New Lens advice

[Tigz™]

I'm after a new lens as I can cope no longer with the usless 17-55mm lens supplied with my EOS 350D.

I also have a mk2 Canon 75-300mm lens which I love, but as you know, as an every day lens its not really practical!

Price wise, I'm limitted to what I can afford a month.

www.warehouseexpress.com offer 9 months intrest free, so I can afford around £300.

The lenses that have caught my eye are these.

Anyone got any advice on these, or any other lens?

Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro

£236.99

Large aperture standard zoom lens designed specially for digital SLR cameras.

Minimum focusing distance of 20cm,with an impressive maximum magnification of 1:2.3. at all focal lengths.

New design and multi layer lens coating reduce flare and ghosting.

Aspherical and SLD lenses offer excellent correction for various aberrations.

Large aperture of F2.8 at the wide angle setting.

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO lens.The lens is ideally suited for a wide variety of subjects and is designed specifically for digital SLR cameras featuring APS-C size image sensor.

This revolutionary lens has a minimum focusing distance of 20cm (7.9") throughout the entire zoom range. A maximum magnification of 1:2.3 enables extreme close-up photography. An impressive achievement for a standard zoom lens. The new lens design and multi layer lens coating reduce flare and ghosting, a common problem with digital cameras. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and two aspherical lens elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations and produce a high level of optical performance throughout the entire zoom range.

This lens offers a large F2.8 aperture at 17mm wide angle and yet it is compact, with an overall length of just 79mm (3.1") and diameter 82.5mm (3.2"). Performance is superb, even in relatively low light conditions indoors or at dusk.

The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system, which ensures fast AF speed as well as preventing the front of the lens rotating, making it particularly suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and petal shaped lens hoods.

This lens is also equipped with a zoom lock that eliminates "Zoom Creep" during transportation.

Focal length 17-70mm

Minimum aperture F22

Maximum aperture F2.8

Lens construction 15 Elements in 12 Groups

Angle of view 72.4°-20.2°

Number of diaphragm blades 7pcs

Minimum focusing distance 20cm (7.9")

Maximum magnification 1:2.3

Filter size 72mm

Lens hood Petal hood

Dimensions Diameter 79mm (3.1in")X Length 82.5mm (3.2")

Weight 455gr /16.0oz

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Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC

£258.99

Specification:

Focal length: 18-50mm

Lens construction: 15 Elements in 13 Groups

Angle of view: 69.3 °- 27.9 °

Number of diaphragm blades: 7

Minimum focusing distance: 28cm (11in.)

Maximum magnification: 1:5

Filter size: 67mm

Lens hood: Petal-type hood

Dimensions: Diameter 74.1mm (2.9 in.)X Length 84.1mm (3.3in.)

Weight: 445gr/15.7ounces

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Tamron AF SP 17-50mm f2.8 XR Di-II LD ASP IF

£299.99

The new SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [iF] is a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras, expanding the product concept of the popular SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di zoom lens.

Two years after the SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di was launched as the standard for lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lenses, it remains highly popular with advanced amateur and professional photographers alike. Now Tamron, moving with market trends, has unveiled a new design for fast standard zoom lenses used exclusively for digital SLR cameras that covers the easy to use angles of view: the focal length is equivalent to 26-78mm* when converted to a 35mm format. In particular, the wide-angle focal length is established at 17mm (26mm equivalent) to obtain a wider angle of view than ordinary standard zoom lenses, while maintaining the remarkably lightweight and compact size of the earlier full frame zoom lens model.

* Tamron's conversion ratio is 1.55 x.

In addition, portrait shots are made beautiful with the natural out-of-focus effect characteristic provided by the fast F/2.8 aperture. Additionally, a broader photographic expression through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture offers enhanced photographic pleasure. The minimum focus distance of 27cm (10.6") over the entire zoom range achieves a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.5 at 50mm. The lens boasts one of the best close-up shooting performances in the class of fast standard zoom lenses designed exclusively for digital cameras and featuring an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, to ensure stress-free photographic shots at all focal lengths and distances.

