help me choose a lens

[dreams]

Hi, long time reader rearly post. forgive me.

I need help. In the hunt for a zoom lens 10-70 range to fit onto my cropped sensors cam and the catch is only have limited budget.

My hunt list

15-30 Sigma
12-24 Tokina
17-40 L

so far there are the only 3 I have research atm, any one have any other recomendation? overall each of the lens above is going to cost me $700 avg a piece.thats fine. FLs are probably not compareable but thats just my prefferences.

Im leaning towards tokina... please help..

really appreciate your comments.

Peter

[Oz_Beachside]

are you after 1 lens, or 3 lenses? are you looking to spend $700 AUD in total, or each piece?

[dviv]

I'd suggest the Tamron 17-50 - I use it on my 350D (1.6 crop) and have found it to be excellent. It's very, very sharp.

[dreams]

a lens. im after one lens.

I dont like tamron 17-50 purely cause its built like poop. hence not on the list

[Oz_Beachside]

is wide aperture important to your style, or broad range in zoom?

[dviv]

a lens. im after one lens.

I dont like tamron 17-50 purely cause its built like poop. hence not on the list

What do you mean? I think that mine ( the F/2.8 ) is very solid. Have you tested one out yourself?

[dreams]

is wide aperture important to your style, or broad range in zoom?

fixed/wide apperture i'd say is a plus other than that I dont mind.

dviv, yes glass is no doubt the best in the price range for f2.8 got turned down by the built quality. cosmetically speaking. tamron has never been on my favour list to be honest.

[ozimax]

tamron has never been on my favour list to be honest.

I shot surf and action photography for almost 3 years with a freebie Tamron 70-300 and found it to be a sensational lens. I now have a very expensive lens (70-200 IS) but I don't think the lens has that much to do with anything, so I wouldn't write off the Tamron just yet. Their 90mm macro lens is evidently top notch by those who use it.

I used the Canon 17-40 L lens for a day a couple of months back and wasn't that impressed, but that was comparing it to the Nikon kit lens which was a beauty.

Just my 2 bobs worth...

[Osprey]

I used the Canon 17-40 L lens for a day a couple of months back and wasn't that impressed, but that was comparing it to the Nikon kit lens which was a beauty.

Interesting that you say that. Surely it must have been an exception. The person who owns it needs to send it back.

I've just purchased the EF 17-40mm f/4L and am absolutely stoked with its performance and its tack sharpness.

[joey]

I'd suggest the Tamron 17-50 - I use it on my 350D (1.6 crop) and have found it to be excellent. It's very, very sharp.

No problems with Auto Focus?

[dviv]

I'd suggest the Tamron 17-50 - I use it on my 350D (1.6 crop) and have found it to be excellent. It's very, very sharp.

No problems with Auto Focus?

Nope - It hunts a little in extremely low light but usually tack sharp and quick.

[robert]

I just recently got the tokina 12-24, it's built like a tank, but my sample had some AF probs, would change its focus when shooting a stationary object from a tripod! The contrast was also quite low compared to my canon primes. I ended up going for the EF-S 10-22. Not built as well but far superior optically speaking.

I have read lots of good things about the Tokina but i would make sure you can return it if youre not happy (this may mean buying it from a store instead of online OS).

The 10-22 is only slightly less contrasty than the few primes I've got and resolution drop was only slightly noticeable. I've got no doubt i wont notice the diff in real world photos where only 1 or 2 a month go to A3 size,

Good luck
Robert

[outtram]

hey robert,

if the tokina 12-24 had have focused better do you still think getting the 10-22 canon would have been worth all that extra money.... i thinks it almost double the price of the tokina.

i have also been burnt by 3rd party lenses in the past, but the prices are ohh so tempting.

[shutterbug]

Canon 17-40L great lens on the 5D

[gstark]

if the tokina 12-24 had have focused better do you still think getting the 10-22 canon would have been worth all that extra money.... i thinks it almost double the price of the tokina.

The tokina has been proving difficult to get, but if my recollection is correct, it's about the same price as the Sigma 10-20 and 12-24 lenses ... and the Canon 10-22 is only a smidgeon more than those, when purchased through Poon.

[dreams]

Thanks for the input guys.
ended buying 17-40L new. can't wait to test it out. waiting for my UV filter which is on its way by post.

Next target is a wideangle lens. Sigma 10-22 i heard have a very bad distortion, shot a couple at 10mm the humans literally 'bent' .

Is it true that Tokina is the one that made Sigma's glasses?