Canon EF-S 17-55mm VS Sigma 17-50mm VS Tamron 17-50mm?

I need help deciding on a new better quality kit lens...

I am shooting with a 60D that I just got so I'm sticking with a crop lens to get the full wide angle that I need. Please help me pick (with evidence why) between the three lenses.

My budget is about 1000-1500$ but I also want a new Canon flash... Do you think I should go with the Canon and wait for more money to get the flash or sacrifice IQ for a third party brand? Or is the third party somehow better for cheaper? Please help never bought any third party lenses before! I am open to any suggestions, but please keep in mind I would it for everyday use (landscape/portraits) and I prefer a wide angle since I don't have any good quality wide lenses.

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (999$)
2. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD (619$)
3. Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (549$)

PS: I would like to use the lens for some video also... But, mostly photographs.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

psychoticpanda wrote:

I need help deciding on a new better quality kit lens...

I am shooting with a 60D that I just got so I'm sticking with a crop lens to get the full wide angle that I need. Please help me pick (with evidence why) between the three lenses.

My budget is about 1000-1500$ but I also want a new Canon flash... Do you think I should go with the Canon and wait for more money to get the flash or sacrifice IQ for a third party brand? Or is the third party somehow better for cheaper? Please help never bought any third party lenses before! I am open to any suggestions, but please keep in mind I would it for everyday use (landscape/portraits) and I prefer a wide angle since I don't have any good quality wide lenses.

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (999$)
2. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD (619$)
3. Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (549$)

All of these prices are from Amazon, the Tamron has a 100$ mail in rebate offer.

PS: I would like to use the lens for some video also... But, mostly photographs.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

$639 15-85 IS get the vello hood - it is only 1/2 slower - ie, f3.5, between 15-23

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lenses/ci/15492/pn/2/N/4288584250+4291570227

$289 35 f2

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12119-USA/Canon_2507A002_Wide_Angle_EF_35mm.html

$99 50 f1.8 ii

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12142-GREY/Canon_2514A002_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_8.html

$254 430 exii

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571297-USA/Canon_2805B002_430EX_II_Speedlite_TTL.html

$639 + $289 + $99 + $254 = $1284 in budget and much more powerful

Sovern wrote:

MAC wrote:

psychoticpanda wrote:

I need help deciding on a new better quality kit lens...

I am shooting with a 60D that I just got so I'm sticking with a crop lens to get the full wide angle that I need. Please help me pick (with evidence why) between the three lenses.

My budget is about 1000-1500$ but I also want a new Canon flash... Do you think I should go with the Canon and wait for more money to get the flash or sacrifice IQ for a third party brand? Or is the third party somehow better for cheaper? Please help never bought any third party lenses before! I am open to any suggestions, but please keep in mind I would it for everyday use (landscape/portraits) and I prefer a wide angle since I don't have any good quality wide lenses.

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (999$)
2. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD (619$)
3. Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (549$)

All of these prices are from Amazon, the Tamron has a 100$ mail in rebate offer.

PS: I would like to use the lens for some video also... But, mostly photographs.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

$639 15-85 IS get the vello hood - it is only 1/2 slower - ie, f3.5, between 15-23

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lenses/ci/15492/pn/2/N/4288584250+4291570227

$289 35 f2

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12119-USA/Canon_2507A002_Wide_Angle_EF_35mm.html

$99 50 f1.8 ii

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12142-GREY/Canon_2514A002_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_8.html

$254 430 exii

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571297-USA/Canon_2805B002_430EX_II_Speedlite_TTL.html

$639 + $289 + $99 + $254 = $1284 in budget and much more powerful

Terrible advice. The 15-85 is as slow as molasses and extremely overpriced. Think about it as being the kit lens but 30mm longer on the long end yet they charge $600 for it.

You'd be better off sticking with your kit lens and getting a 50 1.8 and 85 1.8 for your long end if you went with his route.

