Help me choose a Canon everything-lens

[jamescl]

I want to upgrade my kit lens (18-55 non-IS) and have a few options, please let me know which i should go with. I'm using a Canon 20d and can really use the advice. I'll mainly be shooting friends' gatherings, group shots, some portraits, and a camera for use when I travel. I only want to carry one. I also have a 50mm 1.4 in my bag and a 70-300mm telephoto as well.

Right now, I've had a couple offers:
Canon 17-85mm IS
Canon 28-135 IS
Canon 17-40 L

or a budget option:
Canon 18-55 with IS for about $130

Thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Oni-kun]

I'm thinking you should get the 17-40L because you've got 50mm and 70mm+ covered. You'd be missing the range between 40-50 and 50-70. I guess you'll have to see if you need that range. The reason I think the 17-85 is a poor choice is I believe the aperture is only F4-5.6. Though I haven't checked to see what it is for the 17-40L. Then again I'm sort of noob so I dunno? lol

[jamescl]

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM Lens
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

Also now considering the Tamrons a bit as I do value high apeture:
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Lens
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II Lens

[bob0]

for my 3 month trip around europe and asia i used a canon xti, 17-85is and 70-300is

it worked perfectly for me. these lenses are light and portable so you wont be carrying around too much weight all day. IQ is decent. only down side is that the lenses dont have huge apertures... but i didnt need them to stop much action and i usually shoot f8 - f11 for sharpness

for travel IS is very valuable to me as i dont usually have time/room to setup a tripod. so with the 17-85 i can get down as low as 1s (at 17mm) and still get an ok shot... that opens up a lot of possibilities =)

the 17-85 was used maybe 80% of the time when traveling...the 70-300 was good for candids and telescope...so u dont have to pay them...haha


something to keep in mind since you mentioned travel use

[milhaus]

1. Canon 17-85mm IS for about $300 and change from a friend
Sharp, fast, but bad barrel distortion at the wide end. USM, and nice range though. Correctable in software.

2. Canon 28-135 IS for $300
Considered the best cheap Canon zoom, has USM, but is it wide enough for you. Not for me.

3. Canon 17-40 L for about $450
Don't know much, but that price seems competitive.

4. Canon 18-55 with IS for about $130
Good for a cheap lens. Not much to say about it.

5. Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II Lens
I am currently looking for one of these on the cheap, but the lowest I've been able to find is $450. This is what I've been told to hunt for.

[KorruptioN]

I don't know if I could call Canon's 17-85IS "fast".

I suggest you check out Tamron's 17-50/2.8 and even Sigma's 17-70/2.8-4.5 in a pinch. I have the Tamron and my buddy has the Sigma, both are really impressive lenses. On the cheap, Canon's 18-55IS is a good upgrade.

[bunga]

For your budget I would say the Tamron 17-50mm might be your best bet. Covers the most used range, has good optics, and a constant 2.8 aperture. They run about $500 on e-bay or if you keep an eye out can be had for a good bit less.

I've had the 17-85IS and while it's a very decent all around lens, even with IS there were a number of times when I was hoping for a larger aperture in low light conditions. I have now upgraded to the Tamron and am really happy with it's performance, I even kinda like the buzzing noise from the focusing motor but that might change with time.

[Kasakato]

I would buy the 17-50, unless you need the extra range. Fast glass wins.

[jamescl]

thanks for the advice - you guys are awesome and it's much appreciated.

looks like i'm joining many on the hunt for the tamron 17-50. i've only been able to find it for $450 as well plus taxes but hopefully will find one a cheaper in the future. maybe i'll pick up a cheapie 18-55IS to tide me over till I find the Tamron!

[frogger]

Prodigital (southern ontario ebay store) currently has the 17-50 2.8 for Nikon and Pentax mount for $370 CAD buy it now/best offer. Not sure if they ever sell the Canon mount. They do sell other Tamron Canon mount lenses.

[Natsuiro]

I bought my 17-50 at Cameracanada before I came to Japan and it was cheaper than $450.
Even with the high yen, the 17-50 is sometimes very cheap here 2nd hand. I've seen the Nikon (no motor) for 14500 yen and the Sony version for 24000.

[jamescl]

Prodigital (southern ontario ebay store) currently has the 17-50 2.8 for Nikon and Pentax mount for $370 CAD buy it now/best offer. Not sure if they ever sell the Canon mount. They do sell other Tamron Canon mount lenses.

ah thanks for the tip, it's too bad they only sell the other mounts! i've found it as low as 325US used but with the exchange rate it's kind of killed.

[djmr2]

canon 17-55 2.8 is! you know you want it, just do it!

[bunga]

Prodigital at least used to sell the Canon mount on e-bay, might be worth it to shoot them an e-mail

[jamescl]

yea, i'll shoot him an email.

i also get great prices at one of the big retailers (i'm a buyer for a large organization and camera equipment falls within my scope) so I can usually get lenses discounted (still retail though but at least it comes with a full receipt and warranty and is brand new).

i just asked and then can get the tamron 17-55 for $440 pretax which is okay.

