or indoor sports. The reviews on the Sigma 70-200 look good so far as well, and it's half the price of the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 so yeah...

Thoughts? Also, what are some tripods around the $150 mark? Thanks in advance :)

[CyberPet]

I'd vote for the Tamron and the Sigma tele, plus maybe something more on the wide side, Sigma has a nice one for a decent price.

[i_will]

Yeah, I probably will get the Tamron and Sigma, too bad the Tamron is sold out everywhere...maybe I'll just buy the Sigma and use it until I can find the Tamron in stock? That'll be an interesting first lens...

[DavidEB]

from my signature line below, you can see my vote.

the sigma is a fabulous lens for sports, indoor and outdoor. Good optics, fast focus mechanism, sharp at f2.8. Various comparisons on the web, including several on this forum, make it close in quality to the canon 70-200 2.8 non-IS.

the tamron is my favorite lens. optically excellent, light-weight, pleasure to carry. In good light, the focus is fast (noisy, but fast). It's great for outdoor sports. However in low light the focus hunts, making it only so-so for indoor sports.

None of the canon lenses you listed have enough aperature for indoor action shots.

If indoor sports is a priority for you, you want fast aperature and fast focus. consider mixing a long zoom with one of these: canon EF 85 f1.8 or EF 50 f1.4. The focus on the 50 f1.8 is hopelessly slow for sports. Instead of the 70-200, some people argue for the 135 f2.0 but I like having zoom.


good luck,

[i_will]

hmmm...I was thinking about the Canon EF 85 f/1.8 as well, that aperature would be great. Maybe I'll get it after awhile when I'm more comfortable with the upgrade to DSLR. I still have to buy it first :P I think I will be mainly shooting outdoors though because of my organization's flag football team on campus. After the season is over with, I'll be able to do more by having the extra zoom. Or maybe I should just get a wide angle lens after the season is done with...