kit 18-55mmIS + 50mm 1.8II VS Tamron 17-50 2.8

I am planning to sell the kit and the nifty for a faster tamron. Am I nuts?

I will end up with only one lens. the tamron. It does cover the ranges i usually shoot. With the convenience of shooting with one lens. I was wondering if the IQ will suffer. since generally speaking, with convenience, IQ usually suffers.

Should i just stick with what i have?

I just find myself wanting more focus speed during night time parties. Sometimes I miss a shot because either the kit or the nifty didnt lock in focus fast enough. That is even with flash for AF assist.

Tamron uses slow micromotors just like the lenses you have. If you are primarily concerned with focus speed, I would look elsewhere.

I upgraded from the 18-55is to the Tamron 17-50, then I upgraded from the 50 1.8 to the 50 1.4. I am happy with both decisions and highly recommend the Tamron as your first choice for the upgrade, however I would keep the 50 1.8 as 1.8 does come in handy.

I bought my Tamron used in the sell forum and there are usually a few available on most days for about $350.

tkbslc wrote in post #8550729
Tamron uses slow micromotors just like the lenses you have. If you are primarily concerned with focus speed, I would look elsewhere.

i didn't know that. So do you think the sigma counterpart is better? I know the canon 17-55 is better but it is not an option because budget is really a concern. If the speed is no different than with what i have right now then i might as well stay with what i have.

duane0524 wrote in post #8550872
I upgraded from the 18-55is to the Tamron 17-50, then I upgraded from the 50 1.8 to the 50 1.4. I am happy with both decisions and highly recommend the Tamron as your first choice for the upgrade, however I would keep the 50 1.8 as 1.8 does come in handy.

how different is the 50mm 2.8 in the tamron vs the 50mm 1.8 of the canon? I am letting go of the canon because i feel that the 50 f2.8 will be enough.

You're looking for the letters HSM or USM which represent a faster focus. I can say this, my Sigma 18-50 focuses much faster than the 18-55 IS and 50F1.8 but idk. It's not HSM but I think a lot has do with how they hunt in the dark. I have a F2.8 so it's used to it, might help.

I'm with Duane, don't get rid of the 50.

johnj2803 wrote in post #8551367
how different is the 50mm 2.8 in the tamron vs the 50mm 1.8 of the canon? I am letting go of the canon because i feel that the 50 f2.8 will be enough.

Well it was a big enough difference for me to buy the 50 1.4. There is still alot of stuff that 2.8 won't shoot and you will like the 1.8. You should hold on to your 50 for a bit and see for yourself. You will regret selling it if you decide later that you wished you had kept it.

_aravena wrote in post #8551380
You're looking for the letters HSM or USM which represent a faster focus. I can say this, my Sigma 18-50 focuses much faster than the 18-55 IS and 50F1.8 but idk. It's not HSM but I think a lot has do with how they hunt in the dark. I have a F2.8 so it's used to it, might help.

I'm with Duane, don't get rid of the 50.

yeah i know. but the HSM and USM versions are kinda more expensive Oh well, nothing good is cheap i guess!

duane0524 wrote in post #8551517
Well it was a big enough difference for me to buy the 50 1.4. There is still alot of stuff that 2.8 won't shoot and you will like the 1.8. You should hold on to your 50 for a bit and see for yourself. You will regret selling it if you decide later that you wished you had kept it.

I am getting rid of the 50 because i feel that it is too long. thinking of replacing it with either 32, 28 or 24... but then again nothing good is cheap!

johnj2803 wrote in post #8550268
I just find myself wanting more focus speed during night time parties. Sometimes I miss a shot because either the kit or the nifty didnt lock in focus fast enough. That is even with flash for AF assist.

I suspect that since you have Canon XS body you're not going to get a major improvement in focusing with the Tamron f/2.8.

If you are using an external flash for AF assist (the internal one sucks, IMHO) and still are having problems you may be hitting the limit of the camera body. If you are NOT using an external flash for AF assist, I'd suggest buying a flash instead

blssdwlf wrote in post #8551839
I suspect that since you have Canon XS body you're not going to get a major improvement in focusing with the Tamron f/2.8.