[jamescl]

thanks all, grabbed both the 17-55mm 2.8 (found an amazing deal on it) and the tamron 17-50 as recommended and will sell one, keep the other.
cheers!

[KorruptioN]

grabbed both the 17-55mm 2.8 (found an amazing deal on it) and the tamron 17-50

How amazing?

[mark11]

I want to upgrade my kit lens (18-55 non-IS) and have a few options, please let me know which i should go with. I'm using a Canon 20d and can really use the advice. I'll mainly be shooting friends' gatherings, group shots, some portraits, and a camera for use when I travel. I only want to carry one. I also have a 50mm 1.4 in my bag and a 70-300mm telephoto as well.

Right now, I've had a couple offers:
Canon 17-85mm IS for about $300 and change from a friend
Canon 28-135 IS for $300
Canon 17-40 L for about $450

or a budget option:
Canon 18-55 with IS for about $130

Thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!
if budget is an issue this is not a bad lens ..however Center sharpness wide open ranges from decent at 28mm to somewhat soft at 135mm where the weakest results are delivered. Stopping down to f/8 helps the 135mm results, but the shorter focal lengths do not change much with narrower apertures. Corner softness is poor at 35mm, but not bad for a consumer-zoom at the other focal lengths.

Strong barrel distortion at 28mm will be noticeable even on a 1.6x FOVCF body. You will notice the effect distortion has on the ISO 12233 resolution chart sample crops - the center image (the top-most sample) will appear slightly enlarged. The crossover point between barrel and pincushion distortion occurs around 40mm. By 70mm, the pincushion distortion becomes relatively strong and continues through 135mm.

The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens shows very strong vignetting at 28mm wide open. Wide open vignetting gradually decreases to mild vignetting at 100mm with a slight increase again at 135mm. As usual, stopping down the aperture reduces vignetting. Users of 1.6x FOVCF bodies will notice much less vignetting - in the corners below 35mm, but not a significant amount at the longer focal lengths.

The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens exhibits flare control ranging from moderate at 28mm to good at 135mm. As always, I base my lens flare opinions by using the lens with Canon's recommended lens hood in place. In this case, it is the not-included-in-the-box Canon EW–78BII Lens Hood. Contrast and colors from this lens are reasonable. Some CA (Chromatic Aberration) is present in the corners at the two ends of the focal length range.

Bokeh (foreground and background blur quality) is fine, but the 6-blade aperture is not going to deliver excellence with OOF (out-of-focus) highlights when stopped down. And, creating a diffusely-blurred background is not one of this lens' specialties. At 135mm, the background is magnified/compressed enough to create some blur if the subject is relatively close. if your budget can gandle it the EF24-105mm f/4 IS USM is much sturdier and sharper at all focal ranges with a much better resale as it is an l lens...good luck

[bpopd]

yea, i'll shoot him an email.

i also get great prices at one of the big retailers (i'm a buyer for a large organization and camera equipment falls within my scope) so I can usually get lenses discounted (still retail though but at least it comes with a full receipt and warranty and is brand new).

i just asked and then can get the tamron 17-55 for $440 pretax which is okay.

That price is horrible.
send me a pm, and I'll send you someplace else.

[urameatball]

$450 for 17-40L is a steal!
I'd take that in a heartbeat over your other options.
If you don't like it, you can resell on craigslist EASILY for $500+ (if not $600).

[bpopd]

$450 for 17-40L is a steal!
I'd take that in a heartbeat over your other options.
If you don't like it, you can resell on craigslist EASILY for $500+ (if not $600).

He has a good point. Get the 17-40L. At $450, you will be able to sell it in a heartbeat at $500.

[Hurk]

I sold my Caon 50mm 1.4 to get the Tamron 17-50 2.8. I love it, although not as sharp as the 50mm at 2.8. My next will be the Canon 70-200 F4L. I don't like carrying too many lenses, and I find this combo is fantastic - although the 70-200 4L is kind of large...

These are just my opinions, but they work well...

My third lens will be an UWA, but that's not needed... it's a want.

[bpopd]

I sold my Caon 50mm 1.4 to get the Tamron 17-50 2.8. I love it, although not as sharp as the 50mm at 2.8. My next will be the Canon 70-200 F4L. I don't like carrying too many lenses, and I find this combo is fantastic - although the 70-200 4L is kind of large...

These are just my opinions, but they work well...

My third lens will be an UWA, but that's not needed... it's a want.

insert advert.!
!!!! I have one for sale!!!! (70-200f4L)

[Hurk]

insert advert.!
!!!! I have one for sale!!!! (70-200f4L)

Hey, I don't see your ad. Linky!