Also the 430 is a bad flash for the money. I'd get the Yungnuo equivalent for $100 less which has ETTL and is more powerful than the 430 if I recall correctly.

the terrible advice is your lack of experience with lowly equipment - 450d, 85 f1.8, borrowed 18-55 and a third party flash...that you think you recall --that has sync issues btw.  In another thread you recommended manual flash

the 15-85 is sharper than anything you own and only a 1/2 slower 15-23 - which is just as good as the f2.8 with NR -- because it is sharper -- and sharpness trumps 1/2 stop of noise.  LR corrects the lens perfectly.  It is L at these settings, then the poster would have F2 at 35 and f2 at 50.

430 exii is regarded as an excellent flash for the dollars.

get some good gear.  450d is known as landcape gear not portrait gear.   the cheapness of your behavior shows in your posts.  Event shooting btw mandates 2 cameras or you get in trouble.

Sovern wrote:

psychoticpanda wrote:

I need help deciding on a new better quality kit lens...

I am shooting with a 60D that I just got so I'm sticking with a crop lens to get the full wide angle that I need. Please help me pick (with evidence why) between the three lenses.

My budget is about 1000-1500$ but I also want a new Canon flash... Do you think I should go with the Canon and wait for more money to get the flash or sacrifice IQ for a third party brand? Or is the third party somehow better for cheaper? Please help never bought any third party lenses before! I am open to any suggestions, but please keep in mind I would it for everyday use (landscape/portraits) and I prefer a wide angle since I don't have any good quality wide lenses.

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (999$)
2. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD (619$)
3. Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (549$)

All of these prices are from Amazon, the Tamron has a 100$ mail in rebate offer.

PS: I would like to use the lens for some video also... But, mostly photographs.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

Please do yourself a favor and buy the Canon 17-55 IS. It is regarded as the best Canon crop body zoom lens an that's for a good reason. It will have the best corner to corner sharpness, best color, saturation, contrast due to it being a Canon lens and not off brand. It has 5mm more reach than the Tamron and Sigma. It also has the highest resale value due to it being a Canon lens in case you ever want to sell it.

I bought the Tamron 17-50 and it was terrible, terrible bokeh, a cool color cast, it lacked contrast and saturation. I sold it and bought myself the Canon 85 1.8 as even my old Canon 50 1.8 prime blew away the Tamron 17-50 image quality wise.

As for flash, go ahead and get yourself a Yungnuo 560 II manual speedlite for the time being for only $70. It's just about as powerful as the $500 Canon flasgship flashes and the yungnuo can be used as a slave via infared if you ever get a Canon flash in the future.

So with that said don't cheap out on lenses and go off brand. Get yourself the highest quality for the money that you have and make sure that you weigh out the pros with the cons and would suggest with sticking with Canon only lenses.

bad advice op. a yungnuo flash in manual -- hahaha

the sigma that gianp2k recommended does as well as the 17-55 for a fraction of the price, but this poster doesn't get it

pete shall I post the digital picture visual comparison again?

15 mm cleans up nicely in Lightroom -- automatically with the lens correction plugin

15-23 mm it is only 1/2 stop slower than f2.8 and it is sharper at f3.5 than the other zooms.

the recommendation had 35 f2 and 50 f1.8.  the 15-85 IS between 15-23 at f3.5 would have done fine with the photos you posted

qianp2k wrote:

MAC wrote:

Sovern wrote:

MAC wrote:

psychoticpanda wrote:

I need help deciding on a new better quality kit lens...

I am shooting with a 60D that I just got so I'm sticking with a crop lens to get the full wide angle that I need. Please help me pick (with evidence why) between the three lenses.

My budget is about 1000-1500$ but I also want a new Canon flash... Do you think I should go with the Canon and wait for more money to get the flash or sacrifice IQ for a third party brand? Or is the third party somehow better for cheaper? Please help never bought any third party lenses before! I am open to any suggestions, but please keep in mind I would it for everyday use (landscape/portraits) and I prefer a wide angle since I don't have any good quality wide lenses.

