Canon Kit Lens Vs Tamron 17-50

[zibin83]

Hi guys,
I am getting my 40D soon next month, However, i am stuck at deciding whether to get a kit lens 1 or Tamron 17-50.

Understand that Tamron freezes action better than the kit lens but it cost a few hundreds more. so is it advisable to get the Tamron or Kit Lens

Thanks

[Headshotzx]

I know this sounds like a wrong question, since you're not shooting yet (are you?), but what types of subjects will you shoot?

I suggest the Tamron as the f/2.8 is very valuable in a lot of situations (freezing motion, low light photography).

If you prefer more zoomability (35mm more) and have really shaky hands, get the 17-85. The IS will help you a lot.
Word of caution: the 17-85 has very very visible barrel distortion at the wide end (zoomed out all the way till 17mm)

Hope this helps

EDIT: Whoops!! Sorry, thought you said kit2.
Between those 2, I think the tamron would be better as you'll probably be shooting a lot longer with it than the kit1 lens. If the price difference is more than S$500 though, get the kit lens.

EDIT2:

400D + Tamron 17-50 = S$1800
400D Kit 1 = S$1200

Get the kit lens.

[Klose]

Originally Posted by zibin83 Hi guys, I am getting my 40D soon next month, However, i am stuck at deciding whether to get a kit lens 1 or Tamron 17-50. Understand that Tamron freezes action better than the kit lens but it cost a few hundreds more. so is it advisable to get the Tamron or Kit Lens Thanks

Learn to walk first before running.

Use the kit lens first to find your feel, you may not like the characteristics of a standard zoom and might want something with a longer reach instead.

[allsmilez]

Originally Posted by Klose Learn to walk first before running. Use the kit lens first to find your feel, you may not like the characteristics of a standard zoom and might want something with a longer reach instead.

Agreed. I used my kit lens first, realised I needed something better for low light after a few months, so got the tamron. Kit lens is good value for money.

[xtremequantumx]

Kits lens.
IIRC 40D's kit 1 is the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Buy the tamron 17-50 if your dead sure that you'll be staying w this lens for quite some time, and you've the budget to spare.
If not just experiment and get good photos w/kit lens!
Again, if I had the money i would have gotten the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM instead. oops. OT abit.
hope this helps.

[Russ]

The 40D has a decent kit lens (finally Canon makes a good and cheap kit lens) which is much better than the ones that came with the 300D, 350D, 400D, 20D, 30D - those came with an OK kit lens that was good at middle of the road apertures like f/8. The 40D kit lens also has IS. If you don't like it, you can sell it for about $200, so no real loss.

The 17-50 has a larger aperture but no IS and costs a fair bit more.

BTW, the 400D is a pretty decent camera and much lighter/smaller than the 40D. Be sure you want a 40D before buying - you may not need many of the features!

[zibin83]

Originally Posted by Russ The 40D has a decent kit lens (finally Canon makes a good and cheap kit lens) which is much better than the ones that came with the 300D, 350D, 400D, 20D, 30D - those came with an OK kit lens that was good at middle of the road apertures like f/8. The 40D kit lens also has IS. If you don't like it, you can sell it for about $200, so no real loss. The 17-50 has a larger aperture but no IS and costs a fair bit more. BTW, the 400D is a pretty decent camera and much lighter/smaller than the 40D. Be sure you want a 40D before buying - you may not need many of the features!

So, Which one would you suggest Kit 1 or Kit 2 for landscape shooting?

Regards

[Final_depth]

i think, Ts should juz get the Tamron 17-50 instead. As there is more flexibility in the sense tat, it is a f2.8. Sure the 18-55 kit lens is a good start-up. But y waste extra $. But of course if ur tight on budget... the 18-55 is good enough.

[eosdigital]

I vote for the Tamron.You never know when the max aperture F/2.8 will come into handy(i.e Indoor w/o lightings)

[calebk]

Originally Posted by zibin83 So, Which one would you suggest Kit 1 or Kit 2 for landscape shooting? Regards

Either one is fine. One is wider by 1mm at 17mm, while the other's widest focal length is 18mm, so not much of a difference there.

For landscape, you would be shooting with a small aperture opening, like f/8 or f/11, hence sharpness from either kit lens is also not much of an issue here, as most lenses will perform at their best at around f/8 anyway.

[zibin83]

Originally Posted by calebk Either one is fine. One is wider by 1mm at 17mm, while the other's widest focal length is 18mm, so not much of a difference there. For landscape, you would be shooting with a small aperture opening, like f/8 or f/11, hence sharpness from either kit lens is also not much of an issue here, as most lenses will perform at their best at around f/8 anyway.

A lot of ppl advised me to get a multi-purpose lense so as to find out where is my interest lies. So. is Tamron 17-50 suitable for landscape shooting.

Regards

[mummum]

generally, you choose wider lens for landscape, but again, you need to factor in composition. bottom line is... get warm with the kit lens before progressing to other lens.

both lens you mentioned r virtually the same for landscape when you stop down the aperture imho... my photos ain't used for professional services so i can't be too bothered with distortion at this focal length.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by zibin83 A lot of ppl advised me to get a multi-purpose lense so as to find out where is my interest lies. So. is Tamron 17-50 suitable for landscape shooting. Regards

Do you understand focal length at all? It is 17mm at its widest end as well, same as the 17-85mm IS USM (kit lens II)

[keyuan]

I will vote for Tamron 17-50 too. Infact i am considering selling my 18-55 to rasie some fund for the tamron lens. Bit waste of money for me now.

1st. F2.8 will be great for indoor. and if you are travelling, it will be a good lens at night and may not need need to bring a tripod around. (Of course unless you are taking slow night shots you will need tripod)

[MarkTan89]

I've tried the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 before (was considering between that and the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 but got neither instead, lol), the build quality is a step up from the 18-55mm but the zoom ring is very stiff to turn which is quite a turn off and the focussing whine is pretty annoying but the image quality was pretty good. If you can live with that, then go for the Tamron.