I enjoy my photography but I don't have the funds to pay silly money out on expensive gear.

Using a 350D I have the following.

kit lens 18-55
Great value for money £70 50mm fixed
Tamron 70-300 (£100 jobby)

The fixed 50mm is a great lens and one I get the best results with, but it's hard work moving backwards and forwards to get what you want.

So here's the big ask .........

What can I get on a budget of £250 that's better than the kit lens and sits somewhere around 28-110mm. I dont mind second hand if it's good condition and worth the money.

I fully understand I am in the middle ground between VERY cheap and half reasonable, but is there anything out there that could work for me?

Best I would suggest for that sort of money is the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS :wonder:

They go for between £200-250 ish on Ebay for a decent one.

I'd offer you my old one, but it's already lined up for sale to my mate along with my 20D, as soon as my 40D arrives:D.

I have a 28-105 mkII which I picked up for around 100 quid boxed with hood and filter from the Canon fourms, they arent much dearer than that brand new, and are a capable lens, probably only the 24-105 L glass beats it in that focal range

Alternatively there is the slightly older 28-128 with IS which is optically good too

You have the same focal lengths in lenses as I do, I have the Kit Lens, the 50mm and the Sigma 70-300 APO DG, which is about the same as the Tamron, and the 28-105 MkII

Not sure what there is now in the newer EF-S Lenses that maybe slightly dearer than the above Canon

Am I likely to see any noticeable gains with a lens like the one below over and above the kit lens? Other than the extra focal length? I am no expert, but i'm not a 100% novice either.

I'm also not a snob about brands, my Tamron 70-300 is brilliant (in my eyes)

Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens (2562A014AA) - Warehouse Express (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/default.aspx?sku=12841)

Thats the other lens I meant, not the 28-128

I dont there is much difference between the 28-135 and the 28-105 apart from the 28-105 doesnt have IS, it does have full time manual focus and USM and is the same f numbers, but it is newer, and a bit cheaper

Yes you will see some difference over and above the kit lens, I think in a recent test the Tamron came out about 5% better than my Sigma, and that produces good images especially for the money


The EF-s 17-85 IS Lens that CW mentioned is also a good lens, and if you got that you could sell your kit lens, just a quick look in the ads Online Camera Retailers with Stores in London and Chelmsford - CameraWorld.co.uk (http://www.cameraworld.co.uk) are selling them unboxed for 249.99 brand new

Am I likely to see any noticeable gains with a lens like the one below over and above the kit lens?

No - I used to have that lens and I thought it was quite poor. The 17-85 IS is slightly better, but not much.

To be honest, you might struggle to find anything for that price that will significantly improve on the kit lens, and nothing that will beat your 50 f1.8.

The only lenses that I can think of that you might consider are the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 and 17-50 f2.8, or the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5. :)

I have to disagree but then I am no expert but my 28-105 is better than my kit lens, which is the same one that Gutman has

I'm not one for throwing my money away.

Something like a 28-105 or 135 is going to give me more flexibility than the kit lens and save me changing to the 70-300 every two minutes.

I would like it to be taking better shots than the kit lens mind you.

If the budget of £250 isn't enough what budget do I need before I start seeing improvements?

Not saying i'm going to spend it, but you never know I might find what's recommended second hand or something.

I was in the same boat three years ago and was recommended a Sigma 28-105. I used it for nearly six months before realising that it was neither wide enough for landscape shots nor long enough for sports/wildlife etc. and I was compromising shots the whole time. Be careful that your zoom range meets your needs. I take mainly landscape stuff and traded it in for a Tamron 17-50. Great move for me.....

Where is PSLewis when you need him for lens advice?

EFS 17-85mm is a great lens, especially at today's price.

I swapped mine for the superior 17-55mm f/2.8, and athough it is a better optically, I still miss the cheaper, lighter, more versatile 17-85mm lens with IS.

Of course, everything changes all the time so beware of being sucked in. Starting again, would have a 450D, EF-S 10-22mm, EF-S 17-85mm, and 70-300mm IS, Kenko 1.4x telcon, close-up lens, polariser and a big flash. Tripod.

That's a mighty capable outfit and will last for many years :) Of course there are many othe choices, but that would be mine.

Cheers,

Richard :)

I have to disagree but then I am no expert but my 28-105 is better than my kit lens, which is the same one that Gutman has

Seconded.

Gary, the 28-105 that I have (no longer available but the same build as the 28-135 IS noted above) is a great little lens for the money. I use mine often.

