Some lens advice needed!

[sdshutterbug]

Hey all,

I'm thinking of switching over from Sony to Canon sometime in the not-too-distant future. I love my Sony, but I feel like Canon and Nikon just have so many more tools and resources out there and I can grow better with them than I can with Sony. Before I switch though, I want to have my entire Canon kit picked out. I know I want the Rebel T1i body and either a 50 1.8 or 1.4, but I am torn as to what to do about my wide angle and telephoto zooms. I have an 18-70 and 75-300 for my Sony, and I really hate having to switch all the time. With my 50 1.7, I'm usually indoors and using that exclusively without having to change a lot, but I often find that outdoors I'm using both my zooms in one shoot, and when time is of the essence, switching lenses can be such a pain. I know there are a ton of "walkaround" lenses out there and I can't decide if they are really worth all that money. The Canon 18-200 is supposed to be equal in IQ to the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses, but it costs a couple hundred dollars more and doesn't even have a USM! Is there anything else about this lens that makes it worth more other than the convenience? There's no way I would get the 18-55, because it's just not enough zoom for me in one lens. So, those of you with experience with different walkwaround lenses, how do you feel about them (and I'm not opposed to buying 3rd party lenses)? Is there one that stands out above the others in terms of value? I'm not going for L lenses though, just way out of my price range.

Thanks!

 

[VVFF]

Hey all,

I'm thinking of switching over from Sony to Canon sometime in the not-too-distant future. I love my Sony, but I feel like Canon and Nikon just have so many more tools and resources out there and I can grow better with them than I can with Sony. Before I switch though, I want to have my entire Canon kit picked out. I know I want the Rebel T1i body and either a 50 1.8 or 1.4, but I am torn as to what to do about my wide angle and telephoto zooms. I have an 18-70 and 75-300 for my Sony, and I really hate having to switch all the time. With my 50 1.7, I'm usually indoors and using that exclusively without having to change a lot, but I often find that outdoors I'm using both my zooms in one shoot, and when time is of the essence, switching lenses can be such a pain. I know there are a ton of "walkaround" lenses out there and I can't decide if they are really worth all that money. The Canon 18-200 is supposed to be equal in IQ to the 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses, but it costs a couple hundred dollars more and doesn't even have a USM! Is there anything else about this lens that makes it worth more other than the convenience? There's no way I would get the 18-55, because it's just not enough zoom for me in one lens. So, those of you with experience with different walkwaround lenses, how do you feel about them (and I'm not opposed to buying 3rd party lenses)? Is there one that stands out above the others in terms of value? I'm not going for L lenses though, just way out of my price range.

Thanks!

I wouldn't say that the 18-55+55-250 is equal to the 18-200mm. In most respects, the separate lenses are better. If you find yourself switching all the time and this disrupts your shooting. Then go ahead and get the Canon 18-200. The Tamron 18-270 is also fairly well regarded for a walk around lens and it's even more range. If you want to save some money the Tamron 18-250mm is another option. Go to SLRgear.com and read the comparison between then. Then determine which works best for you.

Make sure you realize you are giving up some low light shooting capability and PQ with these lenses though. If you don't value video I'd recommend the XSi. The 15MP will only be useful with lenses that can resolve more detail than the superzooms can.

 

[sdshutterbug]

Thanks- Good point about the 15mp, bc I was sort of banking on cropping some of my images. I don't mind losing a little light but I do mind losing picture quality. Thanks for the link too!

 

[Frantasmic]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2266523

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2262532


Here are some recent threads that this topic was discussed in with some users who actually have the lenses you are considering.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I replied to this thread about the 18-200mm Canon: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2251797&page=2

I love love LOVE this lens. I'm saving up to buy an L series as a walkaround, but this is about as good as it gets for walkaround I think. A friend has the two lenses (kit and 55-200) and can't stand switching lenses- he wishes he got the 18-200 I have.

If I had it to do over again, I would have bought that outright with the body instead of buying the kit. Although I do like knowing I have the kit as a backup if I need it.

I also have the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 which I LOVE and the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro which I love for macro pics. I'll be using my 18-200mm the majority of the time until I get my L series! (24-70 or 24-105).

 

[jann1033]

Canon just released a new 18-135 IS, maybe just in Europe so far..no idea the price or anything else but i would love that length as a walk around. i liked my old 28-135 range but the extra width to 18 would have made it pretty perfect imo. i have a great 70-200f4 I love though so i wouldn't need a walk around for up to 200, i just switch when i need it. i do wish they have better stops though, i think they are all 3.5-5.6 . the USM was great as well, i miss that in my 17 -50, even though it doesn't hunt much it's just not as fast or quiet.

right now i'm using a tamron 17-50 f2.8 and the 70-200 and switching. often i use my 100 prime as a walk around which is really crazy but i love that length and it's sharp . I like all the lenses and usually it's not a huge problem to me but sometimes i don't want to switch( ie this weekend, is our fair and it's really dusty so i probably will need to go into a building to switch) so i'd like a better zoom range but it would have to be tack sharp since softness annoys me more than switching .

 

[AlienBrain]

I swear by my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. I love the thing. It has served me well on my Honeymoon at WDW. It's fast enough at f/2.8, and the AF is pretty darn good on it was well. I think it's permanently affixed to my body because I rarely use my telephoto lens.

 

[sdshutterbug]

Thanks so much everyone for all your advice. I read through the threads that were linked to and of course I'm still mulling it over. I just saw the specs for the new Canon 15-84, and I reeeally want that, but it's $800! Not nearly as much reach as I was looking for, but a nice wider angle and USM would be something to consider!

 

[MICKEY88]

instead of spending a lot switching to canon, why not buy a second sony body, no more need to switch lenses constantly..