Should I buy Canon only?

I am getting the new XSI and am debating whether or not to go with the kit lens. I am reading different reviews of the lens and getting conflicting information as you get with most reviews.

But, I was curious what people think about sticking with Canon vs going with a compatible Tamron or Sigma, etc. It seems you can get some fast lenses for relatively cheap compared to some of the Canon ones.

Hard to get any objective points of view on the subject.

Thanks

Sigma, Tamron make some great lenses. Not "L" quality (no where near the price of an L glass anyway). But some of the lenses do well and even better against there canon non L competitors.

Stick around here, do some searching, browse around. You will see for your self.

Though some say the kit lens with the XSi is decent so think about your options.

There are many views on these issues, and no absolute right or wrong.
So, in my opinion...
the 18-55 IS is looking to be quite good value. Optically, it is pretty good, and although slow, the IS can compensate for that where subjects are static, or subject blur is acceptable. Build-wise, it's not up to the L standard, but should be serviceable if not abused.

Re 3rd party lenses. I've had a bad experience with a Sigma lens, not directly because of quality issues, but because of shocking service from their agent here. I'll be sticking with Canon as a result, just so that it is clear where the responsibility lies if incompatibilities should arise.

Very many POTNers are very happy with the quality of many 3rd party products: Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, to name a few. Decisions on a case by case basis are probably better than sweeping statements, I think.

I am very pleased with the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens as a replacement for the kit lens. It's fast, and sharp, although a little noisy when focusing. However, it does not take very long for one to get accustomed to the noise it makes.

Rafromak wrote in post #5215341
I am very pleased with the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens as a replacement for the kit lens. It's fast, and sharp, although a little noisy when focusing. However, it does not take very long for one to get accustomed to the noise it makes.

I just got this lens not too long ago. I love it!

Stick to Canon if you feel like it. Some do and most don't. personal choice. I've owned around 40 lenses across all four main brands: Canon, Sigma, tamron and |Tokina and had good and bad, but related to models rather than brands. Canon make some pretty sucky and bad value lenses and so does Sigma, but each also makes some great lenses: Canon 400mm 5.6 L and Sigma 100-300mm f4.0 EX are amongst the very best I have owned and used. Truth is, in my experience anyway, that decent lenses are pretty much the same with only small differences in different areas of performance. I prefer to stick with EF generally because of future full-frame compatibility, but I have a Sigma 10-20mm which is an EF-S lens; I also prefer to stick with USM or HSM AF. Other than that I suggest being open minded. If I was in your shoes I'd get either the Tamron 17-50mm or Sigma 17-70mm, tho' sticking with the Canon IS wouldn't be a bad choice either. There are more important things to worry about than the small differences between what are essential good lenses: speed and range and IS are all factors to consider and prioritise according to personal needs..

I have the 18-55IS that will become the new 'kit lens' when the xsi comes out. So far i'm very pleased with the performance. I've had it with my XT for about 2 months right now and I feel i've haven't outgrown it. Maybe a year down the line i'll step up to the 17-55 but it costs 5x more. I have no experience with the old 18-55 NON IS 'kit lens' though.

I personally only buy canon, since their service center is very close by. I am also pretty happy with the Canon lenses I own and will keep adding as money warrants.

Don't limit yourself to Canon.
Many have found that Tamron atleast have lens close to if not as good as L glass at 1/2 the price. Me included
But if you have the money for L glass get it you wont regret it.

i dont think the manufacturer really matters. but just always get the best lens you can afford, what ever company give the best for the buck will win but this means you wont waste money in the long run constantly upgrading lens

glasseye wrote in post #5215207
I am getting the new XSI and am debating whether or not to go with the kit lens. I am reading different reviews of the lens and getting conflicting information as you get with most reviews.

But, I was curious what people think about sticking with Canon vs going with a compatible Tamron or Sigma, etc. It seems you can get some fast lenses for relatively cheap compared to some of the Canon ones.

Hard to get any objective points of view on the subject.

Thanks

A definite NO for me.
Try out others as well... ...

18-5is is very good.
I like it a lot.
But it's not fast enough for me. I still use it. It's a very fun lens.

If you're able to handle the top level Canon gear from a budgetary standpoint, then you should give it strong consideration. With the exception of a Tamron 28-75 and now a Sigma 150EX macro, all of the other third party lenses that I bought and tried out were returned for one reason or another. OTOH, I have yet to have single issue with any of my Canon equipment, even my nine year old 28-70L. At the moment, my only non-Canon lens that is a 'keeper' is the Sigma macro. I'm not trying to say that you'll never have an issue with a Canon lens, but I think your odds are better that you won't. With the exception of maybe the Tokina 12-24, very few third party lenses are built as well as the Canon L-series.

The Tamron 17-50 is a very highly regarded budget lens.

I look at it this way, just because I by a PC running Microsoft Windows doesn't mean I have to buy all my other software from Microsoft. Why would I limit myself like that? Not to mention some Microsoft software stinks.

Same thing applies to camera gear. My Canon camera is a great TOOL and the lenses are more TOOLS. The right tool for the right job and you'll get the right results. Canon makes some fantastic lenses. There is no doubt that their L series lenses are professional through and through with things like weather sealing that just aren't offered by anyone else. However, my Sigma 24-70 has very similar image quality to it's Canon 24-70 L series counterpart. It isn't as fast focusing, it isn't as silent, it has other quirks but for me and my purposes it meets all my needs. In the end I think if you are a professional and are going to be making money off of the pictures Canon lenses probably make sense. There are however lenses made by third parties that just don't have Canon equivalents. Your best bet is to decide what you want and need out of a lens and then decide for that particular situation what lens fits best Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Cosina (joking), Quantaray (joking), Zeiss....

There are some good Third party lenses out there that are a lot cheaper than the canon ones ie sigma, Tamron ect and like canon they make some real crap
so when deciding witch ones to buy find some reviews and don't buy there bottom of the line crap.