ARGH! Too Many Lens Options!

[chunchma]

I am looking for a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens or a combo lens with both options.

I am so new to all of this and I have checked out the FAQ area and all related areas to finding out about which lens is good for what I need and I am still so confused.

At this point I am thinking of taking a photo class. But for now I just would like to know what is a good quality wide angle lens and a good quality telephoto lens or maybe a combo lens. Of course for a mid range price!

It would be for the Rebel XT and for your general purpose photos, i.e. landscape photos, pet photo, nature photos, people photos etc. I am not a professional!

I am looking for something that will give a crisp sharp picture.

Not sure if I am asking too much of this so far. I guess my price range for both would be around 400.00 each lens or 800 for a combo lens.

Thanks for any help :)

[Jon]

Check out this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56747), linked to in the Top 10 Lens sticky.

[MadMesh]

For a Wide Angel, id always recomend a 10-22, Its one of my FAVORITE lenses, might be a little out of your price range. If you looked for cheaper, then id get the 17-40L when its on sale at Dell, you can get it for about 500ish, and thats canon L glass. Best Glass around...

For your Zoom, stay away from the 75-300 IS (its crap)... I would recomend the 70-200 f/4 L

These lenses will give you fantastic , crips, clean pictures.

Total Cost for Both L lens will be about $1100

the Canon 10-22, i purchased from Dell for $710 shipped, but IMO, it was worth it.

[MadMesh]

Tamron 28-75mmf/2.8 XR LD IF DI

Thats another great lens to fill the Gap of the 2 i just recomended.

[OregonRebel]

EF-S 17-85 USM IS is a good bet for a walkaround since it covers a reasonably wide angle range. If you mainly use a 28 mm+ lens, you'll have to switch lenses frequently.

I agree with the poster who says to avoid the 75 - 300 lenses (I have one, so I should know). :)

[MadMesh]

EF-S 17-85 USM IS is a good bet for a walkaround since it covers a reasonably wide angle range. If you mainly use a 28 mm+ lens, you'll have to switch lenses frequently.

I agree with the poster who says to avoid the 75 - 300 lenses (I have one, so I should know). :)


I also agree, the 17-85 IS is a fantastic lens. Awsome all around everyday lens, Im still thinking of buying one.

[Skip Souza]

I love my EF-s 17-85 IS and my wife loves her Tamron 28-75. I don't think you could go wrong with either. It becomes a matter of preferences.

[MadMesh]

Skip, you have any concerns with owning EF-S lenses , will all the new Full Frame cameras comming our from canon? Like the 5D?

Im a little hessitant to buy more EF-S glass, so far all i have is my 10-22, but it is very limmiting as to what MIGHT be around in the future...

[ed2day]

I love my EF-s 17-85 IS and my wife loves her Tamron 28-75. I don't think you could go wrong with either. It becomes a matter of preferences.

Skip,
Just wondering how you think your 17-85 compares with the Tamron. Not too many people have the chance to compare them directly.
Thanks.

[MadMesh]

i know for a fact the 17-85 @ 85mm is sharp as a tack... I know the tamron is also sharp. The only downfall of the 17-85 i can see is that its got a little CA at 17mm. But look at the range it covers compared to that Tamron.

Again, id also like to hear it from someone who owns both lenses.

[RikWriter]

If you can only put $400 into each lens, my reccommendation would be to pick up a Sigma 18-50 2.8 and a used Canon 70-200 f4L.

[MadMesh]

OFFENSIVE TEXT DELETED

Buying lenses is worse than buying drugs or cigretts, but ateast it wont kill you.

[grego]

OFFENSIVE QUOTE DELETED



It is, especially if you depend on it a lot, like I do. It helped me get a job, so I can't complain. :lol:

[DavidEB]

Grego --

you depend on the income from your wife, and that helped you get a job? man, that's sad.

[MadMesh]

Grego --

you depend on the income from your wife, and that helped you get a job? man, that's sad.


I think hes saying he depends on the lens, not his wife.

OFFENSIVE TEXT DELETED

For the Love of "L"

[condyk]

Tokina 12-24 f4 and Sigma 24-70 2.8 DG Macro, or save a tad with the Tamron instead of the Sigma ... or go for RickWriters suggestion.

[BottomBracket]

I think hes saying he depends on the lens, not his wife.

Whoring is the processing of selling your wifes "services" for a fee. Its a dirty buisness but someones got to do it.

For the Love of "L"

Man, I think this post is way out of line.

[defordphoto]

Man, I think this post is way out of line.

Agreed.

[Big Hands]

Back on track...

I have both the 17-85 IS and the Tamron 28-75. If it were a contest only for sharpness, I would declare the Tamron the winner and be done with it. But for me, it is not so simple.

In reality, the two are close enough in sharpness to call it comparable even though the Tamron does have the edge (pun intended). For me, this means I have used other criteria to differentiate between them as to which I prefer.

The range, the faster, quieter autofocus and the IS of the Canon 17-85 IS give it a serious edge IMHO although the Tamron will open up to f/2.8 and the Canon will not. These are the factors that separate these two fine lenses and are what I would consider when deciding bewtween them. They are not the same even though they are close in range.

Figure out which features are higher priority to you and you should be able to pick the best one FOR YOU.

FOR ME, I have found that I rarely use the Tamron since purchasing the 17-85 IS. I may even sell the Tamron because I don't use it much now, but that doesn't mean it's not a fine lens.

Another option for you to consider might be the Tokina 12-24 f/4 and the Tamron 28-75. This would run less than $900 for the two lenses, would cover the ultra wide to short telephoto range pretty well (only leaving a 3mm gap from 25-27mm) and covers the subject matter you listed pretty well IMHO.

Regards,

[ggibbs1971]

I have the Tamron 28-75. It is a great lens, however I am looking to get the Sigma 18-50/2.8. I need a wider zoom lens & also my bag is full. I am looking to trade.

Geoff