Zooms (mid-range mid-range) thoughts?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/11/2005 08:16:43 AM · #1

One gap in my lense repetoire is the approx. 20-100mm range. I currently own a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 & Tokina 12-24mm. These cover the "wide" & "long"...but I need a zoom to cover the mid-range (sometimes I think I should have kept my kit lens). I will likely use said lense for a lot of gig photography. The 50mm f/1.8 is great for the low-light but a lot of times in small venues I don't have the leniency to move around easily to compose the shot. (Can't step back 2-ft because there are 4 people behind me). Hence, I'd like a zoom. I kinda prefer the thought of a non-rotating focus system but it is not a deal breaker. Mainly I want something that can do half-decent in low-light. f/2.8 is highly desirable - so any comments? additional suggestions? bad experiences with any listed?:

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - $1,241.73 (this one is just outside of my budget)

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Tamron AF 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di Zoom - $359.92 (not the highest rated but seems like one of the best in reviews)

Tamron SP AF28-75MM F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) - $354.55

Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX Aspherical DG DF - $419.17

Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 EX Aspherical DF - $506.36

Sigma 24-135mm f/2.8-4.5 Aspherical IF - $303.20

Sigma Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX DG Lens - $456.17

Tokina AT-X 280 AF PRO 28-80mm f/2.8 - $400.00

Message edited by author 2005-11-11 13:17:10.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

11/11/2005 08:21:17 AM · #2

Tamron SP AF28-75MM F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) - $354.55

This is a very good lens. I tried one out when I was looking for a long range lens. If I would not of had to purchase a long range lens this lens would of been it.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

11/11/2005 08:30:27 AM · #3

I am curious if any knows the meaning of the different designations?

Tamron AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di Zoom - $359.92
Tamron SP AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) - $354.55

"AF" vs. "SP AF"

"Di" vs. "Di LD Aspherical (IF)"

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/11/2005 08:31:05 AM · #4

Tamron 28-75 is just an exceptionally good lens. So good, in fact, that when I bought all my dSLR stuff in one go I was convinced to buyt this instead of a Conon lens even though it had been my intention to get ONLY Canon lenses. Now the 28-75 is my workhorse and I have absolutely no problems with it.

I had intended to get the Canon 24-70 L glass, but I was having budget issues. The Tamron is a full stop faster, covers approximately the same range, does serviceable near-macro, is lighter and more compact, and is optically just outstanding.

I recommend it without reservation.

Robt.

samanwar

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/11/2005 08:32:25 AM · #5

The SP AF Tamron 28-75 XR is an excellent lens, it has a f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, it focuses very fast, it cost 1/4 of the Canon and it competes with it very well as far as the contrast, sharpness and overall quality, do a search on google for reviews on that lens and you will be impressed.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/11/2005 08:34:56 AM · #6

Tamron terms:

IF Internal Focusing
ASL Aspherical
LD Low Dispersion
AD Anomalous Dispersion
XR Extra Refractive Index Glass
Di Digitally Integrated Design
Di-II Lenses for Digital SLR Cameras Only

Robt.

superdave_909

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

11/11/2005 09:23:17 AM · #7

Originally posted by bear_music:

um... both are f/2.8 so how is it that the tamron is a full stop faster?

On a side note, I ultimately decided to go with the sigma 24-70 f/2.8,
glass quality is very good and the 4mm on the short side was far more
important to me that the 5mm on the long side

I only have one complaint, no hsm motor,..., sniff

Prof_Fate

11/11/2005 09:45:01 AM · #8

From my researching...

Tamron SP AF28-75MM F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) - $354.55 Very Good lens

Sigma 24-135mm f/2.8-4.5 Aspherical IF - $303.20 - reviews not that glowing

Sigma Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX DG Lens - $456.17 - know nothing about this one.

Tokina AT-X 280 AF PRO 28-80mm f/2.8 - $400.00 Seems OK, but teh tamron is the one in this class everyone says to get.

Here is what i bought, or considered:
Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX DC - as good optically as the Canon 17-40 4L with more range, faster and cheaper. I really like this lens (about $400) On a 20D is acts like a 28-80 on a film camera. Great for low light, good color and contrast, great indoor lens (speed, range, wide end)
Samples of mine:all these and

and many more.

