18-55 replacement

[mozzie]

hi all,
Hope you had a fantastic holiday season. Over the weekend my 400D got dropped (not by me) and it damaged my 18-55 kit lens. I had a filter on it which smashed and while the lens seems to be okish (it works and no scratches) its stuck on the 55 end and won't let me change the focal length. I am going to take it in to be looked at but I have been wanting to upgrade the lens for a while so was looking for some suggestions. I am not looking to spend a crazy amount, definately under $1000.

so any suggestions?

[Wink]

The Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM is apparently a nice performer.
A bit higher up the price and quality scale is the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM.

If you want to go over your budget then you could go all out on a L lens like the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM. Or Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM if your happy to lose a little at the short end and gain a fair bit at the long end.

[aim54x]

Grey import 17-40mm f/4L....else the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 for that budget....who dropped the baby?

[gstark]

Dare I say that, for that budget, you can get a Nikon D5000 (I think) kit?

No, I'd best not say that.

[aim54x]

Dare I say that, for that budget, you can get a Nikon D5000 (I think) kit?

Dont you mean a D3000?

[gstark]

Dare I say that, for that budget, you can get a Nikon D5000 (I think) kit?

Dont you mean a D3000?

Probably. It's a Monday, and the day has been busy, what with GPS testing, coffee, and installing a new tv for my mum.

[paulmac]

I can vouch for the Sigma 17-70mm. A happy customer here.

f/2.8 at the wide end, and it's a macro lens too, which means it'll focus on things literally just off the front glass.

I bought it before I went overseas, as it reviewed better than the Canon 17-85. It was on my camera 95% of the time.

$565 at Camera House...

[mozzie]

Thanks for the suggestions guys,

I am going to go for a bit of a play over the weekend and see which one fits the best. I hadn't considered the sigma so thanks Paul. I am leaning slightly towards the 17-40 f4 L or perhaps the 17-85 IS.

Who knows I may just end up with a Nikon kit instead

[surenj]

the 17-85 has problems with CA (Most focal lengths but esp wide) and distortion esp at 17-24mm. But these can be improved in post esp if you use DPP I think; extremely usable length and most my photos are from this lens. However once I change lenses to 10-22 or 50mm prime, I can see a difference in contrast, colors straight away. But then it's not a fair comparison in someways.

for $1300 you can get the 17-55 2.8 gray. I have seen this go for $900 second hand!

Otherwise 17 40 is excellent for a crop camera. not so much for full frame.

[surenj]

Also, the replacement for 17-85 by canon, 15-85 is around now. I think they have improved it's CA and distortion. Also adds significant gains the wideangle department. A little bit more expensive I think. Can't you walk into the Macarthur camera house and demand a good price for this one?

[mozzie]

Can't you walk into the Macarthur camera house and demand a good price for this one?

I was actually planning on battering my eye lashes in the Maq camera house ...not sure how well the trick would work anymore but worth a try ...

[aim54x]

For the price, I would not recommend the 15-85, may as well get the 17-40L grey (aussie price is a bit too high still). I would seriously question the macro ability of the 17-70 in terms of reproduction value as sigma, like a lot of other manufacturers will claim "macro" whenever a lens can get to 1:4 .....i just looked it up....1:2.7 not a true macro by any stretch of the imagination, but better than most claimed macros.

[Mr Darcy]

I was actually planning on battering my eye lashes

Is that a beer batter or tempura?

[mozzie]

Is that a beer batter or tempura?

You cant get anything past the forum

Although on second thought battering my eyelashes may have a mildly higher chance of success than just batting them at Marcus or Cam.

[surenj]

For the price, I would not recommend the 15-85, may as well get the 17-40L grey (

CAmeron makes a valid point here.

http://www.d-d-electronics.com.sg/products/Canon-EF%252dS-15%252d85mm-F3.5%252d5.6-IS-USM-Lens.html?setCurrencyId=1

http://www.d-d-electronics.com.sg/products/Canon-EF-17%252d40mm-F4-L-USM-Lens.html?setCurrencyId=1

They are the same price remembering that the IS does offer about 3 stops advantage over the 17 40