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Author Topic: Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon  (Read 1833 times)

Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
on: August 26, 2010, 21:24:40 PM
Ive now got several lenses, including wide angle, telephoto, 50mm prime and an all purpose 18-200.

The 18-200 is the lens I use when I only want to carry around one lens, or I am taking photos of moving stuff where I need that range, but it was a bargain lens and quality is not fantastic esp at 200mm. (Oh and Ive also managed to scratch the glass! although you cant really tell on the photos)

I find myself using the stock 18-55 quite often, but Im less than impressed at the quality.

Now after having a quick play with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM Im very impressed! But at £6-700 I dont think I can bring myself to spend that kind of Money!

So is anyone aware of a really good performing lens that covers that zoom range? Maybe I want a lot for not much money, just thought Id see what other people have got in this range.
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #1 on: August 26, 2010, 21:48:38 PM
Ive just forked out £180 for Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, itll hopefully arrive tomorrow. From what Ive heard its not so great 17-25mm but other than that is quite good.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-17-85mm-f-4-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

I decided on this one being my general lens partly on the review above. I was looking on ebay at lenses going cheap and every time I googled one, a review came up from that site, and usually itd say "its cheap, pay more and get something better", with the exception of this lens, which he seems to think is pretty good for the money.

Other sites are a little less favourable, especially about the wide end, but Im hoping its a case of the longer end being so good people notice the wide end being worse :|
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #3 on: August 26, 2010, 22:12:53 PM
Ive got the Tamron 17-50, love the F2.8 all the way through the range.  Youre more than welcome to have a lend if you like, after all Ive borrowed your 10-24 often enough.  :D
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #4 on: August 26, 2010, 22:21:32 PM
Nice mate, finally made post number 1 :P

Was just looking at the Tammy actually and seeing it is half the price and you only lose the IS then looks like thats the one. Can you bring it in Monday? Will prob get one for Iceland if I like it ;)
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #5 on: August 26, 2010, 22:26:44 PM
No, but Ill bring it in Tuesday seeing as its Bank Holiday and all that!!!

The 10-24 arrived today, looking forward to using it! Got some time lapse stuff to show you Tuesday too.
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  • Offline Dave

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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #6 on: August 26, 2010, 22:41:42 PM
Quote from: XEntity
Nice mate, finally made post number 1 :P

Was just looking at the Tammy actually and seeing it is half the price and you only lose the IS then looks like thats the one. Can you bring it in Monday? Will prob get one for Iceland if I like it ;)


Ive got the Tammy too

There are two variants one with and one without IS - the old one without is just under £300 the newer one just over - From what I can tell from reviews the IQ is slightly better on the older one - I figured I dont need IS at that range anyway so just got the older one.
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  • Offline Kunal

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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #7 on: August 26, 2010, 23:22:50 PM
The 17-55 2.8 IS is amazing. I even prefer it over the 24-70 2.8L to be honest.

You should be able to pick one up for 500 second hand on eBay/photography forums. Bought mine 2nd hand off POTN a couple of years ago.

Saying that I have to admit the Tammy 17-50 is a bargain.
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  • Offline Serious

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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #8 on: August 27, 2010, 03:27:45 AM
Low end Ive got the Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Asp. (IF) Lens

Above that the superb Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens.

At the top is Canon EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 III Lens, its a cheap stopgap that works well enough. Im thinking of replacing this with either the Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Lens or Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lens.

Im worried how you managed to scratch the lens, which is something Ive never done to any of mine, and a few have had rather rough treatment! You did have a skylight filter on?
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #9 on: August 27, 2010, 19:50:42 PM
To be honest I have no idea how it managed to get scratched, I treat my lenses really well, but noticed a scratch on it one day!
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #10 on: August 31, 2010, 19:47:49 PM
Right so after having a play with Paul S Tamron, I went for that!

Tamron AF 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Canon (£276.50)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-17-50mm-F2-8-Aspherical-Canon/dp/B000FZ3FY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1283279646&sr=8-1

Its a little noisy on focusing, but the few pictures I have taken seem good and cant complain at that price!
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  • Offline Dave

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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #11 on: August 31, 2010, 22:47:15 PM
tbh... Im not that fussed about noise - so long as it focuses well and has good image quality thats all Im fussed about

the tamron isnt too far off the canon 17-55 going by a few reviews and that in itself isnt too far off the IQ of the 24-70 on a full frame

tis really such a bargain - youre getting 2.8 across the focal range for half the price of the canon equivalent
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #12 on: August 31, 2010, 22:51:04 PM
Going by the reviews the glass is supposed to be great
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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #13 on: September 02, 2010, 19:04:34 PM
it is my experience that Sigma and Tamron are pretty good if you stick to their EX and SP lines respectively. These are conceptually similar to Canons L series although not quite so far up the market.

The consumer glass from any manufacturer and the non-camera brands especially has to be treated with a little bit of scepticism, but the good stuff is usually good. Then it comes down to exactly HOW good, which is a much nicer problem to have since you cant really lose.
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:Want to upgrade my stock 18-55 IS on my Canon
Reply #14 on: September 02, 2010, 19:17:40 PM
I found out the uni got some new camera kit in, nothing fancy, but there was an 80-300mm tamron I think it was...that was pretty nasty tbh. It had image stabilisation in it, but when you held it in your hands and turned it over you could hear/feel something knock like it wasnt secured very well inside. I know IS uses electromagnets and the likes, but my canon 17-85mm IS lens doesnt have any suggestion of things being loose inside.
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