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17-40mm f/4L vs 16-35mm f/2.8L

Started Dec 26, 2012 | Questions thread
Lemming51
Lemming51 Forum Pro • Posts: 15,278
Re: narrowing choices

psychoticpanda wrote:

Wow so I am between about 5-10 different lenses now. Someone please help me narrow these down!

The possible candidates are...

  1. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
  2. Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
  3. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
  4. Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
  5. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD
  6. Any of the other mentioned lenses

By the way my budget is "about" 1000$ so please don't offer top shelf lenses unless there is a great reason to invest in it... Thank you to everyone who has assisted me, I was very lost before finding this forum! You are all a huge help in the buying process of a new lens. Thanks

The 2 EF L-series lenses above are too limited compared to the EF-S/DC/Di II options available = all of which are very good optically, have greater zoom range, and stabilization.

Top Shelf: These lenses have f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range. Gives you greater choice for shallow depth of field, low light, and also enables high precision AF. Trade-off is more limited zoom range. Choose from EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 XR DI II VC.

Middle Shelf: Still very good optically, but trade the constant f/2.8 maximum aperture for greater zoom range. Good build, and like the top-shelf offerings these have non-rotating front barrel (a big plus when using polarizer). Choose from EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 DC HSM OS, EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.

IMHO,YMMV

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 Lemming51's gear list:Lemming51's gear list
Canon EOS 40D Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM +5 more
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