Gary,

What I would do is this.

Keep the kit lens for those occasions where you need the wide end. Its perfectly ok stopped down a bit (which you would be doing for landscape type shots anyway) and with a bit of post processing.

You've got a capable 70 to 300 for the long end.

So what you need is something for the mid range.

So I'd second Daryl's suggestion of the the tamron 28-75 (from what I've read) or, from personal experience, bite the bullet and buy a 24-105F4L IS.

Ours is sharp throughout, great colour and contrast, and very effective IS. Long enough that you won't have to keep reaching for the 70-300 all the time, and wide enough for most things (you'll have the kit for extra width if required). Its never off my wife's 20D with its 1.6 crop.

It will also hold its value very well, and you will be able to sell it on for not much less than you paid for it, if required.

But its more expensive, obviously.

Alternatively, if you find yourself at the wide end most of the time, and you are happy to have a bit of a gap, look at the 17-55 F2.8 IS or the 17-40 F4L.

Again, more expensive, but both excellent lenses. Probably the 17-55 f2.8IS on your body out of those two.

At the end of the day, quality costs, and there is no getting away from that, irrespective of what you may read here or elsewhere.

Incidentally, my mark 1 50mm F1.8 is extremely sharp, and probably our second sharpest lens (after the EF-S 60mm macro) but it's not that much sharper at all than the Ls we've got, and it doesn't produce the overall image quality that they do (pre or post processing)

HTH

Thanks for the comments people, I will do a little research on your recommeneded lenses now.

This is worth every penny .... reckoned to be as sharp as the L Glass .... for pennies!!!

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/photography-360/685718-best-canon-lens-bargain.html#post7852204

Cracking Lens!! :thumb:

Welcome Back Pete :thumb:

Seconded.

Gary, the 28-105 that I have (no longer available but the same build as the 28-135 IS noted above) is a great little lens for the money. I use mine often.

Gary,

What I would do is this.

Keep the kit lens for those occasions where you need the wide end. Its perfectly ok stopped down a bit (which you would be doing for landscape type shots anyway) and with a bit of post processing.

You've got a capable 70 to 300 for the long end.

So what you need is something for the mid range.

So I'd second Daryl's suggestion of the the tamron 28-75 (from what I've read) or, from personal experience, bite the bullet and buy a 24-105F4L IS.

Ours is sharp throughout, great colour and contrast, and very effective IS. Long enough that you won't have to keep reaching for the 70-300 all the time, and wide enough for most things (you'll have the kit for extra width if required). Its never off my wife's 20D with its 1.6 crop.

It will also hold its value very well, and you will be able to sell it on for not much less than you paid for it, if required.

But its more expensive, obviously.

Alternatively, if you find yourself at the wide end most of the time, and you are happy to have a bit of a gap, look at the 17-55 F2.8 IS or the 17-40 F4L.

Again, more expensive, but both excellent lenses. Probably the 17-55 f2.8IS on your body out of those two.

At the end of the day, quality costs, and there is no getting away from that, irrespective of what you may read here or elsewhere.

Incidentally, my mark 1 50mm F1.8 is extremely sharp, and probably our second sharpest lens (after the EF-S 60mm macro) but it's not that much sharper at all than the Ls we've got, and it doesn't produce the overall image quality that they do (pre or post processing)

HTH
I have both the Tamron 28-75 and the 24-105L mentioned above. The L class lens is a huge step up from the Tamron and the Tamron a huge step up from the kit lens. I still use all 3 lenses on my 300d, and I'm still selling photos taken with the kit lens. If I'm doing paid work now, it's always L glass on the front of my camera (now a 5D). In terms of bangs per buck, the Tamron is your man, after that it's the law of diminishing returns: spending a lot more money for small gains. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Andy:thumb:

The 24-105L IS:notworthy is why I don't have any use for my EF-S 17-85 IS anymore, but it's miles out of the original budget.:eek:

If he falls for this lovelly lens we can welcome another victim to the slippery slope ;)

Having read so many similar posts with different answers, I have to
admit the choices are quite personal.

For exampe, CW loves his 24-105mm L, and who can blame him :) but I shoot mostly wide, eg around 20mm, so would forever be changing lenses with my 17-55mm f/2.8. But much as I love that lens, it's a big and heavy bugger and I rarley use f/2.8. Which is why, if I had to choose just one lens, it would be the EF-S 17-85mm IS (which I sold :rolleyes:) followed by an EF-S 10-22mm. Bugger the long end :D !!!

