Buying a Lens - need advice!

[Jill Peters]

Hi! :-)

I'm looking at getting a new lens and was hoping for some advice.

We're going to be doing a fair bit of travel over the next few months and would like one lens to take out and about with us. We have a Canon 1000D camera (equivalent to entry level Rebel camera in the US). Currently using 18-55 IS kit lens, and a borrowed fairly old 80-200mm lens which we will have to give back to the owner prior to travelling.

A lot of the pictures that we'll be taking will be landscapes / inside and outside of buildings, but sometimes there will be things that we'd like to zoom in for, animals, etc. We mostly put our photos online, I expect we will want to print some when we return home, but think we're unlikely to be printing much larger than A4 size and to save hard drive space don't currently use our camera on its maximum megapixel setting.

So, the candidates for a lens are:

Canon 15-85mm
Canon 18-135mm
Sigma 18-250mm
Tamron 18-270mm
or sticking with our current 18-55mm IS

The only lenses that we've actually been able to see so far are the Canon 18-135 and the Tamron as local shops here don't stock the other lenses. On our 1000D we found the Tamron lens to be quite front heavy particularly when zoomed out and we found the stiffness of the zoom in the middle ranges off-putting. Along the same logic, specifications for the sigma lens show that it's even heavier than the Tamron so weight would be more of an issue.

The 18-135 balances well on our camera, obviously the zoom is smaller, but reviews on this lens have been a bit mixed. We actually ordered one which arrived this morning but then we started to have second thoughts (it can be returned within a week). Our main interest in the 15-85mm has been because there have been so many good reviews about this lens. Its weight though is similar to the Tamron lens.

If it was worthwhile we could pay the extra for the 15-85mm lens, though would happily pay less. For the type of photos we are taking and what we are using them for, do you expect that we could tell a significant difference in quality with this lens? Has anyone seen this lens on a 1000D or similar body?

We're a bit confused as to what to do! Please help.

Jill

[Jonathan Long]

Jill,

I'm not a Canon user, but what I can tell you is that the super zoom lenses (the Sigma and Tamron) offer great flexibility with some drawbacks. Weight will be an issue with both lenses, although you'd really only need to carry the one lens... I don't own a super zoom lens, primarily because as a professional photographer I think they lack in lens speed and they aren't as sharp (due to the optical design of a super zoom).

You mentioned wanting to shoot some wildlife photo's, the only lenses you listed that would meet your needs are the super zooms due to focal length. You may want to consider a lens in the 70-300mm range (in addition to using your 18-55mm). Then you wouldn't be duplicating focal length and would add needed focal length for those wildlife shots.

All of the lenses that you've listed should provide you with good images. Lens selection is very personal to your shooting style.

Since I don't know your skill level, or how committed to photography you are (Hobby? Semi-pro?), I hesitate to recommend better lenses. Having said that.... Canon offers a 70-200mm f4 lens that's outstanding, it's quite a bit more expensive than the lenses you've listed - but you're better off spending the money on lenses than camera bodies!

Hope this helps!

Jon

[Jill Peters]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your reply. For our travels it wouldn't be easy for us to carry two lenses, but I will remember the ones you have suggested for when we get back to Australia. We have tried the 18-135mm lens now, but were underwhelmed with the pictures as they weren't very sharp at wide angle (not as sharp as the 18-55 kit lens). So we may get the 15-85mm or stick with what we already have.

Thanks!
Jill

[Hans Deventer]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your reply. For our travels it wouldn't be easy for us to carry two lenses, but I will remember the ones you have suggested for when we get back to Australia. We have tried the 18-135mm lens now, but were underwhelmed with the pictures as they weren't very sharp at wide angle (not as sharp as the 18-55 kit lens). So we may get the 15-85mm or stick with what we already have.

Jill, there are sites out there with lens reviews. I checked a few:


Here http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/462-canon_18135_3556is?start=1 I found a review that indicates it isn't a very good one.

This looks like a serious site. http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/best_canon_eos_lenses.html
There are a lot of reviews here as well: http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showcat.php?cat=27&page=2&sort=7&perpage=24&stype=
And here: http://www.photographyreview.com/pscLenses/35mm,Zoom/PLS_3128crx.aspx

It seems the Canon 18-200 might be a better option than the 18-135 (interestingly, I read the same about the Nikon 18-200 and 18-135): http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EF-S_18-200mm_IS/verdict.shtml

I would compare the Canon 18-200 with the Tamron AF18-270mm and the Sigma 18-200 OS and 18-250 OS and see if any of these will be sufficient. It there is too much distortion for your liking, it seems the Canon 17-85 is an option. See review here http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/ef-s_17-85_review_5.html