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (999$)
2. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD (619$)
3. Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (549$)

All of these prices are from Amazon, the Tamron has a 100$ mail in rebate offer.

PS: I would like to use the lens for some video also... But, mostly photographs.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

$639 15-85 IS get the vello hood - it is only 1/2 slower - ie, f3.5, between 15-23

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lenses/ci/15492/pn/2/N/4288584250+4291570227

$289 35 f2

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12119-USA/Canon_2507A002_Wide_Angle_EF_35mm.html

$99 50 f1.8 ii

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12142-GREY/Canon_2514A002_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_8.html

$254 430 exii

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571297-USA/Canon_2805B002_430EX_II_Speedlite_TTL.html

$639 + $289 + $99 + $254 = $1284 in budget and much more powerful

Terrible advice. The 15-85 is as slow as molasses and extremely overpriced. Think about it as being the kit lens but 30mm longer on the long end yet they charge $600 for it.

You'd be better off sticking with your kit lens and getting a 50 1.8 and 85 1.8 for your long end if you went with his route.

Also the 430 is a bad flash for the money. I'd get the Yungnuo equivalent for $100 less which has ETTL and is more powerful than the 430 if I recall correctly.

the terrible advice is your lack of experience with lowly equipment - 450d, 85 f1.8, borrowed 18-55 and a third party flash...that you think you recall --that has sync issues btw. In another thread you recommended manual flash

the 15-85 is sharper than anything you own and only a 1/2 slower 15-23 - which is just as good as the f2.8 with NR -- because it is sharper -- and sharpness trumps 1/2 stop of noise. LR corrects the lens perfectly. It is L at these settings, then the poster would have F2 at 35 and f2 at 50.

430 exii is regarded as an excellent flash for the dollars.

get some good gear. 450d is known as landcape gear not portrait gear. the cheapness of your behavior shows in your posts. Event shooting btw mandates 2 cameras or you get in trouble.

Look all these evening shots are from Sigma 17-50/2.8 OS at F2.8 wide-open. At 50mm side, 15-85 will be almost double slow at F5. These photos were all taken with hand-held from Sigma 17-50/2.8 OS (or sort of, such as put camera on the bag that sit on top of garbage can to absorb vibration) but absolutely no tripod.

EF-S 15-85/3.5-5.6 IS has severe distortion at 15mm side +3.0 that is very big. Its max aperture is,

http://qianp2k.zenfolio.com/

psychoticpanda wrote:

I need help deciding on a new better quality kit lens...

I am shooting with a 60D that I just got so I'm sticking with a crop lens to get the full wide angle that I need. Please help me pick (with evidence why) between the three lenses.

My budget is about 1000-1500$ but I also want a new Canon flash... Do you think I should go with the Canon and wait for more money to get the flash or sacrifice IQ for a third party brand? Or is the third party somehow better for cheaper? Please help never bought any third party lenses before! I am open to any suggestions, but please keep in mind I would it for everyday use (landscape/portraits) and I prefer a wide angle since I don't have any good quality wide lenses.

1. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (999$)
2. Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD (619$)
3. Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 SP XR Di II VC (549$)

All of these prices are from Amazon, the Tamron has a 100$ mail in rebate offer.

PS: I would like to use the lens for some video also... But, mostly photographs.

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

Without a doubt the Canon 17-55 is the best lens mainly because it yields the best bokeh for portraits  and it has IS but the Tamron 17-50 is a lens to love. I got rid of mine because I went full frame and I needed some cash and it was not worth it. It was such a fun lens to use and it has wonderful IQ with it's own unique look. If you are a serious portrait photographer get the Canon but on the other hand you won't be unhappy with the Tamron either, IS or non Is models.

MAC wrote:

the 15-85 IS between 15-23 at f3.5

First off, will you people stop re-quoting every single past post.  Cut out everything except what is relevant to what you have to say in your current post.

Second.  The 15-85 is a great lens, but your consistent over defending this lens, reeks of someone not happy with something defending it to make them feel better about it.

