wide zoom choices

Anyone have either the tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or sigma 17-70 f/2.8 Price seems too good? Does it compare to the canon makes? I have the junk 17-55 canons that came with the camera kits & want better glass for those ceremony moments...

The "junk" is the 18-55, Canon's 17-55 has gotten great reviews as to the others, I have heard that for the money the Tamron is pretty decent, haven't seen much about the Sigma. A search for the Tamron returned these results. Lots of information to be had.

17-55 is my main lens, that and the 70-200 F2.8 IS get 95% of my wedding photos. I rarely need wider than 17mm, though I have a 12-24mm lens, but i've not used it once since I got the 17-55.

sorry about the 17 typo, did mean 18.

17-55 here also - it's all I use for weddings.

17-55 here too...amazing piece of glass!

My only negative comment about the 17-55 is it can be a little 'soft' . I like a sharp image and in some respects miss my little old Pro1 - with it's yummy L series glass! Sharp as tacks!

_Jo_ wrote in post #2970042
My only negative comment about the 17-55 is it can be a little 'soft' . I like a sharp image and in some respects miss my little old Pro1 - with it's yummy L series glass! Sharp as tacks!

I am with yah on that one, I was looking back at some old photos I had taken with my old pro 1 a few weeks ago and for JPG's straight from the camera I think its hard to beat. I was clueless when I had mine and used to use it in full auto all the time but it still got me some great photos.

Also love my 17-55 now though.

Banbert wrote in post #2970090
I am with yah on that one, I was looking back at some old photos I had taken with my old pro 1 a few weeks ago and for JPG's straight from the camera I think its hard to beat. I was clueless when I had mine and used to use it in full auto all the time but it still got me some great photos.

Also love my 17-55 now though.

Funny that. When you look at the pricing! Ideally, I want the lens from the Pro1 (geez that zoom is awesome!), to attach to my 30D. I photographed my first few weddings solely with the Pro1

_Jo_ wrote in post #2970103
Funny that. When you look at the pricing! Ideally, I want the lens from the Pro1 (geez that zoom is awesome!), to attach to my 30D. I photographed my first few weddings solely with the Pro1

I agreed to do my first wedding when I just had a pro 1 but then swapped to a 350D before I shot the wedding, I was happy with the photos I got from the pro 1 but the shutter lag worried me I would miss some things, how did you get on with it for that aspect Jo ?

Wish I had kept it as a walk around camera though, I dont think I ever fully exploited what it had to offer.

It has a got a great lens hasnt it and deffo worthy of its L !

Banbert wrote in post #2970130
I agreed to do my first wedding when I just had a pro 1 but then swapped to a 350D before I shot the wedding, I was happy with the photos I got from the pro 1 but the shutter lag worried me I would miss some things, how did you get on with it for that aspect Jo ?

I admit, the shutter lag is a big issue and one that always worried me. I did miss shots I wanted, but only I knew that and the clients were always very happy with the images from my Pro1. I often look at past photos and I can really see the crispness. I use the Pro1 as my back-up, I just can't give it up yet!! lol. Interestingly enough I also used a 350D to shoot a wedding (borrowed as I was considering buying) and did not like it at all. I am so pleased I waited for the 30D - I love that body!

_Jo_ wrote in post #2970145
I admit, the shutter lag is a big issue and one that always worried me. I did miss shots I wanted, but only I knew that and the clients were always very happy with the images from my Pro1. I often look at past photos and I can really see the crispness. I use the Pro1 as my back-up, I just can't give it up yet!! lol. Interestingly enough I also used a 350D to shoot a wedding (borrowed as I was considering buying) and did not like it at all. I am so pleased I waited for the 30D - I love that body!

Agree with yah on that as well, after I had used my mates 20D my 350D didnt last very long before it was traded for a couple of 30D's, controls and feel of the 30D are worth the extra dosh imo.

Absolutely. I really like the weight. The 350D felt too cheap.

Back on topic - I can't talk to the two lenses you mentioned, but I also have the 17-55 2.8 - love that thing.

If you need to go wider, I can also recommend the Canon 10-22. I've used it once at a wedding. You have to be really careful that you use (you can't control them) the distortions to get the image you want.

The Sigma 17-70 isn't a constant aperture zoom (that explains why it's so cheap).
I can't rate the Tamron, but I had the Sigma 18-50 2.8 and it was awful wide open.
I'd also recommend the Canon 17-55 IS.

Just to straighten the record, the sharp JPEGs straight out of the Pro1 owe more to the in camera sharpening than they do to the 'L' lens.