For new lens... what brand?

BeemerChef

So I use a Canon 30D... with the lens that came with it, 28~135mm IS, and this weekend I started fooling around with a friend's lens and camera, a 17~50mm 2.8 IS! Perfect it seems for the kind of shots I take... Sadly enough I cannot afford the Canon brand...:cry ($1000+/-).
What is going to be the second best is my question...
I appreciate it...
Thanks

Ara

Pindy

There are two options, the Sigma and the Tamron. Both are very good. I believe the Tamron out-measures the Sigma slightly. Neither have IS, but both are f/2.8.

pathfinder

My son shoots for the Indiana Daily Student at Indiana University with a 40D and a Tamron SP17-50f2.8 XR Di II as his go to lens. B&H sells it for $449.00

You can see much of his work here http://mnemosyne.smugmug.com/

Be aware that the Tamron 17-50f2.8 lens mentioned above, is suitable ONLY for APS sensor cameras, and will not work on a full frame 35mm DSLR like a Canon 5D or 1DsMkII or III

claudermilk

The Tamron Pathifinder mentioned is frequently recommended as a good alternative to the Canon.

When looking at non-Canon lenses, stick to the big three: Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina. Then look around here, at photodo.com and photozone.de to start your research. These guys have some excellent lenses that rival Canon's performance, but they also have some real stinkers--do your research to you don't end up with a stinker.

BeemerChef

Thank you for the replies... much reading also on reports!!! I decied to go with a 17-85 IS Canon, actually off this Forum... 4-5.6. I am stuck on the brand!... so no 2.8...
Hope it does well!

Thanks... Ara