Main Features

Lightweight, Compact Fast Standard Zoom Lens is Designed Exclusively for Digital SLR Cameras, with 17mm Wide Angle Coverage

Exclusive design for digital SLR cameras achieves a fast standard zoom lens that covers virtually the same angles as focal lengths of 26-78mm when converted to a 35mm format. The wide-angle focal length is established at 17mm (26mm equivalent) to obtain a wider angle of view than ordinary standard zoom lenses, while maintaining the remarkably lightweight and compact size of the earlier full frame zoom lens model. Since the lens is designed exclusively for APS-C sized digital cameras, the image circle diameter has been reduced. Moreover, careful adjustments to the design have achieved a lightweight, compact body with a filter diameter of 67mm, overall length of 81.7mm (3.2")*, and weight of 434g (15.3oz.)*.

* Values given are for Nikon AF cameras.

Optical System Uses Special Glass, and Is Optimized for Digital SLR Characteristics to Enhance Optical Quality in a Compact Design

The use of XR (Extra Refractive Index) glass in an innovative way optimizes the overall distribution of optical power, and also reduces various aberrations to the absolute minimum while achieving remarkable compactness. In addition, suitable positioning of two hybrid aspherical elements serves to maintain imaging performance and to shorten and compress the entire optical system. Furthermore, an LD (Low Dispersion) glass element is used to accomplish effective compensation of on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations, a critical factor for enhancing optical quality in digital photography, in order to achieve outstanding optical performance over the entire zoom range.

Minimum Focus Distance of 27cm (10.6") over the Entire Zoom Range Affords a 1:4.5 Macro Capability

The new lens achieves a minimum focus distance of 27cm (10.6") over the entire zoom range, one of the best in its class among fast standard zoom lenses with an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range used exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized image sensors. The maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.5*1 at the 50mm setting is the top level in its class.

*1 Since APS-C sized image sensors are smaller than 35mm film, the 17-50mm can fill the frame with almost the same scope as a lens with a Max. Mag. Ratio of 1:3.0 on a 35mm SLR camera.

Optical Design Dedicated to Digital SLR Photography by Optimizing the Angle of Incidence of Light Rays Reaching the Image Sensor

This zoom lens uses an optical system designed to confine the changing angles of incidences of light rays reaching the imager within a certain scope over the entire image field by considering the effects of variance due to zooming.

Enhanced Peripheral Illumination

Peripheral light fall-off is minimized when compared with that of conventional lenses for film cameras, so images are uniformly bright from the center to the periphery.

Outstanding Resolution

Since the lens is designed exclusively for digital SLR photography, it provides high image quality resolution, contrast and flatness of image field.

Internal Surface Coating to Reduce Ghosting and Flare

By employing "Internal Surface Coatings" (i.e., multiple-layer coatings on cemented surfaces of plural elements) and new multiple-layer coating technology on ordinary elements, ghosting and flare due to the reflections that occur when light enters through the front element and reflections caused by the imagers themselves are reduced to the absolute minimum.

Large Aperture in Lightweight, Compact Design Thanks to New Mechanical Devices

Complicated mechanisms are built into the compact body, thanks to new mechanical devices, for excellent portability and ease of use. In addition, a complex triple cam structure where cams zoom and focus within a three-layer lens barrel has been further developed to improve AF focus precision for close-in shots and torque irregularity when zooming in and out. Additionally, the engineering of the lens has been completely overhauled to downsize its parts and to increase their precision and durability, in order to accommodate the complex structure incorporated into the new SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [iF].

Zoom Lock Mechanism Incorporated

The Zoom Lock prevents unwanted barrel extension when carrying the lens/camera combination.

Flower-Shaped Lens Hood

A glare-reducing flower-shaped lens hood is included as a standard accessory. The special hood provides optimum shading of superfluous light rays that enter from the rectangular frame outside the image field.

New External Design of the New Di II Series Conveys "High Performance, High Precision Image"

Improvements have been made to the external design by adding a gold-colored band between the focus and zoom rings to enhance the appearance and make the product stand out as a Di-II lens. Also, the black coating over the entire lens barrel creates a high-quality, sophisticated look. The rubber patterns of the zoom rings have also been improved to complement the digital camera design style and to provide better handling.

