GKPE 7 - And Still Going! Still Friendly and Still The BEST!

Decisions decisions. Scored a mint copy of an ef-s 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM off a friend for $950 (its legit haha, even got the box).
But, literally a day before that I bought a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 off ebay.
Which one to keep, which one to sell hmmmm

Subway wrote in post #10165749
Decisions decisions. Scored a mint copy of an ef-s 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM off a friend for $950 (its legit haha, even got the box).
But, literally a day before that I bought a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 off ebay.
Which one to keep, which one to sell hmmmm

Simple: Test them.
Check them in low light, which focuses faster and more accurately.
Wide open aperture, wide angle and tele.
Try to do tests where you can compare the results. Use a tripod. See which one you like the most and keep that.
The test expert here who might be able to give you some tips is Tim.

I'd keep the Canon for this reason:

Mevunky wrote in post #10165915
I'd keep the Canon for this reason:

Im thinking along the same lines, and ill keep it if I can manage to sell my 28-135mm and the tamron 17-50mm that I just bought.

Although I'm not a fan of the 17-55, I can't fathom how anyone could ever consider a Tamron lens over the Canon equivalent if the cost's not an issue. Not since the Tamron 135 f/2.5 with the adaptall mounts for Canon F1's etc has a Tamron lens been better than what Canon have made...

Sold my Sigma 30 F1.4 for $550 today on trademe, not too bad for me or the buyer, they're about $850 new.

akiwi wrote in post #10165813
Simple: Test them.
Check them in low light, which focuses faster and more accurately.
Wide open aperture, wide angle and tele.
Try to do tests where you can compare the results. Use a tripod. See which one you like the most and keep that.
The test expert here who might be able to give you some tips is Tim.

Oh god, don't test lenses in any formal way. I've decided lens tests are a waste of time and a great source of frustration. According to a lens test chart, camera on a tripod, center point focus, none of my lenses work consistently and reliably. I've given up on that plan.

To test lenses I suggest taking photos outside in the shade, at minimum and maximum zoom, with the subject both near and far. On a tripod is best, but too much hassle most of the time. As long as you're happy with the results, it's a good lens. Don't expect 100% keepers, especially at a narrow DOF, but 95% would be fantastic.

manipula wrote in post #10166003
Although I'm not a fan of the 17-55, I can't fathom how anyone could ever consider a Tamron lens over the Canon equivalent if the cost's not an issue. Not since the Tamron 135 f/2.5 with the adaptall mounts for Canon F1's etc has a Tamron lens been better than what Canon have made...

When you are a student and, cost usually triumphs over quality

Subway wrote in post #10165749
Decisions decisions. Scored a mint copy of an ef-s 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM off a friend for $950 (its legit haha, even got the box).
But, literally a day before that I bought a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 off ebay.
Which one to keep, which one to sell hmmmm

Surely you can tell just by holding them which is better?!?!?!

The Tamron feels like a toy, the Canon feels like a decent lens. And then there's the performance. The Canon 17-55 is generally rated as Canon's BEST non L zoom, and the closes to L quality glass with an EF-S mount.

It's a complete no brainer.

A belated WRC photo.

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At rallys I always struggle to decide if I should video or still shoot each time a car comes flying down the road at me. Here's my solution:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …olourandlight/4​600180681/

That is ferkin clever.

jasestu wrote in post #10168597
At rallys I always struggle to decide if I should video or still shoot each time a car comes flying down the road at me. Here's my solution:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …olourandlight/4​600180681/

And the result over at youtube: http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=0Q42-pFEetU

Subway wrote in post #10165749
Decisions decisions. Scored a mint copy of an ef-s 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM off a friend for $950 (its legit haha, even got the box).
But, literally a day before that I bought a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 off ebay.
Which one to keep, which one to sell hmmmm

i just bough the canon 17-55mm about 2 months ago as i wanted something faster and beter IQ than my 17-85mm. was contemplating on the tamron 17-50mm for quite sometime due to cost. all, i can say is that i'm glad i made the decision to get the canon 17-55mm very happy with it! costly though, but rather that than never be satisfied with the tamron 17-50mm.

I only owned my 17-55 for about 3 months due to going FF but loved it when I did have it...

The 17-55 F2.8 IS is the reason I didn't move to full frame ages ago. At one point I owned two of them, one as backup. Now I own three, two broken and one working. Don't drop them, they don't like it. If you do I have spare parts.

My 24-70 on the 5dII is better than my 17-55 was on a crop