If you are using an external flash for AF assist (the internal one sucks, IMHO) and still are having problems you may be hitting the limit of the camera body. If you are NOT using an external flash for AF assist, I'd suggest buying a flash instead

thanks for this... yes i was using the internal AF for the pop up. So i guess an external flash is as important. Didn't know that AF assists in an external flash will be a very huge improvement! thanks for the info

johnj2803 wrote in post #8552165
thanks for this... yes i was using the internal AF for the pop up. So i guess an external flash is as important. Didn't know that AF assists in an external flash will be a very huge improvement! thanks for the info

Yeah - the built-in flash being used for AF does not work very well and it is pretty annoying. An external flash uses a red LED to help with AF.

I went through the same thought process as you. I however, tried the tamron before I sold my kit and 50 1.8 and found out f2.8 was not fast enough, so I stuck with my kit and 50. I too find that the 50 is usually too tight for the shooting I do, so I am getting the 30 1.4 by the end of the year.

Oh, and I also got a flash right after I got the 50 1.8, made all the difference in the world! No more annoying pre-flash focusing!

blssdwlf wrote in post #8553264
Yeah - the built-in flash being used for AF does not work very well and it is pretty annoying. An external flash uses a red LED to help with AF.

yeah i know the pre flashes are really annoying some of my subjects get dizzy after a shot! LOL

Unloader wrote in post #8553469
I went through the same thought process as you. I however, tried the tamron before I sold my kit and 50 1.8 and found out f2.8 was not fast enough, so I stuck with my kit and 50. I too find that the 50 is usually too tight for the shooting I do, so I am getting the 30 1.4 by the end of the year.

Oh, and I also got a flash right after I got the 50 1.8, made all the difference in the world! No more annoying pre-flash focusing!

wow! so you thought you were better off with the kit and nifty than with the tammy? thanks for this. so did you sell your tammy already? or you are keeping it with you kit? BTW what 30 1.4 are you getting? not familiar with non canon lenses. thanks

EDIT: ok so its a sigma

Unloader wrote in post #8553469
I went through the same thought process as you. I however, tried the tamron before I sold my kit and 50 1.8 and found out f2.8 was not fast enough, so I stuck with my kit and 50. I too find that the 50 is usually too tight for the shooting I do, so I am getting the 30 1.4 by the end of the year.

Oh, and I also got a flash right after I got the 50 1.8, made all the difference in the world! No more annoying pre-flash focusing!

That is pretty much my kit. 18-55 IS, Sigma 30, Canon 50 1.8. I use the 30 for general shots and the 50 for portraits and really only use the 18-55 when I am traveling or if I need something wider than 30.

I have not used a 17-50 f2.8, but my experience with using a 28-75 f2.8 (which is supposed to be nearly identical aside from the focal length) convinced me that it does not provide significant advantages over the 18-55 IS. I would MUCH rather have an extremely high quality normal prime -like the sigma 30. Just think f1.4 is to f2.8 as f2.8 is to f5.6!

i'd go for an external flash..

tkbslc wrote in post #8554798
That is pretty much my kit. 18-55 IS, Sigma 30, Canon 50 1.8. I use the 30 for general shots and the 50 for portraits and really only use the 18-55 when I am traveling or if I need something wider than 30.

I have not used a 17-50 f2.8, but my experience with using a 28-75 f2.8 (which is supposed to be nearly identical aside from the focal length) convinced me that it does not provide significant advantages over the 18-55 IS. I would MUCH rather have an extremely high quality normal prime -like the sigma 30. Just think f1.4 is to f2.8 as f2.8 is to f5.6!

i would love to have your set up too... the kit lens has really been amazing for me its just that the only limitation i have is in low light with flash.

DreDaze wrote in post #8554864
i'd go for an external flash..

Yep, completely agree. this is in my list as well. I thought I can do with the pop up for the meantime because an external flash really adds a lot of bulk when you are just out with friends eating or even clubbing/partying. If you know what i mean the 430ex is the one for me