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Buying new lens 17-40 or else?

Started Jan 25, 2014 | Discussions thread
Lemming51
Lemming51 Forum Pro • Posts: 15,278
Else.
3

RussellZ wrote:

I've seen so many reviews on lenses and lost any hope of committing which one to get.

Ideally I want lens that's good for everything but those do not exist. This is why I need your help picking something that works best for me. I would like lens to be able to take landscapes, some night shots something that can take on vacations (walk around lens) defiantly want wide angle lens. This is why 17-40L is something I’ve been looking at for a long time. However then, I came across 16-35 2.8L II, 17-55 f2.8 IS and EF 20mm 2.8 USM

Right now I have Canon T1i with 50mm 1.8 prime and two kit lenses 18-55 and 55-250. Since T1i is getting old I've been thinking about getting Canon EOS 70D (later this year, which most likely I’ll get with kit lens 18-135). But that’s in the future. I want to get new lens that I can take on upcoming vacation (in 2 weeks).

Can you please suggest what best to take that won’t be an overkill on T1i or 70D.

Please help!

EF 17-40 f/4L USM is sub-optimal on "crop" bodies like your T1i and anticipated 70D. You can get greater zoom range, greater max. aperture, and IS in EF-S lenses and similar from Sigma (DC) and Tamron (Di II).

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

Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM is getting really great reviews, nearly the same zoom range but over 2 stops greater max aperture than the 17-40L.

For "do everything" lenses for general use and travel, take a good long look at the EF-S 15-85 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM or EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.

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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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