Lens Construction 16 elements in 13 groups

Min. Object Distance 0.27m

Filter Attachment Size 67mm

Weight 434g

Dia. x Length (mm) 74 x 81.7

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Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

£309

Standard zoom lens with an Image Stabilizer and high zoom ratio. With the Image Stabilizer turned on, you can obtain sharp, natural-looking pictures in dim lighting without using flash or a tripod. Very handy for places where flash is prohibited.

Uses ring-type USM for swift, silent autofocus and full-time manual focus. Closest focusing distance is 50cm.

Lens Construction 16 elements in 12 groups

Closest Focusing 0.5m

Filter Attachment Size 72mm

Hood EW78B/2 (optional)

Weight 540g

Max Dia. x Length 96.8 x 78.4mm

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[Putney]

I just bought the Tamron 17-50mm. It's really good. The only thing about it I don't like is the lense is noisey when focusing. It's 2.8 all the way through so much better than the standard lens or the lenses you have listed above IMO. I got it for £225 delivered off ebay. It's winning lot's of awards. Buy it.

everyone i have spoken too daid tamron are better than sigma. I owuld go for the tamron if you are not buying canon. I think the canon is over priced.

Tamron you get a 2.8 all the way through, aspherical glass and it's nice and wide.

[Tigz™]

That lens is in my list?

£299.99

[chris260]

Snoop has the 28-135 Canon. I was thinking about it but i'm not too fussed about IS and i'd prefer something wider but he's taken some good pics with it. Don't know anything about the other two though.

[SimonJ]

our mag snapper swears by the 28-135...if it all goes pear shaped, he can do a whole mag shoot with it. and he does all the car to car stuff with that lens. well underated. i'm getting for my 30d

[chris260]

I was going for the 17-40L but purely because of the other lenses i have. If i didn't have the 70-200 i'd be going for the 28-135 too.

[dotdotdash]

Get the canon 17-35mm F2.8 L (not the newer 16-35) when new it was just under a grand. Now, if you can find one, around 300ish i have seen them go for. Also try the 20-35mm L but their not as good.

see this ebay link

or if you want really fast and wide, try a sigma 20mm F1.8. I used to have one of them and it was fantastic.

imo dont bother with the 28-135, the image stabiliser in it is an older design and not as good as the newer ones and its also 28mm which on a 350d isnt very wide at all. I had one for a week and wasnt too keen on it. ( although i did buy it for £160 and sell it the week later for £270 style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> )

Edited December 12, 2006 by dotdotdash

[one litre wonder ;)]

i was using the Sigma lense at E38

edit* thats the 18-50mm one

Edited December 12, 2006 by one litre wonder ;)

[Putney]

ebay

good lense on ebay, £49 at the moment

Edited December 12, 2006 by Putney

[Tigz™]

Thanks for the advice guys, had a play with a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di (is the lens you have Putney?) and was very impressed, sounded quite noisey, but to be honest, I love the sound a camera makes so its not an issue.

There is one on ebay now, I think, does this look right?

Looks cheap?

Ebay Link

[Rachel]

Take a look at this site it's got a load of reviews that are pretty usefull.

[Tigz™]

Thanks Rachel, I'll take a read style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

[Tigz™]

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di

Some mixed reviews

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showpro...t=43&page=1

[chris260]

Some mixed reviews

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showpro...t=43&page=1

There's always mixed reviews on there or the odd person that says they got a bad copy or something like that. 8.6 is pretty good though.

[dotdotdash]

Thanks for the advice guys, had a play with a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di (is the lens you have Putney?) and was very impressed, sounded quite noisey, but to be honest, I love the sound a camera makes so its not an issue.

There is one on ebay now, I think, does this look right?

Looks cheap?

Ebay Link

style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":o" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":o" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" /> 15quid postage

style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

[ArosaMike]

Anyone else have a feeling buying camera equipment is more addictive than crack?! It's really not good for my health all this!

[Putney]

No i got the 17mm-50 tamron 2.8

i got a 28-300mm tamron too but its 3.5 - 6.3 and you need a steady hand or tripod for lower light conditions!