Canon 15-85 vs. Tamron 28-75?

I've finally decided on a replacement walk-around lens for my Canon XTi (it now has the kit lens 18-55), and have narrowed it down to these 2 choices:

Canon 15-85 f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

Although I've read many reviews on these 2 lenses, does anyone own either one that may share some info or perhaps post some pics?

Thanks much...

Sorry, I don't have advice, but just wanted to say that I after months of deliberations I ordered the Canon 15-85 today for my 550D.

Check out the lens samples thread - there are a ton there.

I love my 15-85...Im not a fast lens nut so it doesnt bother me that I dont have 2.8. Its sharp, well built, IS is great, and very convenient.

On a crop body, Id rather have faster than 2.8 even to get some thin DOF anyway - aka primes. Plus, 28-75 would be a PITA focal range for me, I would constantly want to go wider.

i rented a 28-75 before and the only thing i dont like about it is that 28mm is not nearly wide enough for how i use it. 75mm vs 85mm is a wash for me. f2.8 vs f3.5 - f5.6 is also a wash for me since i use my lenses at f5.6-f8 anyways. true, f2.8 might help at times but i have my sigma30 for that.

it really depends how you intend on using it, as well as what your other lenses you currently have. also, on how often you are willing to swap lenses. i currently have 15-85 and sigma30 and pretty happy about this combo.

babekha_2 wrote in post #11167230
I've finally decided on a replacement walk-around lens for my Canon XTi (it now has the kit lens 18-55), and have narrowed it down to these 2 choices:

Canon 15-85 f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

Although I've read many reviews on these 2 lenses, does anyone own either one that may share some info or perhaps post some pics?

Thanks much...

Can you live without the 15-27mm range? Do you need f/2.8? Once you answer those questions, the choice should become clear.

If you are happy starting at 28mm, then just use your 28-135 listed in your signature..

babekha_2 wrote in post #11167230
does anyone own either one that may share some info or perhaps post some pics?

The lens archive has a thread on each lens where TONS of images have been posted and some useful information here and there.

It's pretty straightforward imo. What do you need more ... wide angle or f2.8?
@ 75mm on the Canon wide open you will be at f5.6 whereas on the Tamron you would still be at f2.8. Big difference imo.

Another thing to consider which will probably not apply to most people is, if you are willing to drop $700+ on a 15-85, take in consideration that refurbished, like new 24-105 lenses are not that much more ($100). Not a good option if you need wide angle, but not everyone needs or likes to shoot wide. Besides, you already have the 18-55 for wide angle.

MNUplander wrote in post #11167367
On a crop body, Id rather have faster than 2.8 even to get some thin DOF anyway - aka primes.

I'm in this camp too. Love my 15-85 for an outdoor walkaround lens, but when the light gets bad I reach for the primes. My habits were the same even when I had a 17-55 f2.8.

Having owned both, Get the 15-85

You will miss 15-27 i bet, covering this range across two lenses isnt always the best option...

Oh and the 15-85 can actually focus properly, something my Tamron never managed to do...

Dont get me wrong, Very sharp and everything, but useless because it could never achieve focus...

I'd skip both and get the new Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 with OS !
But between the 2 you listed . i'd go with the Tamron 2.8. Thats if you can live with the 28mm . The Canon is too slow for my taste .

Which of your two current walkabouts, the 18-55 or 28-135, do you use the most? Personally, I wouldn't find 28mm wide enough for a walkabout lens.

My observations - I used the Tamron on a crop body for years and it rarely left my camera. The autofocus is slow, but it has RARELY been a problem for me. I have since bought the 15-85 and I occasionally find the aperture limiting, but I can usually use flash if it does become a problem. I have also bought an 85 f1.8 and Sigma 30 f1.4 to cover low-light. I havn't used the Sigma much since I just got it Thursday. The plan now is to sell the Tamron, I just havn't done so yet.
So in short, I have both. Really the only major points for the Tamron are the f2.8 and the price, the canon wide open is MUCH sharper than the Tamron (not that the Tamron is bad).

I recently replaced my 18-55kit lens with the 15-85mm...to be honest, I haven't been very impressed with the sharpness as of yet, although this could be user error. Currently, I have several images from the 18-55kit lens, shot in JPEG, that are considerable sharper than the 15-85mm shot in RAW and converted. I'm actually going to post up some 100% crops soon to get some opinions on the performance.

I'm using it with the XSi. Positives so far include build quality, full time manual focus, non-rotating front ring, 15mm is great for landscape shots. It may be I just have a bad copy, or I'm expecting too much, but as of now I'm undecided if this was a bad purchase for me.

I replaced my tam 17-50 with the 15-85 and thought the IQ was significantly better. I'd go with the 15-85.

mannetti21 wrote in post #11170192
I recently replaced my 18-55kit lens with the 15-85mm...to be honest, I haven't been very impressed with the sharpness as of yet, although this could be user error. Currently, I have several images from the 18-55kit lens, shot in JPEG, that are considerable sharper than the 15-85mm shot in RAW and converted. I'm actually going to post up some 100% crops soon to get some opinions on the performance.

I'm using it with the XSi. Positives so far include build quality, full time manual focus, non-rotating front ring, 15mm is great for landscape shots. It may be I just have a bad copy, or I'm expecting too much, but as of now I'm undecided if this was a bad purchase for me.

Was there any in Camera settings being used , when shooting jpeg ?