I have no idea why you keep pushing this incorrect statement about the 15-85.  It's only 3.5 from 15-17mm.

Here is the actual max aperture of the 15-85:

15-17mm - 3.5

18-26mm - 4.0

27-37mm - 4.5

38-60mm 5.0

>60mm - 5.6

Using the max aperture at wide angles is hugely worthless for most people anyhow.  Most people shooting wide angle are trying to get more in focus and stopping down anyhow.

I don't think your idea of pairing the 15-85 up with a faster prime like the 35/3 is a bad idea though. Although I would go with the Sigma 30/1.4 instead.

I'd not say one choice is absolutely better than another one that solely depends on your priority.

agree, I have different priorities.

these are different animals anyway

your sigma is very nice - 3x zoom

my 15-85IS is a 5x zoom that I think of and use as the following:

I use it mosltly at 15-23 F3.5 4 stop IS USM lens for $630 that has some nice extras.  I use this lens in low light at these wide/normal settings (FF equivalent of 24 - 36 fov )  and I also use the lens for group shots with bounced light

24-85 (FF equivalent of 37- 136 fov) just provides some nice extras in daytime walkaround.

when you look at the price canon wants for the new 24 F2.8IS and 28 F2.8 IS -- about $620 for each without any extras -- then my 15-23 F3.5 - 4 stop IS is pretty nice imo - and is supplied with some nice extras (37-136 for daytime and light assisted conditions)

I personally went with the Sigma 17-50.  The Tamron Non VC should be on the list and I would take the VC version off.

As far as the Sigma 17-50 OS versus the Canon 17-55, the Canon will do much better in the corners while the Sigma 17-50 is slightly better in the center of the frame.  If you want to shoot landscapes more, I would probably not get the Sigma 17-50 and opt for the 17-55, 15-85 or Tamron non VC instead.  If you want portraits with the center the sharpest, then the Sigma is the better value for the money with the 17-55 nearly matching the sharpness but at nearly 2X the cost especially if you factor in the added cost of a lens hood from Canon.

Personally, and I am not sure about what you have for longer lenses, I would go with the Sigma 17-50, Canon 85/1.8 and 2 430ex2s.  Use your 60D to fire both the flashes off camera.  These all together cost less than $1500 now.

The Yongnuo flashes are supposed to be good.  I would go with the YN560EX (not the II) if you wanted to go that route.

And buy from B&H not Amazon.  Amazon can't/wont properly pack their boxes.  Do some searching on Amazon's crappy packaging methods on Google.

jitteringjr wrote:

MAC wrote:

the 15-85 IS between 15-23 at f3.5

First off, will you people stop re-quoting every single past post. Cut out everything except what is relevant to what you have to say in your current post.

Second. The 15-85 is a great lens, but your consistent over defending this lens, reeks of someone not happy with something defending it to make them feel better about it.

I have no idea why you keep pushing this incorrect statement about the 15-85. It's only 3.5 from 15-17mm.

Here is the actual max aperture of the 15-85:

15-17mm - 3.5

18-26mm - 4.0

27-37mm - 4.5

38-60mm 5.0

>60mm - 5.6

Using the max aperture at wide angles is hugely worthless for most people anyhow. Most people shooting wide angle are trying to get more in focus and stopping down anyhow.

I don't think your idea of pairing the 15-85 up with a faster prime like the 35/3 is a bad idea though. Although I would go with the Sigma 30/1.4 instead.

just checked mine, you are right on the apertures

over the years, I've known many photographers use the 35 mm prime instead of their 24-70 zoom - just move the feet

Sovern wrote:

Dave Luttmann wrote:

Canon, Tamron, Sigma...in that order. They are actually very close...but the Canon is worth every penny.

I want to point out that if you're a portrait photography none of these zoom lenses would be on my list.

Why not?  I mean I would rather have a full frame camera and a 85L and 135L if money were no object, but for crop cameras the 17-5(x)/2.8s are pretty good.  What would you rather have for portraits if you were limited to a 1.6 crop camera?