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Stuck between 2 lenses

  • 02-09-2013 11:55pm
    #1
    Cian_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 30 ✭


    I've started doing a lot more photography lately especially indoors (mostly photos of people, usually will be 1 person making a speech or else a photo of 2 or more people standing together etc..). Because of how frequently I do this now, I want to upgrade my glass as the kit lens just isn't cutting it anymore.

    I'm suck between 2 lenses. The Canon 17-40mm f/4L, and the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8.

    Both of these have their advantages. The Canon has a wider angle, which can be handy in smaller rooms seeing as I'm using a cropped sensor. The Tamron offers the wider aperture which is nice to have on low light situations, and it also has image stabilisation.


    EDIT: I have a 50mm f/1.8 also, but indoors that can be very tight if it's a smaller room. I also have a Canon Speedlite 430EX II.


    I'm torn between these 2 lenses at the moment so any advice would be extremely helpful.


Comments

  • #2
    twowheelsonly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,273 ✭✭✭twowheelsonly


    I use Nikon myself and have a Nikon 17-55 f2.8 that I'm more than pleased with.

    My brother however uses Canon and got a Sigma 17-70? (I think..) f2.8 this year that he's more than pleased with. He picked it up in Sound Store at a decent price but apparently they're a fairly good price all round anyway. His photos have improved no end using that lens over the kit lens and he's doing a lot of the kind of stuff that you mention as well.

    Just throwing it into the equation as another alternative to confuse you more !!


  • #3
    .Longshanks.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,718 ✭✭✭.Longshanks.


    Scrap them both and get this one instead. Its wide, made for a crop sensor and is super fast (f1.8)
    Sigma-18-35mm-f1.8-DC-HSM-lens-with-hood.jpg
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967344-REG/sigma_18_35mm_f1_8_dc_hsm.html


  • #4
    Cian_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 30 ✭Cian_


    I originally looked at that but as I plan on moving to a full frame next year I'm not sure if it would be the best option
    .Longshanks. wrote: »
    Scrap them both and get this one instead. Its wide, made for a crop sensor and is super fast (f1.8)
    Sigma-18-35mm-f1.8-DC-HSM-lens-with-hood.jpg
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967344-REG/sigma_18_35mm_f1_8_dc_hsm.html


  • #5
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,371 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    twowheelsonly wrote: »
    Sigma 17-70? (I think..) f2.8 this year that he's more than pleased with.

    I've had one of these for years, great lens for the price. I didn't even take it off the camera for a long time, hard to go wrong with that focal range and 2.8 is nice.

    F4.0 sounds very limiting.


  • #6
    M5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,161 ✭✭✭✭M5


    The canon 17-40 is a superb lens on a crop sensor. It covers most of the usual stuff. Its also great on a crop sensor as you are using the sweet spot of the lens and will get very little vignetting even at 17mm. The "L" glass is great of course! Had the lens for about 2 years myself, delighted with it TBH

    I also that the 50mm 1.4 and i used that for low light and portraits. The 17-40 for pretty much everything else!


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  • #7
    Pete67
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,257 ✭✭✭Pete67


    It sounds like most of your portraits are indoors? In that case I would not worry too much about the extra stop from f4 to f2.8, as you can always use bounced or diffused flash to get a decent exposure. The extra field of view from the 17-40 would swing it for me. It can be quite difficult to get sharp focus at f2.8 anyway due to the fairly small depth of field, especially at longer focal lengths.


  • #8
    FoxT
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,204 ✭✭✭FoxT


    If you are planning on moving to FF , then I'd recommend sigma 17-70 f2.8-f4 OS.
    I have the old version of this - no image stabilisation, and it is 17-70 2.8-4.5.

    I have found the old version immensely good value for money, (on a canon 40D) and I am debating whether to upgrade to new version or not. It is about eu350-400 I think,much cheaper than 17-40 f4.

    For low light, I use a canon 50mm f/1.4, but I find that a bit too long on a crop sensor camera for indoors/social shooting.

    ON THE OTHER HAND...
    If you are really moving to FF, then 17-40 f4 is a good choice. It is a FF lens, and has a good reputation ( I have not used it myself), and you will be able to use it on a FF camera (ie not trade-in upgrade etc involved). On a full frame, at wide angle, the bokeh difference between f 2.8 & f4 is minor, imo. the loss of a stop in lens speed can be compensated for by bumping the ISO on the FF up a stop, and, again IMO, a FF sensor will deliver an equally good image as an APS-C when running at a stop faster ISO.

    hope that helps!

    -FoxT


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