Tamron 28 - 200mm / f3.8 - 5.6

Hi everyone,

I've recently rejoined the SLR world with a purchase of a Rebel XSi after 10 years of using various digital P&S cameras. My last SLR was a 35mm Rebel G, with which I used a Tamron 28 - 200mm / f3.8 - 5.6 zoom lens. I still have the lens, and while it works with the XSi, I'm curious as to what differences I would see if I were to upgrade to a more modern zoom.

I've already spent a bit just getting back into this (camera + kit lens, a nifty fifty, Speedlight 430EX II, backpack, etc.) so I don't want to purchase an L lens at the moment. Maybe down the road, but I'm not that committed to this. Yet .

Basically, it seems that with the combination of the lenses that I have (kit + the 50mm 1.8 ) that the 55 - 250 IS lens would be a reasonable choice. That said, I'm not sure how much different it would behave than what I have now. Obviously the 55 - 250 would give me more distance, but what about focus speed? I'm not sure if it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but it seems that the Tamron is slower focusing and has more trouble locking in than either the kit lens or the 50mm 1.8. Can I reasonably expect faster focus performance from the 55 - 250, or is that a function of the camera itself?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I had that same lens when I upgraded to digital and its still attached to my (dusty) Rebel Ti.

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS sounds like a very good idea. The Tamron 28-200 has an aperture range of f/3.8-5.6 but its spread across nearly twice the focal length range so the Canon will have a larger aperture than the Tamron at the same focal lengths which should give you improved focusing due to the extra light. The Canon has optical image stabilization allowing you to use a stop or two slower shutter speed without camera shake blurring. And the Canon should be sharper, particularly at longer focal lengths where the Tamron is at its weakest performance.