From reading these posts over many years, it appears I may be in the minority and all other considerations aside apart from image quality, it would be EF-S 10=22mm, EF-S 17-85mm and then either EF 70-300mm IS or 70-200mm f/4 IS plus telecon. Probably the former, with close-up lens (as outlined elsewhere).

Either way, we are takling quality kit here.

Richard.

PS considering your budget, have you thought about the new 18-55mm IS kit lens, plus the also the new 55-250mm IS? Very potent combination for the money.

PPS There are so many options out there, it is hard to see you going far wrong :)

If Canon produced a 17-300mm f2.8L IS DO for £350 (and then £50 cashback) it would make life so much easier, assuming it was the same physical size as my 24-105 obviously :D

Gareth

Richard, I do love the 24-105L IS:thumb:, but it's not the lens that usually sits on my camera :eek:

That would normally be the 17-40L or the EF-S 10-22 if what I'm shooting is too big for the former :D

I am still playing with your 1.4 Telecon (Ta Very Muchly :notworthy)on the 100-400 L IS but searching for suitable subjects so I might have to get down to Rutland Water to see those Ospreys :D I will be returning it soon.

Reading down the notes it looks like something like this would suit me? It doesnt have IS but I cant have everything for the money

New Canon EF 28-105mm 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Mark II USM UK on eBay, also, For Digital SLR, Camera Lenses, Photography (end time 16-May-08 20:16:00 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Canon-EF-28-105mm-28-105-f3-5-4-5-Mark-II-USM-UK_W0QQitemZ280225583553QQihZ018QQcategoryZ30070QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

All this talk about L lenses and generally spending lots of money on them is quite interesting really. I've got a 10-22 (hardly use it), a 24-105 L (spends most of its time on my camera) and a 70-200 f4 IS (hardly use it). I used to have a 100-400 L but sold it (hardly used it!).

But my favourite lens is my 85 f1.8 - the reason is that I always seem to take my bets shots with it and I think it's because the fixed focal length makes me think more about what I'm doing, rather than just twisting the zoom ring and firing away. I guess that's also why people like the nifty-fifty. :)

Gutmann that is the one I have, for the money it is a great Lens, tbh I couldnt decide originally on that or the 28-135 with IS, but it is a very old lens and the 1st generation IS feels 'wobbly' I think you only gain 1 stop with the IS on that Lens, so it wasnt really worth the extra

A lot of them flooded the market a bit back as Canon started shipping them as kit lenses in the USA, I am more than happy with my 28-105 until I move into L territory :D

Gutmann that is the one I have, for the money it is a great Lens, tbh I couldnt decide originally on that or the 28-135 with IS, but it is a very old lens and the 1st generation IS feels 'wobbly' I think you only gain 1 stop with the IS on that Lens, so it wasnt really worth the extra

A lot of them flooded the market a bit back as Canon started shipping them as kit lenses in the USA, I am more than happy with my 28-105 until I move into L territory :D


Thanks for that :thumb:

What are you using this lens for Gutmann? If its to replace the kit lens then (IMHO) I would get a 17-**.
I have the 17-55, 28-105 and 70-200 on a 350D and only use the 28-105 when I want lightweight kit.

It will be my general lens, the ones that's on my camera the most. Something like 28-105 will give me the most variation IMHO. It will be fine for the usual family pics and also have enough zoom for reasonable track photos when up close.

I used mine as a 'jack of all' until I got the 17-55IS which now only comes off for the 70-200. The 28-105 f3.5-4.5 focus speed is excellent with the USM it also has full time manual focus and can be used with a CPL filter because the front element doesn't rotate like your kit lens. For the money its a bargain, but has its focal length restrictions.

Reading down the notes it looks like something like this would suit me? It doesnt have IS but I cant have everything for the money

New Canon EF 28-105mm 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Mark II USM UK on eBay, also, For Digital SLR, Camera Lenses, Photography (end time 16-May-08 20:16:00 BST) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Canon-EF-28-105mm-28-105-f3-5-4-5-Mark-II-USM-UK_W0QQitemZ280225583553QQihZ018QQcategoryZ30070QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Thats the one I have as well - its a great lens fo the money :thumb:

Haven't bought one yet, waiting for the right deal to come up

Bit the bullet and bought one. Will let you know if I think your reviews are any good shortly :D

Thanks for the help people

Bloody supplier has let me down. Apparently the last one on the shelf was damaged so I cant have it :cry: :cry: :brickwall