Tamron SP 24-135 3.5-5.6 about $400. Man is this a nice lens! NO ONE ANYWHERE has a negative word about it, so i went and bought it - and yeah, NICE lens. SHARP. Very fast focusing, nice range of coverage. It is my walkaround and primary portrait lens now. Extremely low flare, good color and contrast - I can't say enough good about this lens. The only thing better is maybe the new canon 24-105 L lens at MUCH more money.
Samples I shot:

Lenses I seriously considered: Canon 28-135 USM IS. Seemed to be a bit less sharp than the Tamron i got. Did not get to try one out personally though. I did try the Canon 17-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM ($600 or so) and was very tempted..but i have the 18-50 covered and wanted more on the tele end, so 135 won out over 85. I can see no discernable difference in sharpness, color or contrast of either lens, but the canon is a bit faster focusing (usm will do that) and it does have IS if you need it. On a tele maybe, but up to 85mm I don't see much need. A lens worth considering though.

One last thought - does an EF-S or APS sized lens matter to you one way or the other? The canon 17-85 is an EF-S i think. The Sigma 18-50 is for APS sized (non-full frame) cams. The Tamron SP24-135 will work on full frame cams.

Message edited by author 2005-11-11 14:46:10.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Canon

11/11/2005 10:32:04 AM · #9

Originally posted by bear_music:

Tamron 28-75 is just an exceptionally good lens.

Which Tamron 28-75 ? I listed two?

Anyone know which of the two are better, and what specifically are different?

pj-schmidt

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

11/11/2005 10:50:05 AM · #10

I've got a Canon EF 28-135 IS USM that I like a lot.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/11/2005 10:57:57 AM · #11

Originally posted by pj-schmidt:

I've got a Canon EF 28-135 IS USM that I like a lot.

Not good for him, he mentioned needing f/2.8

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

11/11/2005 11:24:31 AM · #12

I keep hearing such good things about the Tamron 28-75, I really would love to see comparative tests between that and the Canon 24-70 shot wide open. I know the build of the Canon is far superior but in photographic performance, I really don't know. I own the Canon, and would not trade it.

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

11/11/2005 11:54:11 AM · #13

I have the Tamron SP 28-75 f2.8 XD Di LD and love it. But I got a chance to buy a used Canon 28-70 f2.8L for a very reasonable price, so now the Tammy sits unused on my "studio" shelf. If you can find one I think you'll be pleased with it. They usually sell in the range of $600 to $800. It rates as the second best Canon on FredMiranda.com, trailing only the 70-200 f2.8L; and beats it's replacement, the 24-70 f2.8L, by almost a full point - 9.7 to 8.8.

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

11/11/2005 12:04:23 PM · #14

Fritz,
Check out the photozone.de reviews.
Wide open, the Tamron is sharper at 28mm but the 24-70 is sharper at 40/50mm and 70/75mm. Once stopped down, the Tamron is a bit sharper as well at the focal lenghts as well, and the tester thinks he got a bad Tamron lens!!!

The old Canon 28-70 is sharper than both of them though.
//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_2875_28/index.htm
//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_2470_28/index.htm
//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_2870_28/index.htm

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/11/2005 12:10:30 PM · #15

Originally posted by kirbic:

Next time I see you Kirbic, let's do it, side by side.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/11/2005 12:11:58 PM · #16

Originally posted by theSaj:

Originally posted by bear_music:
Tamron 28-75 is just an exceptionally good lens.

Which Tamron 28-75 ? I listed two?

Anyone know which of the two are better, and what specifically are different?

I'm pretty sure Tamron only makes one 28-75, but people don't always include all the initials in the name. Makes it confusing, I know....

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/11/2005 12:25:05 PM · #17

I just bought the Sigma 24-70mm for the exact same reason (gig photography, already have 70-210mm 2.8 and 12-24mm. I'll let you know how I find it. I'm also going to try and get myself a second body so I don't have to swap lenses.

11/11/2005 01:20:56 PM · #18

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

I'm also going to try and get myself a second body so I don't have to swap lenses.

Yeah...me two...i'm getting mine on May 13th, 2006 and what a beauty she is!!! (see what i'm getting here)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

11/11/2005 01:47:08 PM · #19

Originally posted by strangeghost:

Originally posted by kirbic:
I keep hearing such good things about the Tamron 28-75, I really would love to see comparative tests between that and the Canon 24-70 shot wide open. I know the build of the Canon is far superior but in photographic performance, I really don't know. I own the Canon, and would not trade it.

Next time I see you Kirbic, let's do it, side by side.

It's a plan!

ADGibson