Upgrading to Canon Lens

I currently have a Tameron 17-50mm f2.8. I want to upgrade to a Canon lens of either one of these .... EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM or EF 24-70mm f2.8 II USM. Mainly shooting music performances in low light situations. Leaning towards the 17-55mmm since it has IS. My Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS II shows up tomorrow. Purchased from Best Buy with there 3 yr. warranty.

17-55 is, no doubt.

f/2.8 isn't what you wan't for low light. You want f/1.4. Stabilization does nothing to help freeze action. For artists standing relatively still you can get away with 1/160 if you don't mind some motion blur in the extremities. For artists jumping around like maniacs you need 1/250 at least, and even then your keeper rate will be really low even if spraying at 8fps.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/noahfence/83758​22861/

You want the Tamron 17-50/2.8 non-VC model.

Slightly OT, but I am wanting a fast zoom also. Primary contenders are 17-55, 24-70 II and Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC. Right off the bat the 17-55 is out because of its limited range and build quality at that price. I know lots of shooters love it.

I have to agree with LostArk on this one, spending all that money for f/2.8 is hard to justify. For now, I am sticking with my primes. Oh, he is absolutely right about IS, too. It is for camera movement; does nothing for subject movement.

LostArk wrote in post #15899741
f/2.8 isn't what you wan't for low light. You want f/1.4. Stabilization does nothing to help freeze action. For artists standing relatively still you can get away with 1/160 if you don't mind some motion blur in the extremities. For artists jumping around like maniacs you need 1/250 at least, and even then your keeper rate will be really low even if spraying at 8fps.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/noahfence/83758​22861/
Mitja Harvilahti by Nοah Fence, on Flickr

1/250, f/1.4, ISO 5000. An f/2.8 zoom wouldn't have stood a chance.

24L II or 35L, take your pick. I'd go with the 24L.

The 17-55 is a big 'ol slow overpriced dust sucking piece of junk. Worst lens I ever owned. I actually returned my first one because it arrived full of dust brand new, and I thought there was something wrong with the zoom ring. Turns out it was actually just horrible build quality.

Thanks LostArk ... looks like the 24L will be the one.

MJEXP wrote in post #15901109
Thanks LostArk ... looks like the 24L will be the one.

if you're on a crop, you can save yourself some cash, and pick up the sigma 30mm f1.4...