need new lens recommendation....

[sfowler2003]

I need a lens recommendation.....

I bought a used XT body only and have just been using my 300D kit lens along with my 50mm. I have a friend who wants to buy my 300D with a lens so I need to get a new all-purpose lens for my XT.....one that will basically be used for everything.....I dabble in portrait but I use my 50mm for that, this one will be all-purpose for family shots, Disney trip, etc.....

Here is what I'm looking at....please send me your suggestion.....I'm trying to stay under $300 but will take other suggestions......

28-105 f/3.5-4.5 USM II (around $250)

my current kit lens is the plain ole 18-55 - would the 18-55 IS be a lot better (its around $200)

I would like to choose between the first two but there is also the 40D kit lens (17-85) that I think you can buy separately but it looks like its about $450....anyone have specifics on that one....

I also have a dumb question about the Tamron that everyone raves about......since its a 2.8 focal length won't it actually do over that (like 3.5, 5.6, 11, etc) just not under (like 1.8).....i should know this.......does it have a learning curve like the 50mm (we going to Disney next month so I'm kind of leary about having it as my only lens if it takes some getting used to and it sounds like you also have to watch out about getting a bad one)....

thanks everyone....

 

[fitzperry]

Can't really speak for the Canon lenses since I'm a Nikon gal, but I do have the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 to which I believe you're referring. If by a "learning curve" you mean getting the focus right due to shallow depth of field, I suppose that could be an issue when shooting at the widest apertures. But the minimum aperture on that lens is f/32, and you'd have plenty of depth of field there , so it needn't be a problem. I think it's a great value. I find it to be considerably sharper than my D70 kit lens (the 18-70, which is generally regarded to be one of the better kit lenses out there), with better color and contrast as well. Wish I'd bought it sooner.

 

[Groucho]

If you're considering the new Canon kit lens for $200, I think your money would be much better spent on a third-party F2.8 lens... Tamron's 28-75mm F2.8 is very popular and they have a 17-50mm F2.8 version if you want to keep the wide end (and lose some of the telephoto end). Sigma also has an 18-50mm F2.8 as well as a 28-70mm F2.8 - the latter seems to generally lose out to the Tamron though, most reviews seem to say that it's not as sharp - and it's heavier, to boot.

Any of those will be quite a bit heavier than your kit lens, though. That alone made my wife leave my Tamron 28-75mm behind and use the kit lens when she took my K100D on a trip recently.